Exolon

Exolon is a classic side-scrolling action game developed by Hewson Consultants and released in 1987 for various 8-bit home computer platforms. Players control Vitorc, a space marine equipped with an armored exoskeleton suit, as he navigates through 125 screens of hostile alien terrain. The game's core gameplay revolves around precise shooting, strategic grenade use, and skillful maneuvering to overcome a relentless array of enemies and environmental hazards. Known for its high difficulty level, Exolon challenges players with fast-paced action that demands quick reflexes and careful planning.

Released: 1987
Platforms: Amiga Amstrad CPC Atari ST Atari ST/STE Commodore 64 Commodore C64/128/MAX ZX Spectrum
Genres: Platformer Shoot 'em up Shooter
Developers: Linel Dragonware
Publishers: Hewson Consultants
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Science fiction
Country: United Kingdom

About

Exolon is a run and gun game programmed by Raffaele Cecco and published by Hewson in 1987 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC. It was later converted to the Enterprise 128, Amiga, and Atari ST.

Keywords

flip screen

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player takes control of a futuristic soldier named Vitorc across several flip-screen levels of gameplay. The screens that make up these levels are filled with various generic aliens as well as gun emplacements, homing missiles, landmines and other hazards. The soldier can defend himself with both a gun and rocket-propelled grenades. The two different weapons are effective against different enemies.

The enemies themselves are varied, taking the forms of flying aliens of the type traditionally found in shoot 'em up games as well as homing missiles, fixed guns, tanks, land mines, swarming red pods and "crushers" which shoot out of the ground.

Reception

The ZX Spectrum version of Exolon was placed at the top of the Woolworths Top 30 chart for September 1987, with the Commodore 64 version at number 29.

Legacy

After developing the two Cybernoid titles in 1988, Cecco's next game was Stormlord. It is considered a spiritual successor to Exolon and used the same main character sprite during development.

Exolon is one of the games included with the C64 Direct-to-TV (2004).

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

Platform	Released	Regions
Amstrad CPC	31 December 1987	Europe
ZX Spectrum	31 December 1987	Europe
Commodore C64/128/MAX	31 December 1987	Europe
Amiga	31 December 1989	Europe
Atari ST/STE	31 December 1989	Europe