I just don't think it's a very good game. Some nice scenery, sure, but the gameplay falters pretty badly. Inconsistent damage, cheap hits, seemingly random weapon gains, slooooowdown galore... you kind of get why Technos didn't make games outside the sports and fighting genres. When they tried, you'd get something like Xain'd Sleena.
yeah, good graphics, but I never could get the hang of it. It has a energy bar so it's not one hit death (or 2 hit death like Ghosts'n'Goblins) but the game doesn't seem fair. I had a friend who excelled as such games. He completed Xain in the arcades as well as ... Jail Break. Note: he also loved Brat on amiga. Go figure.