Exerion

About

Exerion is a 1983 vertical scrolling shooter where you pilot a ship through chaotic alien landscapes. The game uses a dual gun system, a fast single shot with limited ammo and a slower double shot that never runs out, to mix up your firepower. You dodge obstacles and enemies while navigating shifting environments that used parallax scrolling and inertia physics ahead of their time. The original arcade version supports single or two player co-op, with a focus on tight controls and escalating wave-based action. What sticks out is how ahead of its era Exerion felt. The inertia mechanics made movement feel weighty and deliberate, a contrast to flimsier shooters of the time. It spawned a sequel and follow-up titles like Sky Fox, but Exerion itself holds up with a 4.3/5 on MobyGames. Fans of old school shoot 'em ups with clever mechanics will find it rewarding despite its age. The Wii U and arcade ports keep it accessible for modern players curious about foundational shooter design.