PSX Game Recommendations | mariteaux

[#] Xevious 3D/G+ (Namco, PlayStation, 1997)

An arcade-to-PS1 conversion done right?

Xevious was a pioneering vertical scrolling shooter arcade game with several innovations—namely, multiple levels of targets to shoot, secrets, and a difficulty that adapts to how well you're doing. This disc is primarily a port of Xevious 3D/G, a 3D remake from when such things were fashionable, but as the name suggests, you also get ports of Xevious, Super Xevious, and Xevious Arrangement as extras. This disc is for the Xevious fanatic in your life (who doesn't know one?).

3D/G makes damn good use of the extra dimension, with crazy camera moves and huge end bosses. There's three upgradable weapons to choose from, a green laser and a red tendril cannon that locks onto enemies, but I still prefer the zapper you spawn with. It sounds short with only five levels, but they're ridiculously difficult, so I've yet to beat it. Nice bonus from Namco though: the ability to completely customize your control scheme, complete with a built-in rapid fire function!

As far as the other games go, they're all quality additions. Super Xevious rearranges the locations of the secret flags and citadels for folks who got bored of the original, and Xevious Arrangement is another remake of the game featuring weapon powerups. The menus are a bit funky (Circle is OK, like on the Japanese PS1), and you have to manually save your high scores, but this disc is a rooty-tooty point and shooty good time, and if you like arcade games, you should own it.