eXceed 3rd - JADE PENETRATE is the third game in the series and the sequel to eXceed 2nd - VAMPIRE. It was released at Comiket 72, on August 17, 2007 and also the last game made by FLAT before remade by Tennen Sozai as eXceed 3rd - JADE PENETRATE – BLACK PACKAGE in 2009. In renewed version player will encounter new enemies as well as different bullet patterns. All soundtracks were completely composed by Saitama Saisyu Heiki where the music is heavily synth oriented but with rock and metal notes.
In 2011 the eXceed trilogy was localized in a single bundle (or individually) by doujin localization company Nyu Media which making improvements and expanding the lengths of the original games.
Despite the implication in the game’s title that eXceed 3rd is a direct sequel to eXceed 2nd, one doesn't in fact need any prior experience with either of the previous eXceed games in order to understand the happenings of the game’s plot. Takes place in the world named Pandemonium, various races are fight each other for recognition and supremacy. The only sovereignty who rule over everything is seven powerfull sorcerers.
The story centers on Rayne Windwurm, a member of the Dragon Clan, student at the Belphegor Academy of Sorcery, and daughter of the venerable House of Lindwurm, who dreamt of becoming one of the Cardinal Lords since youth. Rayne then participate in Cardinal Tournament, which is held to fill up the vacant seat of the Cardinals by against other participants in the battle of sorcery.
JADE PENETRATE removes Ikaruga’s polarity system, instead adding all new powerups which offer an excellent directed weapon fire when player activate slow mode. There are six levels and player have three continues. But since the game is harder than before, player can easily use them all too soon. Two new difficuties are added: extra and exceed, which intended for hardcore shooting players. Both modes can only be unlocked when player meet certain requirements.
First, player must clear the game under any difficulty at least once and without continue. Then player must play again under at least normal difficulty, this because extra stages only applied to normal, hard and exceed difficulty. Auto bomb is not allowed including using bomb in stage 1. Player must keep survive and never continues. If the conditions are met, at stage 4 Remedy will appear as mid-boss. Beat her without got hit and never using bombs. After stage 5, player will automatically go to extra stage and meet the true boss. To unlock exceed mode, just beat extra stage on normal difficulty or above.
eXceed 3rd is indeed very short, and the main appeal comes from attempting to clear the entire game on a single credit, and eventually a single life. Replaying stages over in training mode helps player to become familiar with what awaits them in each level, memorizing bullet patterns and the positions of the enemies, before choosing to tackle every stage stage without losing so much as a single life.