Editing Xevious (section)

==Gameplay==
[[File:Xevious Start2.png|thumb|Approaching a group of flying enemies and two ground targets]]

''Xevious'' is a vertically scrolling shooter. The player controls a flying attack craft, the Solvalou, to destroy the Xevious forces plotting to take over Earth.<ref name="Guidebook"/> The Solvalou has two weapons:  a ''zapper'' that fires projectiles at flying enemies<ref name="FC manual">{{cite book |title=Xevious instruction manual (FC) |date=1984 |publisher=Namco |pages=9 |url=http://www.videogameden.com/fc/extra/xev.pdf}}</ref> and a ''blaster'' for bombing ground installations and vehicles.<ref name="FC manual"/> A reticle in front of the ship shows where bombs will land.<ref name="FC manual"/>

The game has a total of 16 connected areas, which loop back to the first after completing them all.<ref name="Guidebook"/> Dying about 70% through starts the player at the beginning of the next.<ref name="hardcore">{{cite news |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/xevious/xevious.htm |title=Xevious |author=Savorelli, Carlo |work=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=2010-02-02 |archive-date=2017-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612094653/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/xevious/xevious.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Areas are geographically distinct, with features such as forests, roads, rivers, and mechanical structures. Certain areas have [[Nazca lines]] placed on the ground, some in the "condor" design.<ref name="hardcore"/>

The game becomes progressively more difficult as the player becomes more skilled. Once the player does well at destroying a certain enemy type, a more advanced enemy type replaces it.<ref name="hardcore"/> Destroying flashing-red "Zolback" radars found on the ground will cause the game to switch back to easier enemies.<ref name="hardcore"/><ref name="Guidebook"/>

Certain points in the game have a fight against the Andor Genesis mothership, which launch an endless stream of projectiles and explosive black spheres known as "Zakatos".<ref name="FC manual"/> The player can either destroy all four blaster receptacles or the core in the center to defeat it.<ref name="FC manual"/> Some parts of the game have hidden towers ("Sol Citadels"), which can be found by bombing specific parts of an area.<ref name="Guidebook"/> The Solvalou's bomb reticle flashes red when over one.<ref name="Guidebook">{{cite book |title=Xevious guidebook |date=1984 |publisher=Wasa |pages=40}}</ref> Yellow "Special Flags" from Namco's own ''[[Rally-X]]'' are found in a semi-random section of the area. Collecting one gives an extra life.<ref name="Guidebook"/>