Xexyz (1990). Play online

Summary

Xexyz pulls off a restless mix of platforming and scrolling shooters that feels oddly cohesive. You guide Apollo as he hops between side‑scrolling run‑and‑gun stages and overhead shooter segments, all while hunting for the force star that opens the mechanical castles. Every even‑numbered level drops you into a Gradius‑style ship that zips through endless waves toward a floating‑platform boss. The climax pushes you into a tube‑shaped arena where an upgraded vessel must tear down the final fortress.

In the platform sections Apollo can snag power‑ups, exchange the planet’s quirky currency at storefronts and even talk to a goddess who supplies weapon upgrades. Shops let you fine‑tune your arsenal before the next auto‑scrolling onslaught, and the Japanese version adds extra cutscenes and three possible endings. The game’s oddball premise—defeating the evil Goruza, rescuing Princess Maria and saving the world—keeps the pacing lively despite the steep difficulty. Known in Japan as Kame no Ongaeshi – Urashima Densetsu, it arrived on the NES only in North America in 1990, never seeing a PAL release.

Storyline

Xexyz drops you into a bleak, post‑apocalyptic world in the year 2777, after nuclear war and natural disasters have scarred the planet. The island nation of Xexyz is under siege by alien robots, and only the hero Apollo can turn the tide. He must battle the evil Goruza, rescue Princess Maria, and ultimately save the planet from total ruin. The Japanese version even weaves in elements of the Urashima Tarō legend, giving the sci‑fi tale a mythic twist. The game’s simple premise—hero versus alien menace—packs a surprisingly rich narrative for an NES title.