''Rambo'' is a

light gun shooter Light gun shooter, also called light gun game or simply gun game, is a shooter video game genre in which the primary design element is to simulate a shooting gallery by having the player aiming and discharging a gun-shaped controller at a s ...

developed by Sega for the arcades in 2008. The game is based on '' Rambo: First Blood Part II'' (1985) and ''

Rambo III ''Rambo III'' is a 1988 American action film directed by Peter MacDonald and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, who also reprises his role as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. A sequel to '' Rambo: First Blood Part II'' (1985), it is the third i ...

'' (1988), but not ''

First Blood ''First Blood'' (also known as ''Rambo: First Blood'') is a 1982 American action film directed by Ted Kotcheff, and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, who also stars as Vietnam War veteran John Rambo. It co-stars Richard Crenna as Rambo's mento ...

'' (1982).

Gameplay

The player assumes the role of

John Rambo John James Rambo (born July 6, 1947) is a fictional character in the ''Rambo'' franchise. He first appeared in the 1972 novel '' First Blood'' by David Morrell, but later became more famous as the protagonist of the film series, in which he wa ...

, fighting through five levels. The first and final levels are based on the desert battle from ''Rambo III'', the second and third levels focus on Rambo rescuing the prisoners from ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'', and the fourth level consists of Rambo rescuing his mentor, Col. Trautman, from an enemy prison (also from ''Rambo III''). Each level consists of the player shooting down waves after waves of enemy soldiers; if the player waits too long to kill an enemy, the enemy will attack and the player will lose one of their lives. Some enemies attack Rambo with grenades or rockets, which can be shot and destroyed in mid-air. In addition, the game also features non-shooting segments, such as defeating an enemy in hand-to-hand combat, sneaking past enemies without being spotted, and shooting targeted areas without missing. Failing to complete these segments properly results in the player either losing a life or having to fight more enemies. Every level includes a boss fight, such as the Soviet attack helicopter from ''Rambo III'' or the gunboats from ''Rambo: First Blood Part II'', which require the player to avoid a series of attacks while waiting for an opportunity to damage and ultimately defeat the boss. The player's primary weapon must either be reloaded by shooting off-screen or by completely running out of bullets. Killing enemies slowly fills Rambo's "Rage" meter, which when activated increases the damage the player inflicts until the meter is empty. If the meter is activated when it's completely full, the player becomes temporarily invincible and cannot be damaged. Shooting crates in levels allows the player to obtain medals that boost their score, which is calculated based on how much damage they take during a level, the speed at which they kill enemies, and how accurate their shooting is. At the end of the level, the game rates the player, with a high score earning them extra lives. The Japanese version of the arcade uses the Ingram submachine gun from '' The House of the Dead 4'' while the English International version uses the assault rifle from '' Ghost Squad''.

Development

The game runs on the

Sega Lindbergh Sega is a video game developer, publisher, and hardware development company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with multiple offices around the world. The company's involvement in the arcade game industry began as a Japan-based distributor of co ...

system board. The arcade cabinet features a 62-inch screen. The game was released in Japanese arcades on September 18, 2008.

Reception

Jean Snow from

Wired ''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San Fran ...

enjoyed playing it, speaking positively about shooting the

Uzi The Uzi (; he, עוזי, Ūzi; officially cased as UZI) is a family of Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine guns and machine pistols first designed by Major Uziel "Uzi" Gal in the late 1940s, shortly after the establishment of t ...

gun controller.

References

External links

* * {{Rambo 2008 video games Arcade video games Arcade-only video games Light gun games Rambo (franchise) video games Sega arcade games Video games developed in Japan