XEVIOUS
(Xevious The Avenger)
Game Cover
Game
ゼビウス
©1983 1984 Namco Ltd.
Release: 1984-11-08 (¥4900)
Cartdridge NXV-4900
Shooter/vertical
Famicom Disk Version
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Released in Japan (Disk Writer) as
XEVIOUS
( NDS-XEV )
American Version
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Released in America as
XEVIOUS THE AVENGER
( NES-XV-USA )
European Version
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Released in Europe as
XEVIOUS
( NES-XV-XXX )
Xevious is a vertical shooter by Namco and is the conversion of their classic arcade game originally released in 1982. The game is set on planet Xevious where the enchant super-computer GAMP has awakened after thousands of years of sleep. SOL towers appear from all over the world and signal the imminent invasion. Attack drones, planes, amphibious vehicles and large fortresses now swarm the land and must be stopped. The player takes control of the heavily armed Solvalou fighter equipped with a Vulcan gun and surface bombs. Enemies attack on two different levels, some are airborne whereas others are ground targets. Ground enemies such as tanks and guard towers can only be destroyed with bombs and the aid of a large target lock-on. This target system is at the core of the gameplay and flashes red when detecting enemy objects buried under ground. Xevious features some unique enemies - mysterious ground installations such as the Solbak don't attack but are designed to gather information about the player's fighter - destroying them temporary decreases the enemy's attack power. Each stage in Xevious scrolls continuously and there is no break between them. Area's borders are indicated by thick forests and this is where the player is sent back when shot down (unless he proceeded further than 70% of this area). The game features ten areas (which loop back to the first stage) and a 2 player alternating mode.
Related
SuperXevious (Fc) Xevious (Pce-Hu)
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Teaser text from the American version:
Mission : Seek and destroy XEVIOUS enemy aircraft and bases. Equipment: Fighter plane with laser- pulse anti-aircraft missiles and bombs. Skillfully manuever your fighter through treacherous air space ato gain the strike advantage.


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Japanese Guidebook
Japanese Guidebook
Japanese Guidebook
Japanese Guidebook


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 Xevious certainly helped establish a standard back in the days and I have always been amazed at how incredibly detailed the game design is. Each enemy ship has an unique attack pattern and some, such as the Solbak, are only there to send data back to the super-computer and antagonist of the game. Everything in the game is designed to immerse the player into the game's world. My only ever complaint about Xevious is its soundtrack which consists of a simple and constantly looped (annoying) tune. This Famicom conversion by Namco is excellent and actually plays really well despite the change of screen ratio (the arcade game has a lot more vertical space). Because of the obvious technical limitations, sprites use less shades of gray than the arcade game and rely on patterns instead (which work surprisingly well) and some of the ground details are gone. Nonetheless, Xevious fans out there will definitively appreciate this port whereas others might find the game a bit slow and simple compared to shooters released later on the Famicom system.




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