Xevious was groundbreaking for technical reasons but it was quickly eclipsed by the games it inspired. Still an important milestone. The MSX2 version was actually done by Compile which is why it's so different and high-quality.

An important correction to make. While both the PC-Engine and MSX versions were produced by Namco, they were NOT developed by Namco, but actually by Compile (famous for Zanac, Aleste and Puyo Puyo games). They actually did a lot of work for other companies without receiving any credit. If you finish the arrange mode on the MSX version of Xevious, the game shows the names of the enemies.. and many of them have names from the staff from Compile or names from other Compile games. And the PC-Engine version is a sequel to the MSX version.

Xevious is such a classic. I absolutely love the MSX version, it's so unique in its presentation. I'm looking forward to playing it on an acutal MSX soon. :)

The 2600 version was never released, and the version you showed here is an earlier version. The later version is much more complete.

The Apple port is a total surprise! The Famicom version, if memory serves me well, has the hidden items in the same spots as the arcade version.

The msx2 port is very awesome, didn't expect a game could scroll so smoothly in that hardware, also the details are great and the addition of a customization feature makes it even better, definitely the winner! The pc engine port is great too and the first music track played in the game sounds very good!

man. retro core is really coming along. i do miss the captions scrolling at the bottom though. looking forward for much more

I absolutely love Xevious It's a masterpiece in my eyes

Believe it or not, Xevious actually got a Let's Compare remake treatment it deserves, thanks to Gaming History Source. Sure, he's playing the MSX2 version with PSG audio instead of the FM one, but I instantly think he did such a very nice job making a comparison video. I'm glad he also added new ports, such as the Fujitsu FM-77AV, PC-8001 (although listed as the PC-8801mkII SR), Sharp X1, PlayStation, and the SPC-1000. In case you didn't know, the SPC-1000 was a South Korean personal home computer manufactured by Samsung (famous for the Samsung Galaxy series of smartphones and Smart TVs).

I always enjoy your Battle of the Ports series... it's great info and entertaining as heck! :) Thank you, sir!

The Main BGM is heard in MOTHER 2/EarthBound in the arcade game center place of Onett. While Xevious became a phenomenal classic mostly to Japanese gamers, several competitors took its styles and made their own. From Terra Cresta and Danger UFO Robo to adding all-range mode in Vanguard II, Last Mission and ThunderForce 1 and 2. But perhaps Taito's Ray series (RayForce, RayStorm and RayCrisis) put it to a new level.

And the Atari 8 bit computer version was a conversion from 5200.

This was Probe's second arcade conversion and ST Coder,, Chris Hinsley's first arcade conversion. He had played the coin op, had the machine in his house for a few months, but he wasn't given any documentation, graphics data etc. He had to copy everything by eye. He coded it in just a couple of months, tried mouse control, but that didn't work well. He was never happy with the status panel on the side of the screen but it was the only way to keep the aspect ratio.

Enjoyable showing as usual.

A real classic even is hard because of the slow movement of the ship, is interesting to remember that this game was the first to include pre rendered graphics. A very advanced feature for the time.

I played both the arcade & NES versions of Xevious. But once again, the PC Engine version shines on its own merits.

never thought I would say this, but the msx2 version is incredible.

I still have my original msx2 cartridge, awesome game and for me the best version of all.

Xevious! Gan Gan Gekisuida! Gust Notch! Gust Notch! Ban Ban High Score! Xe-Vi-Ou-S!

Xevious has always had some magical holding on me ;) Back at my youth, I devoured different computer magazines from UK and USA. Saw and drooled many advertisements and pictures from conversion and arcade machines. At that age, it came as an surprise to find out, that there actually were some of those classical arcade games, at the pubs and bar around my little village and nearest town. Where I would bike to just watch them at first and later even play myself. A "pub-version/Tabletop-version" of Centipede, Dragon's Lair, Pac-Man pinball, Joyful Road/Munch Mobile, Track'n'field and indeed Xevious... Plus many more. To this day, I really don't know what it is in Xevious, that still has some appeal to me... I never have even liked to play the thing xD It's just the magic of seeing and marveling it at such an young age, I think ;) My opinions on versions I own/have tried: Arcade - Kinda boring graphics (though they we're ok at the time it was made) and really boring sounds... And that constant "tune" on background... Atari ST & 8-bit - I have both machines and surely have a copy of game for both, I have to check them out... Same thing with CPC, Spectrum and C-64 (C64 version I remember playing and it is awful) Atari 7800 - Pretty good port actually! Hard though... And I have never been good at Xevious :) Now, the MSX2-version seems really, REALLY good! That "arranged" version looks like an much more enjoyable shooter, than the original... Haven't bought an MSX2 machine, because of the cost, but I think I must try that one by the means of emulation :) It just looks to be the best version of Xevious...

One of my favourites from back in the day and now. Still play the arcade and NES versions (excellent version).

Great video comparing Xevious ports. The Atari 8bit port is not good, the system is capable of much more. The 2600 port is worse than the original pacman on that console. The 7800 is quite similar to the C64 version. Quite like the Spectrum incarnation, it plays pretty fast. Wouldn't mind one of those new arcade make overs for the C64 though. The MSX2, PCEngine and 68000K versions are just about the best homeports around.

My first time playing "Xevious" was as an unlockable title in the game "Star Fox: Assault" for the Nintendo Gamecube, though it was actually the NES version that was playable.

Xevious Mark? No argument here for a great game it is. Let me it back and get some soda pop for this one! Anthony...

Dude, I remember looking for hours at the ZX Spectrum loading screen. Not only it did load in a non-standard way, it had very little colour clash, plus it had that "tape counter" indicator. It was AWESOME back then.

Played this on CPC back in the day.As you correctly say it's not a lazy Speccy port.Was done from scratch.Impressive Pc Engine,MSX2,NES and Sharp X68000 as well the Atari console ports!!.

Battle of the Ports is at its best when there are loads of decent ports available!

its time for another battle of the ports! YES xD i do kind of like the arcade game, even though i really hate the soundeffects. cheeers

When the arcade version first starts, go to the extreme bottom right corner and hold the fire button down. A message will appear that says, "Original program by Evezoo". I think he was a disgruntled programmer who was being let go.

There is a version on the original MSX, I have it for my MSX

I just found a Xevious Ps1 games at the flea market called Xevious 3D/G+, I've never played this ps1 shooter before, looks kind of like what compile did with xanic x xanic

+Retro Core I was a CPC 464 Owner and borrowed Xevious off a friend (And copied as my mum loved it) - I can tell you there is a boss but it does seem to take an age to get to... Though I sometimes wonder if there were not multiple versions released, as when I picked up the game later on a Budget line... There was no Bosses!? Damn, the only reason I ever saw a boss was because my mum was good at the game... LOL!

Great video thank you but it lacks the NEC versions PC-8801 & Fujitsu FM-7 :) Greetings !

Extra bit of research if you update this: there is a much more complete version of Xevious for the 2600 that is official, look it up as the 1-18-84 proto

Would Xevious Arrangement on the Namco Classic Collection for arcade fall under the whole compilations rule? It is a fairly different game than some of the other versions.

Allegedly there was a Xevious anime called Solvalou, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.

I think Xevious should also have been officially released for the Atari 5200 and the XL computers, as well as for the ColecoVision through the AtariSoft division.

Did you know that Compile were actually responsible for the MSX2 and PCE versions?

Great episode as usual. I'm with you in that I was never a huge fan of Xevious. It has its place in history for sure. I'd rather play Galaga though!

frikin rollin things...

I only have 2 ports of Xevious; I have the Atari 7800 and NES versions. While I love shooters I've never really clicked with this one.

Have you ever been to a bar in Shinjuku called 8-Bit Cafe? They have a cocktail cab of Xevious.

A lot of excellent home translations of Xevious. I'm partial to the 7800 version, as well as the PC Engine version. The NES rendition never really worked for me, felt too sterile. But maybe that's me.

Well the sequels sure improved on it to be honest.

2600 version was an unfinished prototype.

it's because the atari2600 was a prototype

I've never been much impressed by Xevious either, maybe it looked fresher in 1982 when the arcades were stuffed with Space shooters derived from Space Invaders. It's place in history probably comes from being a springboard for better games. You certainly couldn't have Slap Fight without Xevious, it's practically a sequel in all but name. The idea of targets being on two planes, requiring the player to alternate between bombing ground emplacements and shooting down enemies in the air was adopted in games like Twinbee.

Xevious debuted on the arcades on 1982, not 1992.

Surprised you didn't put the Namco Museum 2 PS1 version on this one, since you have done the PS1 Namco Museum ports in the past.

The "lou" in Solvalou is pronounced "loo".

I wonder if Astro Warrior for the SMS was inspired by this or related to it in some way.

the 2 fardraut games were handled by Compile :P

I read in namco museum said that the GALAXIAN flag ship is in xevious

Fondly remembered by Japanese gamers, but often forgotten by American gamers.

Hey, if you ever do Zaxxon, I have a 128k version to send that supports the Mockingboard expansion.

I'm sure that exist a Sharp MZ 700 version in Ascii.

there would be a remake named Xevious for the Playstation 2 using the Ace combat 4 engine. unfortunately it go canceled. but it would be nice to see, since i like the ace combat series and would like to see it used on xevious.

The thing I like about Xevious is the shattering enemies and the sound effect when they shatter :D it's fun. Other than that the game is crap

What? A good ZX Spectrum port? It's the end of the world!!!!!!!

The Atari 2600 version was an unreleased prototype, so what you showed in the video was unfinished code. FYI.

Did home computers really make those clicking noises?

The best port is on PS3, its unlockable in *Ridge Racer 7* then you can play the Arcade version of Xevious as a Bonus game all you want

Why didnt you incluide the Classic 3D Xevious for Nintendo 3DS? it is not emulated.

Prehaps you should add the atari 2600 homebrew of xevious to make it look better than the atari 5200.

The problem with the X68000 "vertical" games is that they run in Yoko mode using a 31Kh double scanned Hi-Res screen with black bars on the sides. It`s not like on the Saturn where you get a 15Khz 224P scanlined Tate mode. (no Tate modes for X68000 shooters T_T) I spend quite a lot for my X68000 collection (22 carefully selected games, the best of the crop) plus original HW, Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse (no replacements or compatible items here) but the experience has been lack luster most of the time. No 15Khz mode in parodius? Check, Ugly screen mode on both Final Fight and Strider? Check, Mega slow downs in Gradius 2? Check, most games previously exclusive games now present and running better on other hardware? Check Most people experience these system through emulation where the X68000 hides his numerous problems, but with the real HW I think there is too much money to spend for too little to offer (I mean, vertical games that are either squashed or hires with no scanlines?)

Funny u said it doesn't do much for you. I open the video and see a very large number of ports. Then with this huge selection you say you don't care for the game. dunno. just seems ironic. Anyway I agree with you in a way. I remember liking the game when it was one of the few games I could play at a soda shop or bowling alley, but.. whenever I revisit it, in a port, or emulation I quickly lose interest. keep the vids coming brother!

The psx version was missing

Atari 2600 was 4:59, not 4:49.

How is this game even able to be played on the Apple 2? Just how…………………. and what did the developer have to do to port it to the system?

I am with you i am not a fan of it either.

I liked the port of Xevious from Microsoft's Revenge of Arcade.

Add to that you'd probably want to play the c64 port on mute. the sounds are rather annoying. the original version didn't sound that great, but at least it doesn't grate on your nerves.

GALAXIAN please

MSX2 and PC-Engine for me. The original arcade game is not bad, but I'd rather play the arranged modes from these versions. MSX 2 makes the Atari ST version look awful in comparison.

the spin off is too xevious is grobda and that is created by namco in Japan 1984

PC Engine no contest. WTF on the C64 port..

Atari 2600 5:02

see if you can pronounce this phonetically: Sol-Va-Loo

I remember playing a Xevious type game called Flak on the Atari computer system which was miles better.

Definitely not my favorite shooter nor my favorite classic Namco game. Still, it was pretty for the time. Music is annoying though.

ST version 60% C+VG 36% ST Action. A repetitious soundtrack, small active window. No wonder they threw in a free badge and poster to try and attract buyers.

My ears! Awful sound effects. Somebody kill me.

I honestly found Xevious really boring. I did like 3DG a lot though. It was a great update.

PC engine

The 2600 port is by far the worst contender.