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Exzisus is a Taito horizontal side-scrolling space shooter released in Japan in August 1987. It uses an eight-way joystick, separate shot and missile buttons, helper robots, and lettered power-ups. Despite the phrase “multi-screen arcade shooter” in some descriptions, the available cabinet record identifies a conventional horizontal, standard-resolution raster monitor in an upright cabinet; it does not document a multi-monitor display.
That distinction matters. Exzisus is a historically interesting arcade game, but its documented identity is a single-screen horizontal shooter, not a confirmed dual-screen or multi-screen machine.
Exzisus at a glance
| Detail | Documented information |
|---|---|
| Title | Exzisus |
| Developer and publisher | Taito (Japan) |
| Japanese release | August 1987, according to Arcade History |
| Genre | Horizontal side-scrolling space shooter |
| Controls | Eight-way joystick and two buttons |
| Players | One simultaneous player; up to two players alternating turns |
| Cabinet record | Horizontal orientation, standard-resolution raster display, upright/standard cabinet |
| Documented versions | Japanese Taito release, a Taito conversion kit, and an export release licensed to TAD |
Arcade History identifies the game as “Exzisus © 1987 Taito” and assigns it game ID B23. The International Arcade Museum classifies it as a side-scrolling space shooter and records Taito (Japan) as the developer for 1987. Those records establish the basic identity more reliably than modern descriptions that attach unverified hardware claims to the name.
Was Exzisus really a multi-screen arcade game?
There is no reliable evidence in the available cabinet documentation that Exzisus used multiple screens. The International Arcade Museum record specifies a horizontal monitor with standard-resolution raster display in an upright or standard cabinet. It does not list two monitors, a vertically stacked display, a stretched panoramic screen, or a separate status screen.
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Arcade History lists four Z80 CPUs for the hardware. That is a processor count, not a monitor specification. Multiple CPUs can handle game logic, graphics, sound, input, or other board functions without driving multiple displays. Treating the processor count as proof of a multi-screen cabinet would be an unsupported inference.
A search for documentation specifically describing multi-screen hardware turns up the same cabinet record and repair discussions about board video outputs, but no dependable source that establishes a dual-screen or multi-monitor Exzisus cabinet. The careful conclusion is therefore limited: the standard documented cabinet is single-screen, while an obscure, undocumented variant cannot be ruled out solely from the records available.
If you encounter the phrase “multi-screen Exzisus,” ask what it means. It may refer to a mistaken hardware description, a conversion or restoration setup, an emulated layout, or simply a page title that was never checked against a cabinet record. It should not be repeated as a verified feature.
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How the arcade game plays
The basic objective is straightforward: move horizontally through a hostile planetary environment, shoot enemies, use missiles, and collect upgrades that change your attack capability. The Windows Taito Legends manual summarizes the premise as: “Destroy enemies as you fly over the surface of an infested planet.” That description captures the game’s setting without claiming features that are not documented.
Movement and firing
The joystick is an eight-way control, allowing movement in the four cardinal directions and the four diagonals. One button fires the regular weapon; the other drops or launches missiles. The distinction between shots and missiles is important because the two attacks are separate parts of the control scheme rather than a single weapon button with an undocumented secondary function.
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Robots as supporting attacks
Exzisus can send bird-like and dog-like robots against enemies. Arcade History describes these robots as part of the player’s offensive tools. They are not evidence of a second player or cooperative mode; the museum record lists one simultaneous player and two maximum players with alternating turns.
What happens when you are hit
Arcade History notes that a hit returns Exzisus to regular humanoid form. In practical terms, a powered-up state is lost when damage is taken, so collecting an upgrade is useful but not permanent protection. This detail also helps distinguish a hit from a simple life-ending event: the character’s form and capabilities change after damage.
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Power-ups are identified by letters. The exact presentation can vary by version, and the letter D is described as “Disruption” or “Destruction” depending on the palette or version record. Barrier is also not universal: Arcade History says it appears in some versions.
| Letter | Name recorded in historical listings | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| L | Laser Light Blaster | A laser-type weapon upgrade. |
| D | Disruption or Destruction | The wording varies with the recorded palette/version. |
| M | Missile | Improves or supplies the missile attack. |
| F | Full Automatic | Changes the firing behavior toward automatic fire. |
| A | Aerodynamic Power | An aerodynamic capability upgrade. |
| O | Option | Adds the option-type support described by the game’s power-up system. |
| B | Barrier | Listed for some versions, not confirmed as universal. |
The safest way to compare two screenshots, boards, or ports is to record the letter, the artwork or palette, and the version. A D icon may be labeled differently in references without representing a different game, while a B icon may be absent because that version does not include Barrier.
Players, cabinet layout, and controls
Exzisus is not documented as simultaneous cooperative play. The International Arcade Museum lists one simultaneous player and a maximum of two players using alternating turns. One person plays while the other waits for the turn to change; both players do not control separate characters on the same screen.
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The same museum record identifies a horizontal cabinet, a standard-resolution raster display, and an upright/standard cabinet format. That information describes the physical arcade presentation more accurately than the unverified “multi-screen” label. It also gives restorers and collectors a useful baseline when checking whether a cabinet has been modified.
The documented control panel is intentionally simple:
- An eight-way joystick for movement.
- One button for shooting.
- One button for missiles.
Because the game uses two buttons with distinct functions, an emulator or reproduction control panel should map them separately. A generic one-button layout can make missile use awkward or impossible even if movement works correctly.
Versions, conversion kits, and regional history
Japanese Taito release
Arcade History dates the Japanese release to August 1987 and identifies Taito as the Japanese developer and rights holder. This is the core release normally meant when historical databases describe Exzisus as a 1987 Taito arcade title.
Conversion-kit hardware
The same database records a Taito conversion-kit version. A conversion kit allowed an operator to adapt an existing cabinet rather than install an entirely new dedicated cabinet. A kit does not automatically imply a different display arrangement, so it should not be used as evidence for multiple screens.
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TAD-licensed export
An export release licensed to TAD is also listed. Regional licensing can affect cabinet markings, manuals, title-screen details, and the set of available power-ups. Since Barrier is specifically reported only in some versions, it is better to identify the board or release region before assuming every feature is present everywhere.
Where Exzisus appeared after the arcade run
Arcade History lists Exzisus in the Taito Legends compilation for PlayStation 2 and Windows. It also lists an appearance in Taito Memories II Joukan for PlayStation 2. The Windows Taito Legends manual confirms that Exzisus is included and provides a short game description along with menus for game descriptions, controls, options, high scores, hints and tips, and gamepad setup.
These are historical compilation appearances, not proof of current digital availability. A physical copy may depend on region, disc condition, operating-system support, console hardware, and whether the relevant platform is backward-compatible. The historically specific search phrase is “Taito Legends PS2,” but any listing should be checked for its release region and compatibility before purchase.
Taito’s 2021 announcement for the Egret II Mini listed the games included with that product and its expansion set. Exzisus does not appear on those published lists. That omission applies to the lineup described in the announcement; it is not a guarantee about every later Taito product or future re-release.
Choosing a way to play
| Option | What it represents | Questions to check |
|---|---|---|
| Original arcade board or conversion kit | Period hardware, with the original control and display behavior when correctly restored | Board revision, region, cabinet wiring, monitor condition, and whether the kit is complete |
| Taito Legends on PlayStation 2 | Compilation release that includes Exzisus | Disc region, console compatibility, controller mapping, and current availability |
| Taito Legends on Windows | Compilation release with documented controls, options, and gamepad setup | Windows version support, input configuration, display scaling, and physical-media availability |
| Taito Memories II Joukan on PlayStation 2 | Another historical compilation listing | Japanese-region hardware, language, disc format, and compatibility |
No current official Exzisus release, retailer stock, listing price, or guaranteed compatibility was established in the available records. That means a responsible recommendation can identify documented platforms, but cannot promise that a copy is in stock or that it will run on a particular modern system.
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What the multi-screen claim means for collectors and emulation
Collectors should begin with the cabinet record and board identity, not with a page title. A documented horizontal, standard-resolution monitor is the reference configuration. If a restored cabinet has two displays, a wide custom monitor, or a separate video output, photograph the wiring and identify the board before calling it an original Exzisus multi-screen setup.
Emulation introduces a different source of confusion. An emulator can resize the game window, place artwork beside the playfield, or display service information outside the game area. Those presentation choices do not change the arcade hardware. A wide emulator window is not the same thing as a multi-monitor cabinet.
Likewise, four Z80 CPUs should be recorded as a hardware detail, not translated into “four screens” or “multi-screen graphics.” Hardware architecture and display count are separate specifications.
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- Repeating the title phrase as a fact: The cabinet record does not establish multiple monitors.
- Confusing alternating play with co-op: Two players can be supported, but only one is documented to play at a time.
- Assuming every power-up exists in every release: Barrier is listed for some versions, and D has variant naming.
- Using CPU count as a display specification: The four-Z80 listing does not describe monitor layout.
- Treating compilation listings as current sales information: A historical platform appearance does not establish present stock, price, or compatibility.
- Mapping both attacks to one control: The documented panel separates shooting and missiles across two buttons.
Bottom line: what Exzisus is—and is not
Exzisus is a 1987 Taito horizontal arcade shooter built around eight-way movement, shooting, missiles, helper robots, and lettered upgrades. Its documented cabinet is an upright, horizontal, standard-resolution raster setup with one player at a time and alternating two-player turns. Taito conversion-kit hardware and a TAD-licensed export release are part of its recorded history, and later compilations placed the game on PlayStation 2 and Windows.
The “multi-screen” description should be treated as unverified. Nothing in the available cabinet record demonstrates a dual-monitor or multi-monitor design, and the four-Z80 hardware listing does not establish one. For accurate writing, collecting, or emulation, describe Exzisus as a single-screen horizontal shooter unless specific, verifiable documentation for an unusual variant says otherwise.
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