This game is another one of my favorite video games of all time and ones for the run and gun genre. This game is also a childhood gem as this was another one of the first video games I've played when I was about seven.
And of course I was a kid from the 80's and two of my loves were for action films and TV shows as well as the "G.I. Joe" franchise which was big at the time, and this game pertains to both of them. It's true this game uses the same format as "Ikari Warriors" but it's no knock off, the game takes a familiar format but does it's own thing by adding some things to it as well as taking things a step further.
Plotline is basic where two sole commandos have to infiltrate an enemy island base and destroy it and the enemy army. Yeah cut and dry but that's fine by me and all you need to know, like in all the run and gun games we're all in it for the action.
And I like that kind of plotline because in this game you really get a feeling of being an action hero and just blowing away numerous odds and blowing crap up, good stuff. Though I really like how this game intermixed the sci-fi element, as there was a lot of high tech involved which just made the game all the more unique, sort of reminds me of the G.I. Joe cartoon and comic as the franchise had a bit of sci-fi.
The graphical presentation is very good, it's a bit similar with the layout of "Ikari Warriors" however there are improvements which show in how detailed the backgrounds are. I really like the music score which is solid, I wouldn't say that most of them are my favorite music tracks but their nice to listen to as they fit the game as they have the action feel to them and there are a couple of tracks that are on my honorable mention list I like to listen to.
Even like the sound from the Heavy Barrel gun but just the nameless masked enemies whenever you hit them and seeing them all fly back, it's comically cool just letting them all feel your power.
You have a good decent number of weapons and power ups, each have their strengths and weaknesses. You also have a gauge on how much grenades and ammo for the picked-up guns you have so monitor carefully. You have the standard regular grenade that does focused damage on the spot you lob the grenade. But there is also the incendiary grenade when lobed and detonated does spread damage but not much focal power.
There is the shield that has automated drone devices that constantly move around you blocking all fire but also taking out anyone coming your way, of course this shield doesn't last long and when one of the drones are gone you lose shield power so be careful.
However, my favorite power up is the mace, then you push the grenade button the mace forms and takes out everyone around you and even has lots of power to do serious damage when in range.
For guns there is your regular gun which is the laser gun you have. There are four other guns in the game, the super laser with increased firepower and range. The spread shot which has a good range and wide width but little power. The flamethrower which I really like as that has lots of power which can do plenty of damage quicker as well as take a line of enemies coming to you, but a limited range.
Of course, my favorite gun is the Heavy Barrel gun which is just awesome, with that gun you are just unstoppable as it just takes out. However, there are a couple of catches, for one thing you can't use the gun until you find and assemble all the pieces. Also, once you have the gun you only have it for a limited amount of time. So, make you use up your load while you still have it.
The gameplay is solid, control is very responsive as it's the same kind of rotary control which fits for this kind of game as you will need fire in one particular direction for the longest time as well as switch directions quickly as enemies will come at you from all sides. I really like the format of the sections, its ongoing but with each section it's not just one direction all the time. The other sections you will go different directions and each of the sections contain something different.
Like in a couple of section there are moving stages where your on a moving platform, moving one direction with a limited amount of space as well as time to prepare to destroy what is constantly coming at you more you advance. I always love those kinds of stages because of just the thrill of having to prepare yourself in a mater of seconds for what's to come as well as causing you to speed up on your gameplay.
There is a decent amount of enemies to take on, it's really the bosses that are a little more unique as there are giant battle vehicles, robotic arms that look like the power loader arms from the film "Aliens" as well as three medium sized robots. The battles are kind of a cakewalk if you know the pattern and the right places to stand. It's really the level you fight though that are the real challenge of the game.
The only misfire is how as you get further in the game the difficult get a little cheaper. As multiple enemies just start to bunch up a little too quickly. This is a fundamental problem most other past games have where when you get further the difficulty tends to ramp up.
Thought this doesn't bother me much probably because I've played a lot of classic arcade games that had this so I'm use to it, and I can blow though the difficulty as it's really not that hard at least for me.
Heavy Barrel is a Barrel full of action.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
And of course I was a kid from the 80's and two of my loves were for action films and TV shows as well as the "G.I. Joe" franchise which was big at the time, and this game pertains to both of them. It's true this game uses the same format as "Ikari Warriors" but it's no knock off, the game takes a familiar format but does it's own thing by adding some things to it as well as taking things a step further.
Plotline is basic where two sole commandos have to infiltrate an enemy island base and destroy it and the enemy army. Yeah cut and dry but that's fine by me and all you need to know, like in all the run and gun games we're all in it for the action.
And I like that kind of plotline because in this game you really get a feeling of being an action hero and just blowing away numerous odds and blowing crap up, good stuff. Though I really like how this game intermixed the sci-fi element, as there was a lot of high tech involved which just made the game all the more unique, sort of reminds me of the G.I. Joe cartoon and comic as the franchise had a bit of sci-fi.
The graphical presentation is very good, it's a bit similar with the layout of "Ikari Warriors" however there are improvements which show in how detailed the backgrounds are. I really like the music score which is solid, I wouldn't say that most of them are my favorite music tracks but their nice to listen to as they fit the game as they have the action feel to them and there are a couple of tracks that are on my honorable mention list I like to listen to.
Even like the sound from the Heavy Barrel gun but just the nameless masked enemies whenever you hit them and seeing them all fly back, it's comically cool just letting them all feel your power.
You have a good decent number of weapons and power ups, each have their strengths and weaknesses. You also have a gauge on how much grenades and ammo for the picked-up guns you have so monitor carefully. You have the standard regular grenade that does focused damage on the spot you lob the grenade. But there is also the incendiary grenade when lobed and detonated does spread damage but not much focal power.
There is the shield that has automated drone devices that constantly move around you blocking all fire but also taking out anyone coming your way, of course this shield doesn't last long and when one of the drones are gone you lose shield power so be careful.
However, my favorite power up is the mace, then you push the grenade button the mace forms and takes out everyone around you and even has lots of power to do serious damage when in range.
For guns there is your regular gun which is the laser gun you have. There are four other guns in the game, the super laser with increased firepower and range. The spread shot which has a good range and wide width but little power. The flamethrower which I really like as that has lots of power which can do plenty of damage quicker as well as take a line of enemies coming to you, but a limited range.
Of course, my favorite gun is the Heavy Barrel gun which is just awesome, with that gun you are just unstoppable as it just takes out. However, there are a couple of catches, for one thing you can't use the gun until you find and assemble all the pieces. Also, once you have the gun you only have it for a limited amount of time. So, make you use up your load while you still have it.
The gameplay is solid, control is very responsive as it's the same kind of rotary control which fits for this kind of game as you will need fire in one particular direction for the longest time as well as switch directions quickly as enemies will come at you from all sides. I really like the format of the sections, its ongoing but with each section it's not just one direction all the time. The other sections you will go different directions and each of the sections contain something different.
Like in a couple of section there are moving stages where your on a moving platform, moving one direction with a limited amount of space as well as time to prepare to destroy what is constantly coming at you more you advance. I always love those kinds of stages because of just the thrill of having to prepare yourself in a mater of seconds for what's to come as well as causing you to speed up on your gameplay.
There is a decent amount of enemies to take on, it's really the bosses that are a little more unique as there are giant battle vehicles, robotic arms that look like the power loader arms from the film "Aliens" as well as three medium sized robots. The battles are kind of a cakewalk if you know the pattern and the right places to stand. It's really the level you fight though that are the real challenge of the game.
The only misfire is how as you get further in the game the difficult get a little cheaper. As multiple enemies just start to bunch up a little too quickly. This is a fundamental problem most other past games have where when you get further the difficulty tends to ramp up.
Thought this doesn't bother me much probably because I've played a lot of classic arcade games that had this so I'm use to it, and I can blow though the difficulty as it's really not that hard at least for me.
Heavy Barrel is a Barrel full of action.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
