Зебиус 3D/G: Возрождение легенды в трех измерениях

1997 video game

Xevious 3D/G (ゼビウス 3D/G, Zebiusu Surī Dī Jī) is a 1996 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Namco. The eighth entry in the Xevious series, it combines 2D based gameplay with 3D gouraud shaded polygon graphics. Players control the Solvalou starship in its mission to destroy a rogue supercomputer named GAMP and the Xevian Forces, using two basic weapon types an air zapper to destroy air targets, and a blaster bomb to destroy ground targets. The game also features destructive power ups, new bosses, and two player simultaneous play. When shoot 'em ups saw a revival in the mid 1990s, Namco sought to capitalize on its success with a modernized 3D update to Xevious. Being one of the first games for its System 11 hardware, it has a techno infused soundtrack, most of which was composed jointly by Ayako Saso and Shinji Hosoe. The hardware allows the game to have a world much closer to the one established in previous games, with settings such as large, Aztec inspired structures and deserts being pulled from pieces of conceptual artwork for the original. Xevious 3D/G was criticized by fans for drastic departures that interrupted the core mechanics, and that it strayed too far from what they felt made the game so popular in its heyday. A PlayStation conversion, titled Xevious 3D/G+, was released a year later that compiled 3D/G with the original Xevious, Super Xevious, and Xevious Arrangement onto one disc. This version also received criticism for its short length and low difficulty, but praise for its gameplay, techno soundtrack, graphics, and for building on mechanics established in previous games.

Xevious 3D/G is a vertically scrolling shooter with 3D graphics integrated with 2D gameplay. Up to two players control their respective Solvalou starships — blue for player one and red for player two — that must destroy the Xevious forces and their leader before they enslave all of mankind. The Solvalou has two weapons at its disposal: a projectile that can destroy air based enemies, and a bomb that can destroy ground stationed enemies. The game consists of seven stages, or "areas", including grassy plateaus, large oceans, mechanical bases and outer space.

With the advent of 3D arcade hardware in the late 1980s and 1990s, Namco became a leader in polygonal video games with titles like Tekken, Ridge Racer, and Alpine Racer. Their System 11 arcade hardware, while technologically inferior to other arcade systems, was a hit with arcade owners for its cheap price, which made it easily affordable for smaller arcade chains. After a brief downturn in the early half of the decade, the shoot'em up genre was beginning to see a revival with games like RayStorm, G Darius, and Radiant Silvergun, and were very profitable. Wanting to cash in on this sudden revival, Namco decided to create a 3D sequel to Xevious for the System 11 board, featuring mechanics popular with other shooters to draw in newer players. Xevious was massively successful for Namco; the Family Computer version sold over one million copies and became a platinum seller, which gave Namco hope that it would perform well in the market. The increasing market for arcade game remakes also made the company feel the game would be commercially successful. Xevious 3D/G was one of the first games produced for the System 11 board, following Tekken and Soul Edge, and was billed as its first shooting game. It had a heavy emphasis on its soundtrack, with most of it composed jointly by Shinji Hosoe and Ayako Saso. Saso incorporated a techno style score similar to her previous work X Day, and wanted to retain the classic Xevious sound design in the music instead of composing something radically different. She also wanted to convey the concepts of various guest artists that had contributed music for earlier games in the series. These composers employed similar ideas with the music, many of which have original Xevious tunes blended together with their own pieces. The 3D capabilities of the System 11 hardware allowed the game to have a world closer to the one established in previous sequels, with settings such as large, Aztec inspired structures and deserts being pulled from pieces of conceptual artwork for the original. Namco chose not to utilize texture mapping for the game, as they felt the realistic style would detract from Xeviouss futuristic, flad shaded look.

Namco demonstrated Xevious 3D/G at the 1996 Amusement Operator's Union (AOU) tradeshow in February, alongside games such as Prop Cycle, Ace Driver Victory Lap, and Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2. The game was officially released in Japan on May 1; it was only sold as a conversion kit for other System 11 arcade games or Namco manufactured arcade cabinets. A North American released was published later in the year, released in generic black colored machines. The August 1996 issue of Edge magazine listed a European release date as "TBA", however it is unknown if it was ever officially released in Europe. Titled Xevious 3D/G+, it was released on March 28 in Japan. Namco demonstrated the game at E3 1997 in North America, presented in conjunction with games like Ace Combat 2, Treasures of the Deep, and Namco Museum Vol. 5, before being publicly released on June 30. It was released later in the year in Europe. Alongside a port of 3D/G, it also includes remade ports of the original Xevious, Super Xevious, and Xevious Arrangement, the last of which was previously released in arcades as part of Namco Classic Collection Vol. 1. A techno soundtrack inspired by the music in 3D/G, titled Xevious 3D/G+ Techno Maniax, was published jointly by Namco and Pony Canyon in October 1997, alongside Tekken 3 Battle Trax. It featured tracks from the original game and newly composed remixed versions. It was released under Pony Canyon's DigiGroove brand of albums, featuring additional extras alongside the music. Xevious 3D/G+ was digitally re released for the PlayStation Store in Japan on June 26, 2013 under the Game Archives line of classic game re releases, being available for both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. It was followed by a North American release on February 25, 2015, alongside several other Namco produced PlayStation games.

While Xevious 3D/G saw success in its first few months on the market, it was seen as being inferior to other shooters already on the market, and wasn't nearly as successful as Namco hoped it would be. Edge magazine claimed that, aside from a well made presentation, 3D/G was an average shooter at best, and was not as polished as other games available. and was awarded the "Silver Hall of Fame" award from Famitsu magazine, Computer + Video Games and Next Generation specified that the game had great gameplay and expanded on the core concepts established in its predecessors in a way that made it feel fresh and new.