Xevious Fardraut Densetsu [Model NC90004]

Xevious Fardraut Densetsu © 1990 NAMCOT [Namco, Ltd. label for home] [Japan]

The PC Engine brings Namco's legendary 1982 vertical shooter Xevious to home consoles with an excellent conversion that includes both the original arcade experience and an exclusive new game mode.

Players take control of the advanced Solvalou fighter on a mission to stop an ancient supercomputer that has awakened after thousands of years. Its mechanical armies, including airborne drones, amphibious tanks, and heavily defended ground installations, have overrun the planet and must be eliminated.

One of Xevious' defining features is its innovative dual-attack system, a mechanic that helped set it apart from other shooters of its era. While the Solvalou's forward-firing weapons take down airborne enemies, its bomb system targets ground-based threats such as tanks, missile emplacements, and fortified structures, adding an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay.

This PC Engine release is more than a straightforward arcade port. In addition to the faithful Arcade Mode, it introduces the exclusive Fardraut Mode, featuring an expanded storyline, new stages, original music, redesigned Solvalou variants, fresh enemy types, and a selection of power-ups. These upgrades include Rapid Fire, Wide Lasers, Shields, and devastating Super Bombs, giving the game a fresh feel even for longtime Xevious fans.

Combining classic arcade action with substantial new content, this version stands as one of the finest home adaptations of Xevious and offers plenty for both newcomers and veterans to enjoy.