Jackal

NES 1988

Jackal, a much overlooked and underrated shooter, was yet another Konami arcade port on the NES. Sure the game had great graphics and TREMENDOUS music, but the thing that really shined was the gameplay... namely, running over people in your jeep! Of course, you have your usual guns/projectiles, but why use 'em when you can splatter those little SOBs on your windshield?

The game itself involves riding around in a multi-talented jeep and rescuing troops from a POW camp... although, strangely, it's not REQUIRED that you save 'em. Obviously, the developers weren't aiming for realism when they made this... You don't 'go' into the prisons to save the 'em. You shoot missles into the side of the building, and they magically appear out of the wreckage unscathed... And OF COURSE, it's another one of those 'one guy against the world' situations, (I actually like that kinda thing.) but since when have video games been about logic and reason.

Anyway, this is a pretty difficult game. While easy at first, it jumps in difficulty significantly about at level 3. Gameplay is pretty simple, though... just kill or be killed. The bosses aren't that inventive... you're usual fare- tanks, missle-shooting statues, and the like... but the battles with 'em are well done.

This is one of my all time favorite Konami games... but I can't quite place my finger on why... the game isn't that deep and there have been a million other jeep/guerilla shooters, but it just has that charm to it that makes ya wanna play it many times over... an intangible element, I supppose... one that Konami has seemingly cornered the market on. Download it, OK?

All right... let's rumble...

HA!!! The jerk didn't even see it commin'!!