Exvania (World)

Four players compete in Exvania (World), a frantic maze fighter released by Namco in 1992. As medieval lords – Ward, Emilio, Charles, and Karl – you’ll battle across eight castles to rescue Princess Electra from the clutches of Queen Erinyes, all while vying for the chance to marry her and rule Exvania. Gameplay revolves around strategically placing bombs to trap opponents and force them into explosions; whips can be used to briefly stun rivals and break open treasure chests containing helpful power-ups like speed boosts or extra bombs. Each castle is comprised of rooms navigated with an 8-way joystick, and every third room introduces a formidable dragon that grows increasingly dangerous as the game progresses. These dragons breathe fire and employ other attacks, and defeating them rewards players with valuable power-ups. Beyond the dragons, expect to encounter slime blobs and possessed skeletons that impede your progress, alongside a looming time limit enforced by the appearance of Death and an electrifying final challenge from an evil witch. The player who accumulates the most victories and controls the greatest number of castles ultimately faces off against the Queen in a climactic battle for Exvania’s fate. Exvania delivers fast-paced, competitive action with its unique blend of maze navigation and combat.