Screenshots
Complex X
Complex X is an arcade action game released by Taito America Corporation in 1984. Players control a spacecraft navigating through a series of enemy-filled stages, shooting at opponents while avoiding incoming fire and obstacles. The game features a vertical or fixed-screen shooting format where waves of enemies approach in patterns. Players use a joystick to move their ship and a fire button to shoot projectiles at targets. Stages increase in difficulty as the game progresses, introducing more aggressive enemy formations and faster attack patterns. The game draws on familiar fixed-shooter mechanics common to early 1980s arcade titles, presenting players with escalating challenges across multiple levels until all lives are exhausted.
- Developer
- Taito America Corporation
- Released
- 1984
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (4.8K)
- Last updated
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Complex X Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Complex X on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Complex X Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Complex X on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Complex X" Arcade longplay 1984
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Complex X released?
Complex X was released in 1984 for the Arcade.
Who developed Complex X?
Complex X was developed by Taito America Corporation, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is Complex X?
Complex X is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Complex X for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Complex X runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Complex X in the browser?
No. Complex X streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Complex X?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Complex X work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Complex X this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Complex X. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
