1991 · Konami · Arcade · Science

Xexex

Nintendo console exclusive

Xexex is a 1991 side-scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game by Konami released in Japan. It draws on Irem's R-Type and Konami's other shoot 'em up Gradius, while adding the tentacle mechanics of Irem's other shoot 'em up XMultiply.

Released: 1991
Platforms: Arcade Nintendo Switch
Genres: Arcade Science Shoot 'em up Shooter
Developers: Konami
Publishers: Konami
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Science fiction
Country: Japan

About

Xexex, released as Orius in North America, is a 1991 horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Konami for arcades. It was released in Japan in October 1991 and the same year internationally. It draws on Irem's R-Type and Konami's other shoot 'em up Gradius, while adding the tentacle mechanics of Irem's other shoot 'em up X Multiply. In the game, players take control of the Flintlock space fighter (which is armed with the mysterious alien life form "Flint") in a mission to rescue Princess Irene La Tias of Planet E-Square, who has been captured by the evil galactic warlord Klaus Pachelbel.

It did not see a home port until 2007, when it was included in the compilation Salamander Portable, released only in Japan for the PlayStation Portable. Hamster Corporation released the game as part of their Arcade Archives series for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in December 2021.

Keywords

shoot 'em up
side-scrolling

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The gameplay is similar to R-Type and X-Multiply. The player's ship, the Flintlock, has a detachable orb attachment called the Flint, which behaves similar to R-Type's Force Device. Power-ups can be obtained to increase the Flint's tentacles, movement speed, change the main weapon, or even give the player an extra life or energy.

There are different gameplay mechanics between the original Japanese release and the overseas releases. The overseas versions introduce a variety of changes, with the most notable being the removal of all but one upgradable weapon, as well as the removal of a lives system, which is replaced with an energy bar. The enemy patterns are also changed slightly and the bosses have more health.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Xexex on their November 15, 1991 issue as being the fifth most-popular arcade game at the time. In the January 1992 issue of Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine, the game was ranked on the number ten spot in popularity. At the 1992 Gamest Awards, Xexex was awarded Best Graphics (beating Virtua Racing) and Best VGM (beating Metal Black). Xexex was also nominated for Game of the Year (ranked 4th), Best Shooter (ranked 2nd), and Best Direction (ranked 6th), but lost to Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, Aero Fighters, and Art of Fighting, respectively.

Xexex has been met with positive reception from critics since its initial launch.