This is another one of my favorite video games of all time. This is also another childhood relic of mine as it's another of the very first video games I've played when I was about six years old. I remember playing the game for the very first time at the "Burger Ranch" in Yakima, WA and it just really blew me away, and it was a game I just about played everywhere I got the chance like the video arcade in the Valley Mall also in Yakima, WA. The game is special in another sense as it was another one of the inspirations for me getting into Martial Arts and becoming a Martial Artist.
I really like the concept, which is a simplistic concept, there is that damsel in distress element only it's not a damsel it's the President which makes it a little different but also gives your mission weight as you are saving an important leader for our country. Your basically some sort of secret agent fighting force (I think) that must stop this evil ninja force by basically beating the tar out of every one of them that come your way.
That's it in a nutshell nothing deep but sometimes that's the way I like it because back in the 80's when we played video games it was for the action. This game perfectly encapsulates part of what when on in the 80's from the Ninja Craze, tank tops being fashionable. But mostly the action films one's that featured martial arts action like the ones from action stars Chuck Norris, Steven Segal, and Jean Claude Van Damme.
It was just cool being able to play an action hero along with a buddy or significant other if they're into video games. Just that idea of being pretty much the one-man fighting force, you alone are the one that beat the snot out of crime and save the day, it's just such an empowering concept. And when you play the game you really feel like a bad ass hero in an action movie.
The gameplay is a beat em up, you still go from point A to B. But here you navigate on a two-dimensional plane which is also something different as it' s not something utilized in the beat em up genre except for games like "Ninja Warriors" and the "Splaterhouse" franchise which are different stories.
However, part of what makes the game unique is that you not just have one plane to maneuver but you have two planes to maneuver. It was interesting because it's like you had two different pathways and the freedom to be able to switch whenever you want. It's very useful as you can jump to the top and bottom plane when you feel things are getting a little too harry where you're walking. Can help get you over or under certain obstacles that are in your way. But also depending on which plane you're at your able to see enemies come from either direction ahead of time which will give you seconds to take action whenever they jump to your plane.
Though I like how the levels are formatted as each of them are always different. You not just have the two-plane point A to B levels, but you also have moving platform levels which are my favorite as its action while in motion. There are mainly two, one which is a moving semi truck, and another is a moving train; how the heck you and the bad guys can move and stay on them while their moving at such high speed is anyone's guess (magnetic shoes?) but it looks really cool all the same.
Really like the graphical presentation which I thought was very good and still looks good today. The amount of detail to character but also the environments, it was something different at the time and made you feel like you were playing an action movie. The protagonist you play looks cool as he looks like any physically fit protagonist from the action films, but also like the variety in enemies as it consists of Ninjas of all kinds.
From the regular blue ninjas who are typical flunkies you can take out without a hitch. Red ninja who are ones that give you items when hit. Black ninjas armed with Katanas, shurikens and toe spikes. An evil version of the Human Torch that tries to run at you. The list goes on. I also like the number of bosses that are all moderately difficult and are all different. You have an evil Karnov like boss that shoots out fire, a midget ninja armed with Wolverine like claws and can somersault high, a green ninja that has the same ability as Multiple Man from "X-Factor"; again, the list goes on.
Your gameplay control is basic as it's the simple punch, jump and kick but I like you can do different kinds of punches and kicks depending on how you move your character, which makes the combat feel organic. I also like you have one power move to execute which is the cyclone kick which is cool and of course this was a move utilized in "Double Dragon 2", this move isn't too hard to execute and is always rewarding whenever done right.
There are also weapons to use mainly just two from the knife which is a good defensive tool from it's short reach. But my favorite is the Nunchakus which are cool, their always one of my favorite weapons in Martial Arts; this is a good weapon for offense as it has a long reach and can not just take-out enemies from a distance but also two or three more if the enemies are bunched up.
But of course, the other highlights of the game are in the sound effects and music. Part of what made the game memorable to me was in the sound effects, always loved it whenever I delivered the hit there was a sound of impact sometimes the enemies would make a brief sound like they were in pain, just made you feel your hits really are powerful and do damage. And after I go through the level the protagonist/s always deliver the tag line "I'm bad." it's such a cool line and gives you an empowering feel as your true to your word.
And there is the music, this game has a couple of memorable tunes, my favorite one is for the moving levels it just sounds so cool and kind of catchy as it's just sings action in constant motion.
This vintage classic is bad ass.
Rating: 4 stars
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