Ikari Warriors

The Good
Like any genre in time there is always an influx of games jumping on the bandwagon or trying to improve the genre, Ikari Warriors is just like many, many games. We all know the plot, one man (or two men) has to walk up the screen with a gun and grenades and take on a whole army to face the boss and kill him.

With many other titles which include games like Commando, Mercs or Who Dares Wins II, you keep moving, shooting and never stopping till you get to the end of the level. Well I ask you say, what makes Ikari Warrriors on the Commodore 64 different. I'll tell you.

The game is just one giant level and the big difference to me is that rushing forward will have you killed in seconds. This game is all about patience. As you move forward a collection of soldiers, tanks or helicopters appear from all directions in a set formation. Some soldiers keep running but the majority will stop in a set position. Here you can now plan your attack. Once they are killed you move forward again and again.

Another reason not to rush are mines. A mine will start flashing a warning if your a couple of steps away so nice slow progress in in order. The power-ups the soldiers leave behind do make a good difference.

For a change in scenery, tanks can be climbed into and driven up country. These offer you good protection but can still be destroyed by mines, grenades or other tanks. Once hit you do have a couple of seconds to abandon the vehicle before it explodes. Likewise, running out fuel causes it to explode as well.

The Bad
Although this is one of my favourite games there are a few niggles. When you lose a life you lose all your power-ups and later on in the game there are some situations when these make life so much easier. In a two player game you can shoot your buddy, which when in the heat of battle can be frustrating.

The Bottom Line
If you just want to play and not think with random enemies then Commando is for you. If you want a game to allow you to progress slowly and really feel that you have deserved the distance you've covered then Ikari Warriors is for you.