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Orius

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Title Screen

Orius

Also known as: Xexex (Japan, World)
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Platform: Arcade (Custom)
Released internationally: 1991
Released in JP: October 1991[1]


GraphicsIcon.png This game has unused graphics.
RegionIcon.png This game has regional differences.


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 console port until the release of Salamander Portable in 2007. The only other notable appearance it made is in Ganbare Goemon 2: Kiteretsu Shogun Magginesu where its Stage 2 is featured as a mini-game.

Regional Differences

Hmmm...
To do:
4 versions of XEXEX are known to exist: Japan (JAA), USA (Orius, UAA), Europe (EAA), and Asia (AAA). Are there any significant differences between the US, Europe, and Asia versions?

Title Screen

Japan US World
Xexex-jp-title.png Only in US Redundancy

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). The US version has a unique title screen, but otherwise the gameplay is similar with the World version. Despite the new title, the life restore items (see below) still retain the original XEXEX logo.

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

Attract Mode

Japan World
Xexex-jp-weapondesc.png Xexex-w-weapondesc.png
This sadly got cut.

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.

Japan World
Xexex-jp-intro.png Xexex-w-intro.png

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.

Japan World
Xexex-jp-demo.png Xexex-w-demo.png

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.

Japan World
Can't read it. Much better.

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.

Japan World
Xexex-jp-score.png Xexex-w-score.png

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 Chinese zodiac sign.

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 nonexistent 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.
  • Xexex-1up.gif
    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.
Japan World
Xexex-jp-stage6.png Xexex-w-stage6.png
  • 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

Japan World
Xexex-jp-flintlock.png Xexex-w-flintlock.png
  • 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".
Japan World
Xexex-jp-subtitle.png Xexex-w-subtitle.png
  • The Japanese subtitles for cutscenes were translated.

Staff Roll

The game displays different staff credits depending on the region. The Japanese version mostly uses abbreviated names for the staff, while the World versions replace these entirely with fun and creative aliases.

One small note: the "Special Thanks" section is completely removed from the World versions' credits.

Japan
(JAA)
World
(UAA, EAA, AAA)
Real name
TEAM XEXEX
GAME STAFF
DIRECTORED BY
T.TAKATORI TOM MURCHIE Toshiaki Takatori
PROGRAM DESIGN BY
T.TAKATORI TOM MURCHIE Toshiaki Takatori
T.FUJII BAUMANN Tatsuo Fujii
T.WADA WADY TEITS Tetsuya Wada
GRAPHIC DESIGN BY
M.MACHIGUCHI MICKEY
K.KAKUWA JAMES K KARK Kuniaki Kakuwa
C.HANANO CHA HEIFETZ Chiyoko Hanano
SOUND DESIGN BY
M.FURUKAWA CAROL QUEEN Motoaki Furukawa
H.MAEZAWA MICHAEL OLDRIVER Hidenori Maezawa
S.MIYAWAKI ROSETTA STONE Satoko Miyawaki
A.HASHIMOTO SHANGHAI MANMOS Ayako Nishigaki
(née Hashimoto)
HARDWARE DESIGN BY
D.KONISHI JEAN SIMONS Dendou Konishi
TITLE DESIGN BY
T.NISHIMURA NISSY BALVOA Takashi Nishimura
ANIMATION STAFF
CHARACTER DESIGN BY
KEN.HEINE Ken Heine
ART DIRECTED BY
MAGURO BANBA
SPECIAL DESIGN BY
NORI TAMA
SPECIAL EFFECT BY
SCREAMING MT. FUJI
SUB SPECIAL EFFECT BY
TAMAYA JP
SCREEN PLAY BY
COSZO GI KEN
PLANNING PRODUCED BY
STUDIO SUMONO
CAST
IRENE LA TIAS...
SUMI SHIMAMOTO Sumi Shimamoto
KLAUS PACHEL BEL...
‑???‑
SPECIAL THANKS
M.INOUE Absent from
World version.
Masahiro Inoue
K.BAN
K.HASHIMA Keisuke Hashima
BENLY YAMAMOTO Koji Yamamoto
TEAM PIGS
THANKS FOR PLAYING. WE CONTINUE TO
PRODUCE THE GAMES YOU LOVE.
PRESENTED BY KONAMI
(Source: MobyGames, Dag (VGMdb - Ayako Nishigaki))

References