Xenon II - Megablast

Information

Genre

Shoot'em Up! - Vertical Scrolling

Language

Machine Language

Controls

Joystick

Players

1, 2 (alt.)

Resolution

Low

Programmer(s)

Day, Martin

Graphic Artist(s)

Coleman, Mark

Game design

Matthews, Eric

Musician(s)

Whittaker, David, Carpenter, John

Sound FX

Whittaker, David

Year

1989

Publisher

ST Format

Distributor

Future Publishing

Developer

Assembly Line (The)

Licensed from

-

Software

English

Box/Instructions

English

License

Game Demo or Preview - Commercial

ST Type

ST, STe, TT, 0.5MB

Version

[preview]

Number of Disks

1, Double Sided

Votes / Statistics

Rating: 7.9/10 · Votes: 157 · Downloads: 2,222 · Hits: 4,812

Screenshots (3)

Instructions (1)

Article (7)

Bitmap Brothers interview

Tips (3)

The One Players Guide

Trivia (5)

Conversion - Atari Jaguar

Sound

Features digitized title soundtrack at 8.0KHz

Awards:

ST Format: Most Violent ST Games 4th place

Charts

Top UK ST charts position: 1 (12/1989, 1/1990), 2 (9/1991 budget)
Months on charts: 8 between 12/1989 - 11/1991

Releases

The Atari ST version was released first on the 16 bit market in Europe. Published later for other 16 bit systems.
Source: Research of over 16700 software reviews from UK computer magazines between 1985 and 1996.

Book / Magazine Reviews (3)

The One · May, 1989

The One · August, 1989 · Rating: 93 %

ST Format · October, 1989 · Rating: 90%

Comments (8)

• the big m — 9 Mar 2025

  Quite an achievement for back in 89. A bit slow moving but that makes it more accessible. Creepy graphics is the star. Music and sound is nice but repetitive. Recommended.

• Megalomaniac — 1 Oct 2022

  Very good graphics and good music, but a really dull game with overcomplicated level designs (the backtracking was a really poor gameplay decision) and no imagination at any point. Wings of Death is better in every department, and only a year later.

• Greg — 20 Feb 2018

  Great Game, Worth the play time

• steve — 20 Jan 2015

  absolutely one of the best shoot 'em ups on the 16bits. Brilliant fun. 10/10 imho

• Simon Sunnyboy / Paradize — 1 Feb 2012

  It is a nice shooter but I always felt it was overrated. I personally prefer the first part but Xenon II is still a nice game.

• Hillsy_ — 29 Oct 2011

  Almost forgot, well I did! Excellent music too, I actually prefer this one over the Amiga version.

• Hillsy_ — 29 Oct 2011

  Played this one with my brother for about 12 hours non-stop. Classic game by the Bitmap Brothers.

• Rich — 10 Apr 2011

  Terrible game that was hyped into the stratosphere back in the day but had really mediocre gameplay and uninspired level design Wings of Death, Gemini Wing, Flying Shark, and even the original Xenon were much better shmups