Xexex

Konami's answer to R-Type, and one of the most graphically advanced games of its time - so advanced that it didn't get a perfect console port until recently.

Unused Graphics


This run-of-the-mill anti-drug message would seem to imply that a US-specific version was planned at one point.

Title Screen
The registered trademark icon next to the Konami logo is absent in the Japanese version. The copyright text was also extended in the World version, and the katakana below the Japanese logo was replaced with "XEXEX" (in case you somehow missed the giant XEXEX logo right above it).

"PLEASE DEPOSIT COIN" was changed into "PLEASE INSERT COIN" in the World version.

Attract Mode
Due to the difference in weapon systems between both regions, the weapon description screen in the attract mode was replaced with the redundant ship system specs in the World version. The weapon briefing screen is gone altogether.

This intro screen appears when a credit is inserted. The Japanese text was translated for the World release, but the narration was surprisingly left intact.

The World version's demo is two-player cooperative, whereas the Japanese version is single-player. Not only that, their demo rotation is different as well, with the Japanese demo playing stages 1, 2, and 3, while the World version plays stages 1, 2, 4, and 7. The former starts a little further than the starting point, while the latter version prefers starting right at the beginning of each stage.

The Konami logo screen in the Japanese version has a white background with a cutesy voice saying "Konami!". This was replaced with the Flintlock spinning against a black background, along with a few rocks.

The high score screen in the World version has the same spinning Flintlock in the background. The Japanese version's is plain black, and has two extra blocks after the player's initials for their gender and initial in kanji.

Gameplay

 * The weapon system has been completely overhauled in the World version. There are only two available weapons: a spread shot, which looks similar to the Round Laser, and homing missiles. Both are upgradeable.
 * The Flint in the Japanese version can be detached in two ways: one is a simple detach, and the second shoots the Flint straight towards the enemy, which can be performed by charging the Flint and then pushing the detach button. The World version always shoots the Flint forward, making it look more like R-Type.
 * The autofire function after detaching the Flint is non-existent in the World version, making fights a bit more tedious.
 * Enemy patterns are different in the World version. This can be seen as early as stage 1.
 * [[Image:Xexex-1up.gif|100px|left]] Due to the change in life systems between regions, the 1up icon in the Japanese version was changed into a life refill in the World version. Various secret points that contain these 1up icons or other random powerups in the Japanese version were changed to hide the life refills, and conveniently marked with weird flickering dancing men.


 * Some of the bosses' routines were modified, most notably the stage 6 boss. There are now two satellites instead of one, which has the unfortunate side effect of causing the game to slow down until either one of the satellites is destroyed.
 * The Flintlock in the World version has an energy bar as opposed to being a one-hit wonder, and energy recharge powerups were added in various areas. However, there are no lives, so every bar equals one credit.
 * In the World version, the player starts where they died instead of going back to a checkpoint.
 * The World version can be played in two-player cooperative mode. The second player's ship has a new look, and gains the regular-colored Flint from the Japanese version.

Other Differences

 * The Flint's core is blue in the World version.
 * Stage intros in the World version now show the planet names, whereas the Japanese version merely says "CHARGE THE ENEMY".


 * The Japanese subtitles for cutscenes were translated.