Description

"Xenophobe" is a side-scrolling arcade game developed by Bally Midway and released in 1987, later adapted for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) by Sunsoft. The game is set in a sci-fi universe where players must clear out various space stations and facilities that have been infested by hostile alien life forms known as Xenos. The NES version supports up to two players who choose from a range of characters, each with unique characteristics, including a humanoid, a reptilian, and a robotic entity. The goal is to explore the multi-tiered levels, using a variety of weapons and items to defeat enemies, while collecting valuable artifacts and repairing or destroying the invaded facilities before a self-destruct timer runs out, urging players to balance speed with exploration.

Noteworthy in its original arcade release, "Xenophobe" utilized a unique three-player split-screen, a feature simplified in the NES adaptation to fit the home console’s capabilities. Despite this limitation, the game preserved much of its arcade charm through detailed graphics and the quirky, humorous depiction of its aliens and gameplay scenarios. Additionally, it offered a gameplay mechanic where the screen would split as players wandered apart and merge back as they reunited, a novel approach at the time. This gameplay element helped "Xenophobe" stand out among other titles of the era and has made it remembered as a pioneer in cooperative gameplay design, influencing later video games that sought to incorporate similar multiplayer mechanics.

Title

Xenophobe - Title

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Gameplay

Xenophobe - Gameplay

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