When comparing Power Drift vs Xevious, the Slant community recommends Power Drift for most people. In the question“What are the best and the most revolutionary games of all time?” Power Drift is ranked 95th while Xevious is ranked 97th. The most important reason people chose Power Drift is:
While Power Drift isn't actually 3D, it manages to appear like it has some 3D elements because of the way it uses 2D sprites. It also tilts the screen when steering, and includes a 3D looking fly-by introduction to each track. Together, this made for a 3D-like experience, without actually using any 3D technology.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro One of the first games to incorporate 3D effects
While Power Drift isn't actually 3D, it manages to appear like it has some 3D elements because of the way it uses 2D sprites. It also tilts the screen when steering, and includes a 3D looking fly-by introduction to each track. Together, this made for a 3D-like experience, without actually using any 3D technology.
Pro First TV ad in North America
It wasn't the very first vertically scrolling shooter, but to differentiate itself it was the first game that was featured in a TV ad in North America. This really helped increase its public interest, and was revolutionary at the time setting precedent for the game ads we see on TV today
Pro Very detailed landscapes for the time
As your ship is flying over the landscape, the landscapes can eventually change from one scene to another. Some of the landscapes are heavily forested areas, and others are airbase themed. This helps give each of the 16 areas a different and unique feel.
Cons
Con Very touchy controls
The controls in Power Drift are extremely touchy, making controlling your cart very frustrating. Adding in the fact that it's very easy to fall of the track, plus the very fast gameplay makes it extremely difficult to control.