Xevious (version found in the Switch port of “Namco Museum Archives Volume One” played for review)

The arcade version of “Xevious” is far from perfect—the soundtrack must be singled out as a tool for enhanced interrogation—but too much is lost in this NES port. Gone are power-ups, the original’s helpful color palette, and any sort of satisfaction one may have had in shootings things up. In practice, you’re dodging tiny enemies firing nigh-invisible bullets on two planes of action while trying not to let your eye linger on the gigantic crosshair above your avatar. This is nowhere close to the bottom of the NES library, but the number of better NES shooters are legion.

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