Xevious

Xevious is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game developed and published by Namco in 1982. Players control a futuristic starfighter, the Solvalou, tasked with defending the planet Xevious from an alien invasion. The game is known for its challenging gameplay, colorful graphics, and iconic soundtrack.

The objective of Xevious is to destroy all enemy crafts and motherships while avoiding enemy fire and obstacles. The Solvalou can fire projectiles forward and can also deploy an "air-to-surface" missile to attack ground-based enemies. Destroying enemies yields points, with bonuses awarded for clearing waves of enemies or for achieving specific objectives.

Xevious features a variety of enemy types, including airborne craft and ground targets. Certain enemies, like the "Zolbak," require specific targeting strategies. The game also includes challenging boss encounters. The difficulty increases progressively, with faster enemy movement and more complex attack patterns.

The game's programming was led by Masanobu Yamaguchi. Xevious was a commercial success in arcades and was later ported to various home consoles, including the Atari 2600, NES, and PC Engine. Its influence on the shoot 'em up genre is significant, with many subsequent games adopting similar mechanics and design elements. The game's enduring popularity has led to numerous sequels and re-releases on various platforms.