| Rush'n Attack (a.k.a. Green Beret) |
|
| Developer(s) |
Konami |
| Publisher(s) |
Konami |
| Platform(s) |
Arcade, Nintendo Entertainment System, Family Computer Disk System, ZX Spectrum, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, BBC Micro, MSX, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade) |
| Release date(s) |
1985 |
| Genre(s) |
Run and gun |
| Mode(s) |
Up to 2 players, alternating turns |
| Input methods |
8-way Joystick, 2 buttons |
| Cabinet |
Standard upright |
| Display |
Raster resolution, Horizontal |
Rush'n Attack, originally released in Japan and Europe as Green Beret (グリーンベレー?), is an action/platform arcade game released by Konami in 1985. 'Rush'n Attack is remembered for its Cold War setting and its reliance on the player using a knife to dispatch enemies. A sequel was released for the arcades titled M.I.A.: Missing in Action in 1989
Gameplay
The player takes on the role of a United States special operations soldier infiltrating an enemy military base in order to save several POW's from being executed by firing squad. There are four stages: a Marshalling Area, a Harbor, an Air Base and a Siberian Camp. The omnipresent knife can be supplemented with captured arms. By killing certain enemy soldiers, the player can obtain a three-shot flamethrower, a four-shot RPG, or a three-pack of hand grenades. At the end of each stage, there are extra challenges: Stage 1 ends with a truckload of running and jumping soldiers, Stage 2 with a pack of fierce dogs, Stage 3 with three shooting autogyros and Stage 4 with a skillful multi-shot flamethrower operator. When the mission is accomplished the four rescued POWs salute and the player is sent back to Stage 1. The player is supposed to run to the right, revealing new territories, but in case of a standstill in 10 minutes, a stealth-like bomber would wipe out the soldier.
Home versions
Home computers
Front cover of the ZX Spectrum version of
Green Beret.
Under license from Konami, Imagine Software released home versions of the game under the Green Beret title for various home computer formats in Europe in 1986. Versions were released for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, the MSX, and the BBC Micro.
An unrelated IBM PC port was released by Konami for the North American market under the Rush 'n Attack name in 1989
Nintendo Entertainment System
A Family Computer Disk System version of Green Beret was released in Japan on April 10, 1987. A corresponding North American version, bearing the Rush'n Attack title was also released for the Nintendo Entertainment System during the same month and in the PAL region in 1988.
The player's objective in the NES version was changed from rescuing prisoners to destroying a secret weapon being developed in the enemy's headquarters. As in the arcade version, the player's main weapon is a knife throughout most of the game, although power-ups let the player temporarily use a handgun, a star (invincibility), bazooka, and grenades. The NES version has two additional stages in addition the ones from the arcade game: an airport set immediately after the first stage and a new final stage set inside the enemy's base.
- In the NES port of the game, the appearance of most enemies was triggered by the advance of the screen to the right.
- The flamethrower is removed in the NES port and all occurrences are replaced with the bazooka.
- Aside from the bazooka and grenades, there are two additional items that were not present in the arcade version. There is an "Invincibility Star", granting the player invincibility from both enemies and weapons, including land mines, and a "Lucky Pistol", which has unlimited ammunition for a limited time.
- In the NES version it is possible for the player to jump in a lying down position. This is accomplished by lying prone and then pressing up on the d-pad and attack simultaneously. If the player stabs an enemy and then immediately jumps, the player's character will jump while running in the air.
- The NES has a 2-Player mode allowing for simultaneous cooperative gameplay.
- The music on the arcade version is more of a simple military-style drum beat, while the NES has fully developed melodic songs.
- The Japanese Disk System version has hidden underground shortcuts in certain stages that were not included in the NES version.
Game Boy Advance
An arranged port of the arcade version of Rush 'n Attack is included in the 2003 compilation Konami Collector's Series: Arcade Advanced for the Game Boy Advance. The game features the same stages as in the arcade version, as well as two extra stages accessible via the Konami Code that are based on the added stages from the NES version. A two-players versus mode is added which utilizes the Game Link Cable. The play controls have been changed so the player now has a dedicated jump button instead of pressing up to do so, making the gameplay more like other side-scrolling games.
Nintendo DS
A second portable is included in the 2007 compilation Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for the Nintendo DS. Unlike the GBA version, the DS version is a direct port of the original arcade game. However, it includes various bonus features such scans of the instruction cards and leaflet, as well as tips.
Xbox 360
Rush 'n Attack was released as an Xbox Live Arcade title for the Xbox 360 on May 23, 2007. This version is another direct port of the arcade game, but features an optional game mode with improved graphics and a remixed soundtrack. This version was developed by Digital Eclipse.
Reception
The MS-DOS version of Rush'N Attack was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon #142 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.[1] The NES version ranked 99 on IGN's top 100 NES games list.[2]
References
External links
