Summary
- Release Year: 1988
- Genres: Arcade, Hack and slash/Beat ’em up
- Platforms: Arcade
- Developers: SNK
- Publishers: SNK
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War (1988)
Released in arcades in 1988, P.O.W.: Prisoners of War is a side-scrolling beat-em-up game developed and published by SNK. The game can be played by up to two players simultaneously, who control prisoners of war attempting to escape from an enemy base.
The game is set in La Havana, Cuba, and the player characters are Snake (Player 1) and Bart (Player 2). The objective of the game is to fight their way through four stages filled with enemy soldiers, including foot soldiers, commandos, and green berets. The stages consist of a POW camp, a warehouse, a jungle, and the enemy’s base.
The player characters can punch, kick, and jump, and can also perform three special attacks: a jump kick, a back punch, and a headbutt. They can also pick up weapons dropped by defeated enemies, including throwing knives and machine guns.
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the best beat-em-up games of its era. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, co-op gameplay, and challenging difficulty.
Gameplay
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War is a side-scrolling beat-em-up game in which the player characters fight their way through four stages filled with enemy soldiers. The player characters can punch, kick, and jump, and can also perform three special attacks: a jump kick, a back punch, and a headbutt. They can also pick up weapons dropped by defeated enemies, including throwing knives and machine guns.
The game can be played by up to two players simultaneously, who control Snake and Bart. Each player character has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Snake is stronger and can take more damage, while Bart is faster and more agile.
The game’s four stages are:
- POW camp: The first stage is set in a POW camp, where the player characters must fight their way through barracks and guard towers.
- Warehouse: The second stage is set in a warehouse, where the player characters must fight their way through crates and conveyor belts.
- Jungle: The third stage is set in a jungle, where the player characters must fight their way through dense vegetation and enemy ambushes.
- Enemy base: The fourth and final stage is set in the enemy’s base, where the player characters must fight their way through heavily armed soldiers and security systems.
Development
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War was developed by SNK, a Japanese video game company. The game was directed by Takashi Nishiyama, who had previously worked on the classic arcade game Ikari Warriors.
The game was originally intended to be a more realistic war game, but SNK decided to change the setting to a POW camp in order to make the game more appealing to a wider audience.
The game’s graphics were created by pixel artist Kazuma Kujo, who was known for his work on the King of Fighters series. The game’s music was composed by Hideki Yamagishi, who also composed the music for the Fatal Fury series.
Release
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War was released in arcades in Japan in 1988. The game was later released in North America and Europe in 1989.
The game was ported to the Neo Geo home console in 1990. The Neo Geo version of the game was released in Japan, North America, and Europe.
Reception
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, co-op gameplay, and challenging difficulty.
The game was also praised for its graphics and music. The game’s pixel art is considered to be some of the best of its era, and the game’s music is considered to be some of the most iconic in video game history.
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War is considered to be one of the best beat-em-up games of its era. The game is still popular today, and is considered to be a classic of the genre.
Legacy
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s fast-paced action and co-op gameplay have been imitated by many other beat-em-up games.
The game’s characters, Snake and Bart, have become iconic figures in the video game world. The two characters have appeared in several other SNK games, including the King of Fighters series.
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War is a classic beat-em-up game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s fast-paced action, co-op gameplay, and challenging difficulty make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
8/10
