Xenocide (video game)

The player starts by piloting a hovercraft, which floats just above the surface of the barren moon using Anti-Gravity Pads. A first-person view of the craft's windshield is shown. The object is to follow a road, while collecting as many canisters as possible (which determine ammunition capacity for next level). The player must avoid collisions with rocks and alien bug lifeforms, which either damage the player's vehicle or splatter on the player's windshield impairing visibility. Weapons include a limited number of missiles and fireballs, and one nuclear bomb, to help clear a path. The craft has a limited amount of fuel, and the player must find the docking port before running out to advance to the underground levels.

Now in a side-scrolling view, the player uses a jet-pack to fly through caves and caverns, searching throughout to find and collect 5 bombs. The player eliminate aliens in the caves using firing weapons. A laser gun and grenades (ammunition limited by number of canisters collected the previous level) allow killing enemies or breaking through obstructions. Power-up capsules randomly appear, and grabbing them cycles through 5 different menu options. When the player chooses to select an item, an improved weapon, new ability or shielding is provided. When the player runs low on jet-pack fuel or ammunition, it can be replenished via refueling bays found throughout the level. If the player runs out of fuel or loses all health, a life is lost. Once all 5 bombs have been collected, the docking pad exit at the end of the level opens.

The second cave level is very similar to the previous level, except the player now swims through underwater caves. Fuel is now replaced by oxygen, which the player needs to replenish, along with ammo, by finding refueling bays. Again alien creatures infest the level and must be eliminated. The goal is now to find and pick up 5 keys, which must be collected to unlock doors. At the end of the level is an exit docking pad to the final level.

In the final stage the play-view changes to overhead. The player walks around a bio-laboratory, but no longer has a time limit (i.e. fuel or oxygen). Attacking robot enemies must be eliminated and power-up capsules now provide new sets of weapons or abilities in the options menu. The player must search rooms for the 5 nuclear fuel ports, where bombs are dropped, and then locate the central computer room with an emergency teleport. Once the self-destruct sequence is activated (an alarm will sound), the player has just seconds to enter the teleporter before the moon explodes. When the mission is complete, the player moves to the next moon where the levels are repeated, albeit with slight visual changes.