Volfied is an abstract action game and an update of Taito’s 1981 classic “Qix.” Set in a distant galaxy, a space pilot returns to the main world of Volfied to find it under attack by an unknown alien force. The remaining few inhabitants of the planet are hiding underground and have managed to send a signal asking for help from the pilot. The pilot must eliminate the alien threat and rescue his people.
The player controls a vehicle (referred to as ‘Monotros’) that can move along the edges of a rectangle. Holding down the drawing button allows the craft to move into unclaimed territory and draw lines to create a closed rectangle. Once completed, the captured area transforms into a different background graphic.
Each stage features a large enemy and several smaller ones, and when the player’s spaceship successfully claims a rectangular section, the side where the main enemy is located is considered ‘outside.’ Smaller enemies that end up inside are eliminated, resulting in score bonuses. Players are only at risk from enemies while drawing a line, but each level must be completed within a strict time limit.
In the field, gray boxes sometimes appear that provide random power-ups when collected (by getting stuck ‘inside’ a completed rectangle). These can range from extra speed to temporary freezing of enemies.
