Japanese Sprite/Xevious Promotional Game and Contest

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Not much to say about this one, but it sure is weird. Makes about as much sense as Rihanna showing up in a summer blockbuster movie based on the Battleship board game.

You can now play a Flash version of Xevious with leaderboards on the Japanese Sprite (that's the lemon-lime soda) page. You can choose between keyboard controls or terrible mouse controls, and there aren't seperate rankings for each.

Differences I noticed:

- The PROGRAM BY EVEZOO secret message isn't there.

- There are bottle caps and big Sprite bottles you can shoot for points. The bottles have an interesting pop-off animation.

- Enemy behavior is simplified and they seem to be fewer in number. It's much easier overall. You seem to move a bit faster too.

- Your ship constantly fires on its own. There's only one button, for bombs.

- Some sound effects added. Some sounds are glitchy.

This is the second time Namco Bandai's been pushing Xevious lately, since there was already that nonsensical webcomic. Could they be prepping a new game in the series? I doubt it, but it would be cool.

The top 30 scorers after May 30 will receive a 24-bottle case of Sprite. They'll only send them within Japan, though.

[Ghegs]

The top 30 scorers after May 30 will receive a 24-bottle case of Sprite. They'll only send them within Japan, though.

We should take all 30 top spots and have the cases sent to our members in Japan. I'm sure GP, NTSC-J and rancor would appreciate finding 240 bottles of Sprite on their doorstep.

[NTSC-J]

Hell yea, I would! I live off the stuff.

The top scores are pretty crazy though (imagine that).

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I also noticed that the checkpoints are removed; you respawn on the spot now.

It seems like you have infinite lives??

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There seems to be some pretty fierce competition for the top 30 spots. The rankings have completely changed around from the last time I looked.

Some people out there must really have serious cravings for all that free high fructose corn syrup.

[BPzeBanshee]

Infinite lives make sense in this context. This is basically a product placement score attack version of Xevious.

Pretty neat but I couldn't figure out which button gets me to submit my score nor how to actually score seriously. I don't know how anyone can stand playing this with sound.

[GaijinPunch]

Can any other J-residence comment on the availability of Sprite up until now? It seems like it's just popped up out of nowhere with no direct competition, but it's going up against an onslaught of clear-ish carbonated beverages.

[rancor]

Can any other J-residence comment on the availability of Sprite up until now? It seems like it's just popped up out of nowhere with no direct competition, but it's going up against an onslaught of clear-ish carbonated beverages.

Yeah - Sprites been available for years, but I had only seen up until now in glass bottles in toy stores and mom 'n pop ramen shops (or those Village Vanguad shops in evey shopping mall) - kinda like that Wilkinsons ginger ale used to be, but now it's everywhere.
Wouldn't 7-up be the direct competition for Sprite? But yeah - whats with all of the clear beverages lately? They need to bring back Crystal Pepsi over here.. haha.

[GaijinPunch]

Personally I'm a CC Lemon man in the odd event I need a carbonated beverage. They're really awful for you so I try to not drink them full stop. I stick to coffee, water, and whiskey.

[AntiFritz]

Sprites been available since forever..... in australia atleast.

[PurpBullets]

Did the sprite in glass bottles have corn syrup?
Im pretty sure corn syrup is big in japan.
Mexican soda doesnt have any corn syrup.
but GP is right, soda is not healthy.
Especially if it has HFCS.

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I've never heard of any Sprite having cane sugar. As far as I know, even the "Kosher" glass bottle Cokes in the US have HFCS now.

There were retro-styled "Throwback" Mountain Dew bottles a while ago with cane sugar, but I never drink that stuff.

[brentsg]

Personally I'm a CC Lemon man in the odd event I need a carbonated beverage. They're really awful for you so I try to not drink them full stop. I stick to coffee, water, and whiskey.

What kind of whiskey?

[PurpBullets]

I've never heard of any Sprite having cane sugar. As far as I know, even the "Kosher" glass bottle Cokes in the US have HFCS now.

There were retro-styled "Throwback" Mountain Dew bottles a while ago with cane sugar, but I never drink that stuff.

The only sprite you can get without corn syrup is from mexico. (AFAIK?)
The mexican bottles are glass, and slightly larger than american glass bottles.
I have seen them at liquor stores and random markets.
Pretty much any soda from mexico wont have corn syrup...
They are all about the cane down there.

[burgerkingdiamond]

Pocari Sweat nigga

[stryc9]

Is it meant to run like an asthmatic sloth on heroin or is my computer due for an update?

Would be great if they were planning to hit the Japanese market with another Xevious.
Xbox 360 with tate would be ideal, along with some new scoring system.

It's been what, 16 or so years since the last true sequel?

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Contest over. Hope those 30 winners are enjoying their crates of HFCS. I'm sure their mothers are very proud of them.