As someone who spent countless hours in arcades during my youth, I can confidently say that G.I Joe: Wrath of Cobra takes me right back to those halcyon days. It captures the essence of what made those beat ’em ups so addictive – the fun, the challenge, and the value for money. The game’s humor and over-the-top pro-U.S.A. bombast had me chuckling like a schoolboy seeing Sgt Slaughter in action again.
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of arcade beat ’em up games that involve scrolling belts. It feels like stepping back into the early ’90s when every arcade machine seemed to have one of these games. Just as it was then, the quality of modern games can be quite inconsistent. For every Shredder’s Revenge, Final Vendetta, or Streets of Rage 4, there are also games like the latest Karate Kid spin-off.
My idea is that this kind of game should maintain the same captivating allure for the player as if they were feeding coins into an arcade machine in the past. It ought to be enjoyable, accessible, and difficult enough to keep players hooked while providing a sense of worthiness for their investment. A strong theme or licensing agreement can also contribute positively to its appeal.
The G.I Joe: Wrath of Cobra effectively slots into my specified category, offering a familiar, cherished brand – while some older UK audiences might be more accustomed to Action Force – but in the U.S., G.I Joe holds significant weight and was a popular toy line for many youngsters, including one character who was once portrayed by wrestling icon, Sgt Slaughter. What’s not to appreciate? The way the G.I Joe universe is utilized in Wrath of Cobra is commendable as it avoids being overly serious and can be quite amusing at times, with its unabashed pro-American cartoon bravado and the absurdly villainous antics of its adversaries. The opening sequence is a rock ‘n’ roll explosion reminiscent of Team America’s intensity, and I found myself chuckling during one of the vignettes that initiates the action. This particular scene depicts Cobra Commander and Destro discussing their plans for global domination in an unusual setting – over a chicken dinner. Naturally, the Commander keeps his mask on throughout the conversation.
The game strongly resembles the arcade versions of Konami’s Ninja Turtles and X-Men, as you pick one out of four characters to face off against an increasingly powerful and varied army of Cobra robot clones across different stages. The starting group includes Duke, Roadblock, Scarlett, and the legendary ninja Snake Eyes, but two hidden characters can be unlocked using the game’s in-earned currency – floppy discs, which are obtained by defeating enemies. Each character has a unique personality, attack range, movement, and special moves. As you attack, you fill up a bar, and when it chimes satisfyingly, you can unleash devastation on the battlefield. Some of these abilities are conventional; Duke’s special simply causes everything to explode, but Snake Eyes’ is most helpful and unique. In G.I Joe lore, before becoming part of the elite team, our friend Snake Eyes led a life of rigorous self-discipline in seclusion atop mountains with his pet wolf, Timber. Activating the right trigger summons Timber to attack enemies, making him especially useful during certain boss battles.
In this game, you’ll have access to both standard light and heavy attacks, and you can sprint by quickly double-tapping the control stick. There’s also a block button and a handy sidestep for dodging enemy gunfire. You can grab guns to use temporarily, then discard them once ammo runs out. An interesting feature is the ability to stun enemies and toss their unconscious bodies at nearby foes. Enemies come in large groups, so blocking effectively and timing your special moves are crucial to success. The game offers a variety of enemies and stages, along with some epic boss battles that fans will enjoy. However, I felt that the absence of a grab or command throw function could have added more depth to the gameplay experience, making it even more engaging. Despite this, I had a blast playing it, and there’s plenty of reason to replay levels.
The unlockables are so good, in fact, that I wonder why more games of this ilk don’t do the same. As well as two new G.I Bros to purchase, there are some genuinely intriguing game modifiers and new modes to unlock. Boss Rush and Arcade are par for the course, but other stuff like randomising enemy grunts, or even switching the order of boss encounters in the main game? I like that. You will have to kill a hell of a lot of Cobra henchmen to get these rewards, but it sure is worth it.
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra offers a nostalgic blast from the past, delivering high-quality action that fans of the series and vintage side-scrolling fighters will appreciate. It’s as if you’ve traveled back in time, without needing to beg your parents for pocket money. This game is arguably the most successful use of the Hasbro license since Konami’s underrated 1992 G.I. Joe arcade game.
Read More
- SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
- ENA PREDICTION. ENA cryptocurrency
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- USD PHP PREDICTION
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- USD ZAR PREDICTION
- WIF PREDICTION. WIF cryptocurrency
- HYDRA PREDICTION. HYDRA cryptocurrency
- SEAM PREDICTION. SEAM cryptocurrency
- USD COP PREDICTION
2024-09-26 18:16