Masanobu Endo

Overview

Masanobu Endo was the Namco designer who created Xevious (1982), a vertical scrolling shooter that transformed the genre with its air/ground dual-attack system, detailed scrolling landscapes, and hidden secrets. Endo approached game design with a world-builder’s mentality, creating lore and mystery where others saw simple target practice.

Fast Facts

• Born: 1959, Japan
• Role: Game designer at Namco
• Key creation: Xevious (1982)
• Innovation: Air/ground combat, game lore
• Company: Later founded Game Studio

Xevious Innovation

Endo’s 1982 masterpiece introduced:

Innovation	Impact
Dual-plane combat	Zapper (air) and Blaster (ground)
Scrolling landscapes	Detailed, varied terrain
Hidden secrets	Sol towers, bonus flags
Background lore	Documented mythology
Difficulty progression	Elegant ramping

The Solvalou Mythology

Endo created elaborate backstory:

• The Solvalou ship and its technology
• The Xevious civilisation
• The Andor Genesis floating fortress
• Hidden Sol towers with archaeological significance

This attention to world-building was unusual for 1982.

Design Philosophy

Endo believed in:

• Discovery - Rewards for exploration
• Elegance - Simple controls, deep systems
• Mystery - Players should wonder about the world
• Progression - Challenge that teaches

Later Work

After Xevious:

• Created The Tower of Druaga (1984) - action RPG hybrid
• Founded Game Studio (1985)
• Designed The Quest of Ki (1988)
• Continued indie development

The Tower of Druaga

Another influential design:

• Action game with RPG elements
• Hidden items requiring esoteric solutions
• Influenced Zelda and other adventure games
• Cult classic status

Legacy

Endo’s contributions:

• Established scrolling shooter sophistication
• Introduced hidden content culture
• Created game world mythology
• Influenced generations of designers

The idea that games could have secrets worth finding came partly from Xevious.

See Also

• Xevious
• Namco
• Gradius