Zzap


Rambo
By The Hit Squad
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #53

Rambo

John Rambo, Vietnam vet and disturbed convict, is sprung from a high-security prison by his good friend and ex-commanding officer, Colonel Traufman. There have been reports from Vietnam that American soldiers are still being held in torture camps, twenty years on from the conflict. Rambo is the only man sufficiently powerful, quick-witted [Are you sure about this? - Ed] and familiar with the territory to release the POWs, so it's a quick gab with the Senate, a turn of a key and John's on a helicopter bound for the Far East.

A three parter, the first section of the game sees Rambo on the outskirts of the enemy encampment, about to sneak in. Strategy is vital from the outset, as the amount of noise you make determines the quantity of soldiers alerted to your presence. Scattered around the sparse woodland area are a range of weapons which emit varying decibels when used. Once into the camp, you must rescue your friend and colleague Bates, whom you find staked out in the middle of the base before making a mad dash to steal the enemy helicopter at the top of the screen. On acquiring your transport, the scene switches to a view of the chopper as you fly to the hut in which your fellow vets are encased. You must battle your way through the swarms of now-alerted guards, free the POWs and make it back to the copter.

The final level has you making a break for the Vietnam/Thailand border, whilst being chased by a Soviet gunship.

To come straight to the point, Ocean, sorry, The Hit Squad, will have no trouble in hitting number one with Rambo, as it's the sort of game which re-release labels were made for.

A fast, frenetic pace, three well-playable, addictive levels, high quality graphics (for a budget game) and an array of tunes and effects which has the majority of full-price products paling into insignificance, never mind budget, make Rambo a sure-fire winner in the charts. Just like the film from which it is licensed, this is mindless violence at its very best, and a game which no self-respecting C64 owners should be without.