Xexyz

Xexyz

Overview & History

Developed by Hudson Soft and published in North America by Imagineer in 1990, Xexyz is a delightfully bizarre and often overlooked Nintendo Entertainment System action-platformer. Set in a distant sci-fi fantasy realm known as the Planet Xexyz, the game follows a heroic cyborg named Apollo (and sometimes spelled astray in localization manuals as Jey) who embarks on a desperate quest to rescue Princess Maria and liberate the floating mechanical world from the tyrannical reign of the evil Garth and his biomechanical minions. Distinctive for its ambitious genre-mashing structure, Xexyz stands out among late-80s cartridges by alternating between traditional side-scrolling platforming, overhead shooter segments, and boss-dominated vertical scrolling sequences. Though it arrived relatively late in the NES lifecycle and faced stiff competition from heavy-hitting franchises, its eccentric blend of organic creature design, robotic machinery, and mythological motifs has carved out a dedicated cult following among retro gaming enthusiasts seeking eccentric hidden gems.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay cycle of Xexyz is split into distinct alternating phases across its six unique zones. In the primary side-scrolling stages, players guide Apollo as he jumps across treacherous terrain, blasts foes with his standard beam weapon, and collects currency orbs dropped by defeated enemies. These side-view stages frequently branch into indoor shop hubs where players can purchase permanent weapon upgrades, shields, and health extensions using accumulated currency. Upon reaching the end of a horizontal stage, Apollo transitions into an overhead flight vehicle equipped with a rapid-fire cannon, tackling frantic vertical-scrolling shoot-em-up stages filled with wave formations of alien crafts. This culminates in intense, multi-tiered boss battles that test both precision platforming reflexes and bullet-dodging shmup capabilities. Apollo's baseline moveset includes jumping, crouching, directional shooting, and utilizing secondary special weapons acquired throughout the stages, delivering a surprisingly deep tactical loop that challenges players to master two entirely different game styles within a single cart.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause