Xexyz

The story takes place in the post apocalyptic year of 2777, after Earth has been devastated by nuclear war and natural disasters, with the island nation of Xexyz now being threatened by alien robots. The Japanese Famicom version is based on the tales of Urashima Tarō, features cutscenes throughout the game, a choice of three endings and has minor graphical differences in some of the NPCs.

The game revolves around the main character Apollo, who progresses through the game in an alternating format that switches between platform, side scrolling action (similar to the Super Mario Bros. series) and side scrolling shooter action (similar to Konami's Gradius series). The goal of the game is to destroy the evil Goruza, rescue Princess Maria, and save the planet. In the platforming levels, defeated enemies drop life ('L' blocks) or money ('E' blocks) power ups. Apollo can collect the currency of the land ('Balls'/'E Ball') in order to exchange it for power ups and information, as well as access to minigames. Vendors are scattered throughout the platforming levels through doors or hidden gates. In the shooter levels, the player can obtain 'S' and 'P' items that upgrade speed and weapons, respectively.

The odd numbered stages in the game (1, 3, 5, etc.) utilize mostly platform style gameplay.

In the transition area after the platform style levels, prior to the boss fight, Apollo is prompted to jump on a platform that lets him float. After moving into a previously out of reach door, the fight begins. In side scrolling shooter areas, the player simply appears in a boss area in the ship they played the level in. The fights consist of a black area where the player fights a giant robot/ship. Their attack pattern, resembling that of a Manic shooter, is repetitive and avoidable; the player shoots the boss with either their conventional weapon or the in ship weapon.

The final level is a "fixed" shooter. More specifically, it is a "tube shooter" where the player approaches the last boss's fortress and attempts to destroy it. Apollo, in a more enhanced ship than any seen before, rotates from the sides of the screen to the bottom, shooting at the center while avoiding enemy fire.

Apollo receives weapons and items from a goddess character to help him on his way. All weapons can be powered up by visiting a shop that specializes in powering up weapons, or by talking to the goddess character a second time.

Xexyz was met with generally positive reception from critics. However, public reception in Japan was mixed; in a poll taken by Family Computer Magazine, it received a score of 18.38 out of 30.