G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

This is one of my favorite video games of all time as well as run and gun, licensed games, and G.I. Joe game (for now anyway). Once again this is another wonderful entry in Konami's licensed game series, and it makes sense that "G.I. Joe" would be next. Yeah, I know this game came out in the 90's which was not the best decade for the franchise as it was running out of ammo, but at least this arcade game made the series go out with a bang.

The game is truly unique in the run and gun genre as there really isn't many others that have utilized the same format except the game "Devastators" also by Konami and a story for another time. However, to me I feel the game takes that same approach but makes it even better than before.

I like the roster of characters it has which consist of most of my favorites and are sort of the central Joes in the franchise, though only disappointments are there's no Flint, Lady Jaye, and Shipwreck, but due to the huge roster in the franchise and how the game program can only manage a roster a certain size it couldn't be helped so oh well, you take what you can get. Anyway, the roster consists of Duke, Scarlet, Roadblock, and of course my main man Snake Eyes. Each of the character have the usual standard run and gun function, however they each have some unique attacks as well as a unique emergency bomb away function which makes them stand out.

The graphical presentation is very good, I like how well detailed and accurate the animation in the game is, which feel true to the animation from the 80's cartoon and comic book series. I like that you see most of the cobra enemies along with the vehicles from the toy line like hiss tanks, bats, strata vipers, and all other kinds of bad goodies Cobra has to offer.

It's kind of funny how like in the cartoon despite how well built those vehicles are their so flimsy as they see to just go down easily with one or a few shots. Let alone despite how many color kinds of solders and gadgets and tech their armed with they never seem to be able to outmatch or be a match for any G.I. Joe.

Gameplay is very solid and feel true to the franchise, as you're doing your usual Joe business which is simply blowing Cobras and a lot of crap up in your path. You can control the speed of your advancement though it's always wise to keep going making so you don't get blown away or not easy.

I like that each of the levels are unique to keep the game fresh, I really like some of those moving levels which are always fun because it's just frantic action, despite being on a platform you have to move but here you have confined space to work with and with all the enemies coming your way really fast you have an even more limited amount of time to blow them away.

You have boss battles and each of them are unique and their attacks fit the characters. The bosses consist of the usual suspects like Destro, Zartan and his Dreednoks, Storm Shadow, and others. Even like the levels, each one is unique keeping the game fresh and doesn't feel like you're going through the same circuit.

And of course, the music, which is great and memorable just really pumps you up for action, there are plenty of tracks that are favorites of mine it's hard to decide. Two favorites of mine are the first level with the theme song from the DIC series which is cool as that's one of my favorite things songs, let alone is probably the only good thing about that series. The music in that animated intro which is cool as it has music of the menacing threat and then switches over to an action tone letting you know the good guys are on there way to save us.

The "G.I. Joe" arcade game hits the target.

Rating: 4 stars

The first thing one should know about this particular cabinet is that it is basically a modded one. The game most of the G. I Joe cabinets once were, is a game called Devastators. From what I understand, that game you had to keep pushing forward to go up and it was a bit tedious; however, I have not played that one as of yet, so I can neither confirm nor deny this. Secondly, while this game is a bit fun, there are aspects of it that are not so good. You have to keep pushing the fire button to shoot your main gun unless you get a rapid fire icon which sometimes they are plentiful and others not so much. Also, the Joes all play the same, the only thing special is when they come back alive after a death or continue and say "Yo Joe!" No, exclusive weapons or special moves. Then there is the fact you cannot enter any vehicles or use any of the Joe's vehicles. I mean, the game is pretty short, a flying level or driving level could not have been inserted? While it is cool to just go in and defeat Cobra with a semiautomatic rifle while they are using tanks, a few more touches could have made this way more fun and more G. I Joe like as it is, it definitely feels like a modded cabinet.

So, what is the story? Well, Cobra is doing various things to try and dominate the world once again! It is up to G. I Joe to stop them! Well, it is up to Duke, Scarlett, Roadblock and Snake Eyes to stop them. The rest of the team had a Fourth of July party to attend or something. That is okay, because the team assembled will enter Cobra territory alone if they have to, or possibly together if three other people want to help you take on Cobra and blast their way through a few areas to take on Cobra Commander himself! Though the voice actor in this thing does not sound a thing like Cobra Commander....

The game play has you constantly moving forward dispensing justice! You have to constantly be pushing the button because all four Joe's forgot to bring any of their trademark weapons and instead rely on a semiautomatic gun and a missile launcher with a few shots. Thankfully you can get an auto upgrade, but get hit once and it is bye bye! Why it just does not last until you die, who knows? More missile icons can be found than the rapid ones so feel free to use the missiles all the time! You run upward killing Cobra members and from time to time you will see someone from the show like Destro, the Baroness and Major Blood to name a few. The music is good and the action fast, but it would help if the members of the team had more distinct features and as I have mentioned, maybe a vehicle stage or two.

So, it is pretty fun; however, it would have been way more fun had there been more things done to make this feel more G. I Joe like. It is fun trying to blast your way through Cobra's army and while it is an arcade game it is not overly unfair. I could go great lengths of time without dying. I imagine it would even be easier to get through it was another person or two. So, it was a pretty fun game that would have been better with a few extra touches.