Phix: The Adventure
Phix: The Adventure is a 3D platformer developed by Affect, released in Japan in 2000 as Jishaku de Tonjau?! Phix no Daibouken and in North America by Agetec in July 2003, one of the last PlayStation releases there. Phix swallows a magnetic orb by accident and has to carry it back to its island. His key ability is magnetism: he switches between north and south polarity to be pulled toward or pushed away from objects, which drives most of the jumps and puzzles.
Controls
What Phix: The Adventure is
The story is simple and aimed at younger players. Phix is dozing under a tree when a magnetic orb rolls off an island, and he swallows it mid-yawn. The swallowed orb throws the land of Magnetica into trouble, so he sets out to return it, collecting crystals and dealing with creatures along the way.
The game is split into five worlds with four levels each. Its central idea, magnetic polarity, is similar to the one in the Dreamcast game Super Magnetic Neo. Rather than relying only on jumps, you swap between north and south to attract Phix to metal objects, repel him off others and interact with items in the level.
How it plays in your browser
This page runs the North American disc through a PlayStation emulator, so the game loads without installing anything. Expect a short loading pause at the start, as with the original disc.
Most of the game comes down to reading the level: working out which objects will pull you and which will push you, then switching polarity at the right moment. Quick switches in mid-air are what carry you across longer gaps, so it is worth practising on the early stages.
Tips worth knowing
- Before jumping at a gap, look for magnetic objects nearby and work out whether you need to attract to them or repel from them.
- Switch polarity in mid-air rather than on the ground to chain pulls and pushes across longer distances.
- When a route seems blocked, try both polarities near every unusual object; many puzzles are solved by the one you did not try first.
- Collect crystals as you go, since they are one of the main objectives on the way to returning the orb.
- Take your time on narrow platforms; a wrong polarity near a magnet can throw Phix off the edge.
Frequently asked questions
Is Adventure of Phix the same game as Phix: The Adventure?
Yes. Adventure of Phix is a common file name for the North American release, Phix: The Adventure.
Who developed Phix: The Adventure?
It was developed by Affect. Affect published it in Japan in 2000, and Agetec published it in North America in 2003.
How does the magnet mechanic work?
Phix always gives off north or south polarity. Switching between them pulls him toward or pushes him away from magnetic objects, which you use to cross gaps and solve puzzles.
How big is the game?
It has five worlds, each with four levels.
More games like this
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