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Post by lambrettadave on Jan 2, 2013 10:37:17 GMT
Finally got around to playing this after only ever dabbling in the first level in years past. Man, the difficulty sure spikes once you get to the city level and beyond. After an hour or so of failure I went all PAR and plugged in infinite lives so I could make it all the way through. I think the last few levels aren't quite as bad as the city level either, because in the city level the policemen are so fast and there is so little cover (being that it is on a pretty open street for most of it). At least in the final couple levels you have some reprieve behind trees and rocks and such. Fun game, the control takes a bit of getting used to, but those familiar with The Ninja should know the drill with the clunky diagonal-centric movement. It was kind of annoying that you couldn't fully turn around to shoot the baddies, but since they couldn't do that either it made it kind of moot. The last boss is pretty fun but man, it can be annoying with all these bombs being thrown at you from every which way. I played through both Rambo and Secret Command just to see the differences, and gameplay-wise there is NOTHING different in the least bit, even down to the main sprite (shows how much SEGA was originally going after Rambo in the first place...). The only differences were in the start screen image and the small images that fill the little film frame after each level. In Secret Command they are more golden and are inexplicably pictures of a Sphinx (getting closer in on the Sphinx as you advance). The Rambo pictures make more sense and are culled more from the film (Rambo tying the headband, carrying a bow, etc.). The endings to both games are identical, but that makes sense because by the end Secret Command kind of abandons that Sphinx thing and just focuses on the usual American war machismo with (SPOILER) the copters coming in over the sunset. What I probably found most humorous was that in the end credits it specifically makes mention of two songs, giving attributes to the composer, lyrics(!) and production. I didn't play this in FM, but I doubt these songs have any lyrics in them there...kind of weird that they'd credit the lyricist here for some blips and bloops. Sega Sound is credited as the studio...anyone have any more background on this? Anyway, 'twas a good time and I'm glad to have finally played it. I should rip through the game's spiritual brother, Time Soldiers, sometime in the near future. Thanks for the recommend and write-up, lambrettadave! Since first doing this I too have basicly cheated my way throught this game in a emulator, if I had have an Pro Action Replay for me master system i would have used that rather than a computer. Glad you liked it
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Post by lambrettadave on Oct 15, 2013 12:22:32 GMT
So when will this one close
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Post by ddevilfingers on Oct 15, 2013 13:39:10 GMT
So when will this one close I've had my 'game of the week' half written for the past year or 2. I'll get on it! Glad to see some of the high score threads are being resurrected too guys. Will have a try and beating some scores over the coming week.
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Phil
Sonic the Hedgehog
Posts: 2,192
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Post by Phil on Jul 8, 2014 19:30:55 GMT
Still waiting for a new game...
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Post by ddevilfingers on Jul 9, 2014 7:48:12 GMT
Still waiting for a new game... I'll finish up the one I had started a few years ago. Give me a week or so. It's a good one - can't believe it hadn't already been chosen. Fingers crossed it'll get some discussion going!
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Post by lambrettadave on Jul 10, 2014 15:22:22 GMT
I think the forum will need a good discussion
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Post by brian on Sept 15, 2014 0:25:30 GMT
Well I'll throw my 2 cents in while this is still a GameClub title.
As a kid I wanted this game so bad (being a Rambo freak) but I never got to try it until emulation. Man it was hard. I would have been so pissed with this game as a kid. But then I enjoyed The Ninja and this had John Rambo in it, so I would have liked it regardless I guess. I have it in my collection now, have never beaten it, but it's fun to take out once in a while and see how far I can get. With a few plays I can make it to the final boss, but so many bombs, SO MANY BOMBS!!!
Speaking of speed I can't imagine playing in 50Hz, in 60Hz it is a little slow compared to other games in it genre, but it is also a lot of fun. The one time your speed really sucks and works against you is the city level, enemies all over, some that move really fast and shoot really fast bullets; while you are plodding along with little to no cover trying to dodge, kill, AND advance the screen... it IS too hard, it should of been a last level or something... and how does that level fit in with the theme of the game or even the movie its titled after here in America. Jungles, Deserts, Swamps, and.... a City? I assume an American city with the Cowboy hat/Khaki wearing policemen. (is it only hick towns that have cops that dress like this? according to any movie I've seen it seems that way). Even if you want to bring the first movie into the picture, he didn't stroll through town gunning down police officers.
One other thing I like about this game is the music. Rather the title screen Music. it is a GREAT 8-bit rendition of The Rambo Theme. Again as a kid, I'm sure I would have left this game going just to hear that Rambo music. Which raises a question, since only America used the Rambo license, Secret Command must have alternate title screen music right? And the fact that it apparently credits a song and lyric writer KIND of makes sense since they WOULD have to credit the guy who wrote the original Rambo Theme, but it had no lyrics to begin with, let alone lyrics in the 8-bit version so I don't know what that references...
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Post by lambrettadave on Sept 24, 2014 15:45:21 GMT
Brian, this is still a favorite game of mine, it is slow in 50Hz and therefore a lot more playable in 60Hz.
A arcade joystick is great with this game
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