Contra, a series that actually didn’t gain steam until it arrived on the NES shortly after the console’s launch. We mean stuff like Time Pilot, Gyruss and Yie Ar Kung Fu, among others. One that sticks out in our minds is Rush’n Attack, a side-scrolling action game where you control a lone soldier fighting to free prisoners of war, using a knife and whatever weapons you can find. The game is available on Xbox Live for 400 Microsoft points, but if you’re seeking something a little newer, Konami might just have what you need. Rush’n Attack: Ex-Patriot takes the old “save your comrades” storyline and twists it into something a little more contemporary, thanks to a design overhaul that resembles Chair Entertainment’s Shadow Complex. But where that game was a master of gameplay and Super Metroid-style exploration, Ex-Patriot seems more concentrated on stealth and killing. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but some people may look at this and say, “Hey, it’s like Shadow Complex!”
The gameplay is pretty easy to get into. You’re in control of a soldier, working your way around indoor and outdoor environments, occasionally getting sneaky to take down a soldier from behind and avoid detection by scanners. The sneakier your kill, the more points you get. Plus, the less attention you draw to yourself, as some of these guys will beat you to a pulp. There are some neat techniques here, such as picking up rocket launchers to take down guys with (just like in the original game) and grabbing onto ledges and slashing a guard standing near you with one hand. However, it isn’t quite perfect. The platforming is questionable, especially when you have to make a precision jump onto shaky ground. At one point, we tried to jump onto a floating crate above a poison pool, but we were off by an inch – an inch! – and dropped down to our death. Practice makes perfect here.
Visually, Ex-Patriot isn’t half bad at all. The 3D environments are impressive, if a little fuzzy in spots, and the lighting is excellent, particularly with the scanners and their little laser effects. There’s also no shortage of carnage, and the animation isn’t half bad, especially when you get into a “kill” animation, with your guy either snapping a neck or slashing someone in a fierce manner. Still, Chair Entertainment handled this better, as Shadow Complex is just a bit superior in this department. What’s more, we truly appreciate the game’s heads-up display, which sits in the upper right hand corner of the screen. It shows you where guards are, and what their peripheral vision is, so you can sneak up and take them down from behind. It also indicates certain items, such as health packs (which you’ll need and use quite often) and cool collectible crystals, along with other bonus goodies. Night vision for the win!
As for audio, it’s decent but a little slipshod. There’s some okay voice acting on display, but it cuts out at the strangest times when it comes to keeping up with the on-screen dialogue, which we can’t quite figure out. The music isn’t half bad, though, and the sound effects are convincing enough, especially when you’re cutting up someone. Slice, slice! Ex-Patriot does have replay value, as it’s fun to go through and shoot for a higher score. Some of the boss battles are also impressive, even though the final one is more of a push over than we would’ve preferred. But, again, it lacks in complexity, so those expecting the next great action game will probably be disappointed. Otherwise, if it’s an arcade romp you want for 800 Microsoft points, take a stab at it.
