Summary
- Release Year: 1983
- Genres: Arcade
- Platforms: Atari 2600
- Publishers: Parker Brothers
Action Force (1983): A Classic Arcade Shooter
Released in 1983, Action Force is an arcade shooter game developed and published by Konami. The game is based on the popular G.I. Joe toy line and animated series. Players take control of a team of G.I. Joe soldiers and must defend their base from an attack by the evil Cobra organization.
Action Force is a vertically scrolling shooter similar to Konami’s earlier game Scramble. The player controls a team of three G.I. Joe soldiers, each with their own unique weapons and abilities. The player must use their soldiers to defeat waves of Cobra enemies, including soldiers, tanks, helicopters, and even a giant cobra snake.
The game is known for its fast-paced action and challenging gameplay. Players must constantly move and shoot to avoid being hit by enemy fire. The game also features a variety of power-ups that can help the player, such as spread shots, homing missiles, and invincibility.
Action Force was a critical and commercial success. It was one of the most popular arcade games of 1983 and helped to establish Konami as a major force in the video game industry. The game has been ported to a variety of home platforms, including the NES, Commodore 64, and Atari 2600.
Gameplay
Action Force is a vertically scrolling shooter. The player controls a team of three G.I. Joe soldiers, each with their own unique weapons and abilities. The player must use their soldiers to defeat waves of Cobra enemies, including soldiers, tanks, helicopters, and even a giant cobra snake.
The player’s soldiers can shoot in eight directions. They can also jump and use grenades to attack enemies. The player can switch between soldiers at any time.
The game features a variety of power-ups that can help the player. These power-ups include:
- Spread shots: These power-ups increase the width of the player’s shots.
- Homing missiles: These power-ups allow the player to fire homing missiles that track enemies.
- Invincibility: This power-up makes the player invincible for a short period of time.
The game also features a variety of obstacles that the player must avoid, such as walls, fences, and mines.
Enemies
Action Force features a variety of enemies, including:
- Soldiers: These are the most common type of enemy. They are armed with rifles and grenades.
- Tanks: These enemies are more powerful than soldiers. They are armed with cannons and can fire shells at the player.
- Helicopters: These enemies can fly and are armed with machine guns and rockets.
- Giant cobra snake: This is the final boss of the game. It is a giant cobra snake that is armed with a variety of weapons, including lasers, fireballs, and poison gas.
Reception
Action Force was a critical and commercial success. It was one of the most popular arcade games of 1983 and helped to establish Konami as a major force in the video game industry. The game has been ported to a variety of home platforms, including the NES, Commodore 64, and Atari 2600.
Action Force has been praised for its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and variety of enemies and power-ups. The game has also been criticized for its difficulty and lack of variety in its levels.
Overall, Action Force is a classic arcade shooter that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and variety of enemies and power-ups make it a timeless classic.
Legacy
Action Force has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s fast-paced action and challenging gameplay have inspired many other shooters, including the Metal Slug series and the Contra series. The game’s variety of enemies and power-ups has also been influential in the design of many other games.
Action Force is a classic arcade shooter that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and variety of enemies and power-ups make it a timeless classic.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
