Exerion NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · Shoot 'em Up

Exerion

Deep cut

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1985 (originally 1983)
GenreShoot 'em Up
DeveloperJaleco
PublisherTaito
Players1–2 players
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 3

Developed by Jaleco and published by Taito, Exerion arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985 as a shoot 'em up. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1983.

It belongs to the NES's earliest wave of games. Other notable NES releases from 1985 include Super Mario Bros., Excitebike and Ice Climber.

Jaleco also made City Connection, Field Combat and Ninja JaJaMaru-kun for the NES.

Exerion supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.

Pick it if…

  • you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
  • you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
  • you have a friend to play against
  • you've played the NES hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets

What playing Exerion is like

Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.

Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.

Exerion gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

Exerion cheats & codes

12 codes on file (Other codes). Here are a few Other codes codes to start with:

Invincibility Against First EnemiesATEZGVOZ
Invincibility Against The Second EnemiesAVXAKNOZ
Invincibility Against The Third EnemiesAVEOZOOZ
Invincibility Against The Fourth Enemies MissilesATXXNUOZ
Invincibility Against The Fourth EnemiesAVNZGSOZ
Infinite Rapid ShotsSXUAOTSA

See all Exerion cheats

Exerion walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Exerion.

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Playing NES games today

NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.

Exerion FAQ

When did Exerion come out on the NES?

Exerion was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985; the original game dates back to 1983.

Who made Exerion?

It was developed by Jaleco and published by Taito.

Is Exerion multiplayer?

Yes. Exerion supports up to 2 players.

How long does Exerion take to play?

As a shoot 'em up, Exerion typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Exerion on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

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