Exerion II: Zorni

About

Exerion II: Zorni is a follow up to an early 80s shooter that adds more layers to its vertical scrolling formula. You pilot a ship through waves of enemies in top down combat while the screen scrolls upward. The 3D effect gives a pseudo depth to the action as you fire projectiles and dodge attacks. Single player mode focuses on survival while the multiplayer option lets two players team up to take down waves together. The game stands out for how it stretched hardware limits in 1984. The 3D visuals were especially bold for the era creating space that few contemporaries matched. Players remember it for its tight controls and the challenge of keeping up with relentless enemy patterns. While not a huge hit at launch it has gained retro status among fans of classic arcade shooters. The dual player mode adds replay value even if it requires a second controller.