Xevious 3D/G/Gameplay

Controls

 * Joystick: Use the 8-way joystick to direct the blue-lined Solvalou (or the red-lined Solvalou if you're player 2) around the screen. They're always moving forward, but can go anywhere.
 * Firing Button: Use this button to make the blue-lined Solvalou (or the red-lined Solvalou if you're player 2) fire shots at the air-based enemies. There are three different kinds of shots.
 * Bomb Button: Use this button to make the blue-lined Solvalou (or the red-lined Solvalou if you're player 2) drop bombs on the ground-based enemies. There are two different bombs.
 * 1 or 2 Player Buttons: Push these buttons to begin the game as player 1 or player 2.

Solvalou (ソルバルウ)
The protagonists of the game. As with the three previous games in the series, the first player controls the blue-lined Solvalou shown in the image to the left, but for the first time, a second player can join in, as the red-lined Solvalou shown in the image to the right. They must avoid contact with every air-based enemy and every shot that is fired at them by both the air- and ground-based enemies, and can collect three different kinds of powerups to strengthen their fire/bomb power.

Toroid (トーロイド)
These disc-like ships attack by flying towards the Solvalou, then flying away while rotating on their X-axes once they have seen them, while firing off projectiles at them. 30 points.

Torkan (トルカン)
These scout ships attack by flying towards the Solvalou from both of the northern angles, and firing a single projectile at them before retreating in the opposite direction. 50 points.

Zoshi (ゾシー)
These ships attack by flying towards the Solvalou in an erratic pattern that is usually impossible to predict, and firing multiple projectiles at them, before retreating away. 70 points.

Barra (バッラ)
These ground-based pyramids serve as energy storage stations for small regions. As with appearances in the three previous games, they have no attack methods. 200 points.

Garu Barra (ガルバッラ)
These ground-based pyramids are somewhat larger than Barra, and serve as energy storage stations for large regions. They also have no methods of attack. 2800 points.

Zolbak (ゾルバク)
These radar installations contain sensitive threat detection equipment which feed the position of the two Solvalou to the enemy forces, and have no methods of attack. 200 points.

Grobda (グロブダー)
These tanks (which are, yet again, back on the side of evil), do not attack, but can detect when you are targeting them and will change speed to avoid getting bombed. 200 points.

Sol (ソル)
These towers are initially invisible, but will reveal their presence after you drop bomb on them. If you drop another bomb on them to destroy them, they'll award you 2000 points.

Bacura (バキュラ)
These metal barriers attack by flying towards the Solvalou, while rotating on their Y-axes. As with the three previous games, they cannot be destroyed and must be avoided.

Logram (ログラム)
These stationary domes can serve as ground-to-air defence stations, and attack by firing a single projectile at the Solvalou like they did in the three previous games. 300 points.

Boza Logram (ボザログラム)
These enhanced Lograms have four domes attached to centre cores, and attack by firing projectiles at the Solvalou like they did in the three previous games. You can either drop a bomb on each of the four domes to destroy them individually, before dropping one on the centre core to destroy it, or drop a bomb on the centre core, to automatically destroy the four domes. Each of the four domes is worth 1800 points when destroyed (1500 more than before), but the centre core is 2000.

Domogram (ドモグラム)
These domes serve as Lograms upon a hovering platform, and usually follow the course of the roads. They may be able to cross rivers, but cannot cross over oceans. 800 points.

Domtris (ドムトリス)
These domes, much like the Domograms, usually follow the course of the roads, and attack by generating lasers which cannot be penetrated by the Solvalou's shots. 1200 points.

Derota (デロータ)
These domes are a more evolved version of the Lograms, and can serve as area defence stations, which have the ability to fire multiple projectiles at the Solvalou. 1000 points.

Garu Derota (ガルデロータ)
These octagonal defence stations are somewhat larger than Derota, and also possess the ability to fire multiple projectiles at the Solvalou from all directions. 2000 points.

Zakato (ザカート)
These bombs attack by materializing onto the screen and flying towards the Solvalou, and will self-destruct to fire a projectile at them if you do not shoot them in time. 300 points.

Andor Genesis (アンドアジェネシス)
As with the three previous games, the appearance of these octagonal motherships is usually announced by a barrage of Zakato. They attack by firing projectiles at the Solvalou from their four cannons while rotating in a clockwise direction (like they did in Solvalou due to the fact that it ran upon earlier polygonal Namco System 21 hardware), and have two vulnerabilities; the four aforementioned cannons around its central core, and the central core itself. Each of the four cannons is worth 2000 points when destroyed (which is 1000 more than what they were worth in the three previous games) while the central core is worth 4000. Once you have destroyed the central core, the indestructible Bragza core will escape from the wreckage and fly off the top of the screen, on to the next Andor Genesis mothership.

Gaurukudora (ガウルクドーラ)
This enormous silver crab-like robot is the boss of the first area. Once you have defeated the first Andor Genesis Mothership of the game, the ground will crack open beneath the altitude of the two Solvalou, and it will climb out from the depths below; it will then proceed to try and stay ahead of the two Solvalou while trying to crush them beneath its six enormous legs. Therefore, it is advisable to aim for its aforementioned legs first (which are worth 3000 points when disabled) before aiming for its centre body - and once you have fired off enough shots at its body, the top half of its shell will explode and award you another 3000 points. You will then have to drop a single bomb on its now-exposed central core to destroy it as if it were another Andor Genesis Mothership (with six enormous legs, of course), and once you have done so, you will be awarded 10000 additional points as the whole thing explodes beneath you and the indestructible Bragza core escapes from the wreckage before flying away off the top of the screen to the boss of the next area; however, as with the bosses of Namco's own Dangerous Seed (which was the first Japan-exclusive game from Namco to display its year at the bottom of its "legal notice"), it will retreat if you take too long over defeating it, and you will not receive bonus if you should let this happen. The bosses of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth areas will also retreat if you take too long over defeating them, but the boss of the seventh and final area, much like the Dangerous Seed himself, will not.

Sheonite (シオナイト)
After defeating a boss, two of these indestructible defensive ships will appear on either side of both Solvalou while spinning round, join up, and fly away off the top of the screen.

Motorboat (モーターボート)
These motorized boats, much like the Domtrises, are a new addition to the Xevious forces, and attack by sailing towards both Solvalou while firing projectiles at them. 300 points.

Jara (ジャラ)
These ships attack by flying towards the Solvalou in a manner similar to the Toroid, while firing projectiles at them. Due to their speed, they are dangerous to intercept. 150 points.

Shuriken (手裏剣)
These throwing stars attack by materializing in front of the Solvalou in a manner similar to that of the Zakato, and flying towards them while firing projectiles at them. 800 points.

Hexa (ヘクサ)
These pentagonal (despite their name - "hexa" means "six-sided"), ships attack by emerging from pools of water, and firing lasers at the Solvalou. 2000 points.

Gido Spario (ギドスパリオ)
These shooting stars (which resemble Shurikens) attack by flying towards both of the Solvalou. Not only do they appear in large numbers, they also move very quickly. 200 points.

Frisbee (フリスビー)
These octagonal ships, like the Domtrises and Motorboats, are new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by flying and firing towards the Solvalou. 850 points.

Stealth (ステルス)
These diamond-shaped ships, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats and Shurikens, are a new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by appearing in front of the Solvalou, lining up with their horizontal position while firing projectiles at them, and firing lasers at them once they have done so. Like the bosses (apart from the final), they will also retreat if you take too long over defeating them. 2800 points.

Garu Dibarido (ガル・ディバリド)
These holes in the grounds of the second (left) and fifth (right) areas open up when the Solvalou are close enough to them, and attack by firing projectiles. 800 points.

Seggio (セッジオ)
These triangular ships are new addition to the Xevious forces, and attack by flying towards the Solvalou while firing projectiles at them before flying up and away. 600 points.

Iriazanaido (イーリアザーナイド)
This enormous hovercraft is the boss of the second area. After you have defeated the last Seggio of that area, it will fly in from the right side of the screen and begin to fire projectiles at the two Solvalou from its eight cannons; an infinite amount of Hexa will also be emerging from the water to fire lasers at you during the battle, so it is advisable to drop bombs on its four outer projectile-firing cannons first (which are each worth 500 points when destroyed) before proceeding to drop bombs on of its four inner projectile-firing cannons (which are each worth 400 points when destroyed) - and once you have done so, you will have to drop a bomb on its now-exposed central core to defeat it as if it were another Andor Genesis Mothership (with eight projectile-firing cannons and the support of an infinite amount of Hexa, of course). Once you have done so, you will be awarded 12000 additional points as the whole thing explodes beneath you and the indestructible Bragza core escapes from the wreckage before flying away off the top of the screen to the boss of the next area; however, as with Gaurukudora, it will also retreat if you take too long over defeating it, and you will not receive a bonus if you should let this happen for a second time. But regardless of whether you had managed to defeat it or not by the end of the area, two more Sheonites will appear on either side of both Solvalou while spinning around, join up, and quicky fly away off the top of the screen. The bosses of the next four areas will also retreat if you take too long over defeating them.

Snake (スネーク)
These already-exposed cores, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens and Seggio, are yet another new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, usually appear in pairs, have a string of metal balls circling around them, and attack by firing projectiles at the Solvalou. They are also the first of only three ground-based enemy types you will encounter in the game that can only be destroyed by shots (rather than bombs) - the other two are the Hashira and Astvapors, which are explained later. 1600 points.

Enefurossa (エネフロッサー)
These propeller-shaped ships (which are related to the Furossas from Grobda), attack by hovering into the air from their bases while firing projectiles at the Solvalou. 800 points.

Selavisite (セラビサイト)
These TIE-Fighter-like ships (which also look somewhat like the boss of World 4-2 from Namco's earlier 3D shooter Burning Force) are, like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens, Seggio and Snakes, another new addition to the Xevious forces, attack by materializing onto the side of the screen that the Solvalou are currently on in front of them, and firing a rainbow-coloured laser at them while moving from left to right (or right to left) before disappearing. 1500 points.

Xevious Moji (ゼビウス文字)
These ground-based pyramids (which look somewhat like a dark version of the Garu Barra) are a new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and have no methods of attack.

Hashira (柱)
These enormous stone pillars, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens, Seggio, Snakes and Selavisites, are a new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by emerging from their positions in the ground to fire projectiles at the Solvalou as they approach them. They are also the second of three ground-based enemy types in game that can only be destroyed with shots rather than bombs; the first are Snakes, and the third are Astvapors. 1000 points.

Brag Zakato (ブラグザカート)
These bombs attack by materializing onto the screen and flying towards the Solvalou, and will self-destruct to fire five projectiles at them if do not shoot them in time. 1500 points.

Dolseek (ドルシーク)
These ships, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens, Seggio, Snakes, Selavisites and Hashira, are a new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by slowly flying towards the Solvalou while firing projectiles at them. However, you will only have the chance to see them on the third area if the game decides to turn right at the second junction, and much like a Selavisite, they also look like something off the original Star Wars trilogy. 8000 points.

Astvapor (アストヴァポア)
These enormous metal pillars, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens, Seggio, Snakes, Selavisites, Hashira, and Dolseeks, are a new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by emerging from their positions in the ground to fire projectiles at them as they approach them. They are also the third of three ground-based enemy types in the game that can only be destroyed with shots (rather than bombs); the first are Snakes, and the second are Hashira. 800 points.

Cube (キューブ)
These black-with-red-outlining geometric shapes, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens, Seggio, Snakes, Selavisites, Hashira, Dolseeks, and Astvapors, are another new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by flying quickly towards the Solvalou. Much like the Bacura, they cannot be destroyed and must be avoided. Silver-with-black-outlining and destructible version of this enemy also exists, and it is employed by the boss of the third area to fire projectiles at the Solvalou (see below).

Cube Core (キューブコア)
This already-exposed core (much like that of the Snakes) is the boss of the third area. Once you have defeated the last Astvapor of that area, and passed through an enormous stone door with an ancient image of a spider on it that will slide up once you are close enough to it, it will come down from the top of the screen and summon seven silver-with-black-outlined cubes to surround and fire off projectiles at you (which are each worth 1500 points when destroyed). Therefore, it is advisable to aim for each of the cubes first as it flies randomly around the screen; however, once you have done so, it will summon seven more silver-with-black-outlined cubes to take their place and fire lasers at you (which are similar to those afired by the Hexa). It is then advisable to aim for each of these cubes as it continues to afly randomly around the screen - and once you have done so, it will not summon any more silver-with-black-outlined cubes to take their place, but you will still have to fire enough shots at it to defeat it as if it were a Snake (with the supporting of fourteen silver-with-black-outlined cubes, of course). Once you have done so, you will be awarded 15000 additional points as it explodes beneath you and the indestructible Bragza core escapes from the wreckage before flying away off the top of the screen to the boss of the next area; however, as with Gaurukudora and Iriazanaido, it will retreat if you take too long over defeating it, and you will not receive bonus if that happens. The bosses of the next three areas can also retreat too.

Literaroid (リテアロイド)
These three-legged robots are yet another new addition to the Xevious forces, and attack by trying to stay ahead of the two Solvalou while firing projectiles at them. 700 points.

Kogata Andor Genesis (小型アンドアジェネシス)
These miniaturized versions of the old octagonal motherships (which were the most dangerous enemies in the first two games) are, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens, Seggio, Snakes, Selavisites, Hashira, Dolseeks, Astvapors, Cubes and Literaroids, another new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by flying towards the two Solvalou while rotating in a clockwise direction (due to the System 11 hardware) and firing projectiles at them. 3000 points.

Zos (ゾス)
These towers are initially invisible, but will reveal their presence after you drop a bomb on them and fire projectiles at you. If you drop a second bomb, it is worth 2000 points.

Garu Zakato (ガルザカート)
These bombs are bigger than both Zakato and Brag Zakato, and will self-destruct to fire sixteen projectiles and eight missiles at you if you do not shoot them in time. 1000 points.

Gelmi Derota (ジェルミデロータ)
These ships are, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens, Seggio, Snakes, Selavisites, Hashira, Dolseeks, Astvapors, Cubes, Literaroids, Kogata Andor Genesis and Zos, a new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by forming up in front of the two Solvalou and trying to stay ahead of them while rotating in a clockwise direction (as with the Kogata Andor Genesis, this is because the game runs upon System11 hardware) and firing projectiles at them. 3400 points.

Diamond (ダイヤモンド)
These rhombus-shaped ships, much like the Domtrises, Motorboats, Shurikens, Seggio, Snakes, Selavisites, Hashira, Dolseeks, Astvapors, Cubes, Literaroids, Kogata Andor Genesis, Zos and Gelmi Derota, are a new addition to the Xevious enemy forces, and attack by flying towards the Solvalou while rotating on their Y-axes, and firing projectiles at them. You may also have noticed that they are also the only enemy type that are named after what they are shaped like - apart from the Toroids. 800 points.

Enebarra (エネバッラ)
These ground-based half-pyramids are a new addition to the Xevious forces, and have no methods of attack. However, as with the Bacura and Cubes, they cannot be destroyed.

Kenmonjo (検問所)
This enormous building is the boss of the fourth area. After you have defeated the last Diamond of that area, its ten cannons will begin to rotate in anticlockwise direction while afiring projectiles at you; an infinite amount of Domograms will also be emerging from it to fire projectiles at you during the battle, so it is advisable to aim for each of the aforementioned projectile-firing cannons first (which are each worth 1000 points when destroyed). Once you have done so, its roof will explode and a fireball (which looks somewhat like the ones that two of Ceruberus's three heads left behind when they were destroyed in Phelios) will emerge from the black-and-red glowing centre of the building - and it will then begin to fly randomly around the screen while firing projectiles at you. Once you have fired enough shots at this fireball to defeat it, it (and the rest of the building) will explode and award you 18000 additional points; however, as with Gaurukudora, Iriazanaido and Cube Core, the fireball will retreat if you take too long over trying to defeat it, and you will not receive a bonus if you should let this happen. But even if the fireball does decide to retreat as a result of you taking too long over defeating it, the rest of the building will still explode - and regardless of whether you managed to defeat it or not, two more Sheonites will appear on either side of both Solvalou while spinning around, join up, and quicky fly away off the top of the screen. The bosses of the next two areas will also retreat if you take too long over defeating them, but the last one won't.