List of Xevious media explained

Xevious
Italic Title:no
Developer:Namco
Publisher:Namco
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Creator:Masanobu Endo
Genre:Vertical-scrolling shooter
First Release Version:Xevious
First Release Date:December 10, 1982
Latest Release Version:Xevious Resurrection
Latest Release Date:January 29, 2009

Xevious is a franchise of shoot 'em up video games published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. Xevious, the first title in the franchise, was released for arcades in January 1983 in Japan and a month later in North America by Atari, Inc. It was created by Masanobu Endō, who also designed The Tower of Druaga. The game has received many sequels, spin-offs, and re-imaginings, the most recent being Xevious Resurrection in 2009. Xevious games have been ported to many platforms and compiled into several Namco compilations. The franchise contains twelve games—seven mainline entries and five spin-offs—soundtrack albums, pachinko machines, and an animated feature film produced by Groove Corporation.

Gameplay in the series consists of controlling a spaceship named the Solvalou throughout a series of levels, shooting at enemies and avoiding their projectiles.[1] The Solvalou has two weapons, an air zapper that destroys air-based enemies and a blaster bomb that destroys ground-based enemies. Later games introduce mechanics such as additional playable ships, power-ups, protective shields, and two-player co-operative play. Critics have labeled Xevious as one of the most important games of its kind.[1] It is one of the first vertically scrolling shooters and among the first video games to implement bosses, pre-rendered visuals,[2] and a cohesive world and storyline. Xevious inspired games such as Gradius,[3] TwinBee, Zanac,[4] and RayForce.[5] It has had an influence on game designers such as Satoshi Tajiri and musicians like Haruomi Hosono.[6]

Other media

TitleRelease dateMedia type
Fardraut1991Novel
Notes:
  • A three-part Xevious novel that describes the setting and world of the original game.
  • Written by Masanobu Endo and published by Futabasha.
  • Republished in 2005.[7]
XeviousAugust 10, 2002Feature film
Notes:
  • A 75-minute gaiden (side-story) film based on the franchise.[8]
  • Produced by animation studio Groove Corporation under license from Namco.[9]
  • Premiered at Theater Ikebukuro and later a summer road show.[10]
  • Home media releases were cancelled when Groove went out of business, making it a lost film.
CR Xevious WZ
CR Xevious X
CR Xevious Y		May 6, 2003[11] Pachinko
Notes:
  • Pachinko machines produced by Takao.[12]
  • Features animated cutscenes on an LCD screen.
DOORS XeviousApril 5, 2009Game show
Notes:
  • A segment from the Japanese game show DOORS.[13]
  • Contestants had to use foot sensors to destroy waves of Xevious enemies.
Memorial Game Collection Series - SolvalouApril 2013[14] Model kit
Notes:
  • A plastic model kit of the Solvalou starship.
  • Produced by Japanese company Wave

Soundtracks

TitleRelease dateLengthLabel
Video Game MusicApril 23, 1984[15] 30:13LDK Studio
Notes:
Super XeviousAug 29, 1984[17] 15:44Alfa Records
Notes:
Xevious 3D/G+ Techno ManiaxOctober 1997[19] 76:46Pony Canyon
Notes:
  • Part of Pony Canyon's DigiGroove soundtrack series.
  • Features original tracks and remixes from Xevious 3D/G+.
Namco Sounds - XeviousSeptember 2, 2009[20] Namco Sounds
Notes:
  • Digital soundtrack available on iTunes that features music and sound effects from Xevious.
  • One of the first albums released under the Namco Sounds label.
Xevious 30th Anniversary TributeJanuary 29, 2013[21] Namco Sounds
Notes:
  • Released in commemoration of the franchise's 30th anniversary.
  • Features remixes of Xevious music tracks and original compositions.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grifford . Kevin . Xevious: The 29-Year-Old Portmortem . . . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120709210831/http://www.1up.com/news/xevious-29-year-old-portmortem . 9 July 2012 . 19 October 2011.
  2. Top 100 Games of All Time . Next Generation. 21 . Imagine Media. September 1996. 39.
  3. Web site: Machiguchi Hiroyasu Gradius Interviews (Translated) . Shmuplations . 8 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190729084921/http://shmuplations.com/gradius-machiguchi/ . 29 July 2019.
  4. Web site: Zanac – 2015 Developer Interview . Shmuplations . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418004728/http://shmuplations.com/zanac/ . 18 April 2020.
  5. Book: Saruwatari, Masafumi . 巻頭特集: RAYの軌跡 - レイフォース, レイストーム, レイクライシス . Intro Feature: Ray's Trail - RayForce, RayStorm, RayCrisis . GAMEgene . 1. . 26 August 2016 . 2–84 . ja . 978-4198642464. (Translation by Shmuplations.)
  6. Book: Kohler, Chris. 2005. Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life. BradyGames. 978-0-7440-0424-3. 16 July 2019. July 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102412/https://books.google.com/books?id=auMTAQAAIAAJ. live.
  7. Web site: Okawada . Akira . なぜ「ゲーム研究」が必要なのか？ 書籍「ゲーム学の新時代」から読み解く，ゲーム研究からの人文社会科学 . Why is "game research" needed? Humanities and social sciences from game research, deciphered from the book "A new era of game science" . . Aetas, Inc. . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190627045647/https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20190607160/ . 27 June 2019 . ja . 25 June 2019.
  8. Web site: Savorelli . Carlo . Xevious - Other . Hardcore Gaming 101 . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190926030057/https://hg101.kontek.net/xevious/xevious3.htm . 26 September 2019 . December 10, 2011.
  9. Web site: IGN Staff . Namco Announces Xevious CG Movie . . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190508183729/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/02/08/namco-announces-xevious-cg-movie . 8 May 2019 . 8 February 2002.
  10. Web site: テアトル池袋で劇場版「ゼビウス」公開！初日はスタッフによる舞台挨拶も . Theater version "Zebius" released at Theater Ikebukuro! On the first day, stage greetings by staff . . . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180307082242/http://dengekionline.com/data/news/2002/8/10/8ac4cbad76445593f83c949c0ec954d6.html . 7 March 2018 . ja . 10 August 2002.
  11. Web site: Kitamura . Takakazu . ナムコ、高尾の最新CR機「CRゼビウス」に 映像システムを販売 . Namco sells video system to Takao's latest CR machine "CR Xevious" . Game Watch . Impress Group . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170808122222/http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20030512/cr.htm . 8 August 2017 . ja . 12 May 2003.
  12. ナムコがパチンコ機に映像ソフトを提供 . Namco provides video software for pachinko machines . . . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181210003406/https://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2003/05/09/103,1052477560,12552,0,0.html . 10 December 2018 . ja . 12 May 2003.
  13. Web site: 2009年も登場！テレビ史上最強の超巨大アドベンチャーパーク！！「DOORS2009」4月5日(日)よる7時～放送 . Also in 2009! The strongest gigantic adventure park in television history! ! "DOORS 2009" Broadcast on Sunday, April 5th from 7pm . DOORS . . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090405155641/http://www.tbs.co.jp/DOORS/attraction/att6.html . 5 April 2009 . ja. 5 April 2009.
  14. Web site: Katsuka . Tetsuya . 「ゼビウス」の自機「ソルバルウ」プラモを4月に発売 . "Xevious" own "Solvalou" plastic model released in April . Game Watch . Impress Group . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161002041059/http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/581454.html . 2 October 2016 . ja . 11 January 2013.
  15. News: 祝 細野晴臣・監修による魅惑の円盤 VIDEO GAME MUSIC 所謂音響記念碑的作品、堂々完成 . Celebration Haruomi Hosono, a fascinating disk supervised by VIDEO GAME MUSIC, a so-called acoustic monumental work, completed magnificently . Monthly Login . 5 . . May 1984 . 3 . 67 . ja.
  16. Web site: Ombler . Mat . Are bootleg game soundtracks damaging the industry? . . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200507205932/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-05-06-are-bootleg-video-game-soundtracks-damaging-the-industry . 7 May 2020 . 6 May 2020.
  17. News: SUPER XEVIOUS 無敵のDISCOビート 12インチ・マキシシングル レコーディング、快調。. SUPER XEVIOUS Invincible DISCO beat 12 inch maxi single recording, excellent performance. . Monthly Login . 9 . . September 1984 . 3 . 136 . ja.
  18. Web site: Super Xevious . . All Media . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200511150626/https://www.allmusic.com/album/super-xevious-mw0000420577 . 11 May 2020.
  19. Web site: IGN Staff . Get Your Groove On . . 17 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200317014815/https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/07/22/get-your-groove-on-2 . 17 March 2020 . 22 July 1997.
  20. Web site: IGN Staff . Namco Bandai Games Announces the Namco Sounds Music Label for iTunes . . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200511190725/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/02/namco-bandai-games-announces-the-namco-sounds-music-label-for-itunes . 11 May 2020 . 2 September 2009.
  21. Web site: Kotowski . Don . Xevious 30th Anniversary Tribute . Video Game Music Online . 11 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170621122653/http://www.vgmonline.net/xeviousanniversary/ . 21 June 2017 . 14 April 2014.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Xevious media".

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