Rambo III (video game)

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This article is about the 1989 game. For other games based on the franchise, see Rambo (disambiguation) § Video games.
Rambo III
Rambo III for the Sega Mega Drive
Cover art
Developer(s)Taito (arcade)
Sega (consoles)
Ocean (computers)
Publisher(s)Taito (arcade)
Sega (consoles)
Ocean/Taito (computers)
SeriesRambo
Platform(s)Arcade, Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum
ReleaseMarch 15, 1989 (arcade)[1]
1989 (consoles/computers)
Genre(s)Shooter, Action
Mode(s)1st-person perspective, 3rd-person perspective, top-down

Rambo III is a series of video games based on the film Rambo III (1988). Like in the film, their main plots center on former Vietnam-era Green Beret John Rambo being recalled up to duty one last time to rescue his former commander, Colonel Sam Trautman, who was captured during a covert operation mission in Soviet-controlled Afghanistan. Taito released an arcade game based on the film. The console versions were developed and published by Sega, the PC DOS version was developed by Ocean and published by Taito, and Ocean developed and published the other home computer versions (Atari ST, Amiga, Spectrum, C64, Amstrad).[citation needed]

Versions[]

Taito released a rail shooter arcade video game based on the film. It features both Rambo and Sam Trautman as playable characters.

The Sega Master System version, released in 1988, is a light gun shooter along the lines of Operation Wolf. The Light Phaser is supported.[2] What makes this game also unique is that unlike the NES (and Sega Master System Port, ironically) port of Operation Wolf, as long as the player has ammunition in the game, the light phaser's trigger can be held down to supply full automatic shooting. When the ammunition runs out though, the player will have to pull the trigger each time when shooting.[citation needed]

The Sega Mega Drive version, released in 1989, follows Rambo in six missions, in each one with various objectives. Besides finding the exit of the level, in some missions, prisoners must be freed or enemy ammunition supplies destroyed. Rambo is controlled from an overhead perspective and has several weapons at his disposal. Besides a machine gun that never runs out of ammo, he can use a knife for close range kills, set off timed bombs and use his famous longbow with explosive arrows. Ammunition for the bow and the bombs is limited and can be collected from dead enemies. Rambo himself, on the other hand, is vulnerable and can be killed after one hit.[citation needed]

After some of the missions, the perspective switches to a view behind Rambo and additional boss fights take place. Soviet tanks or helicopters must be destroyed using the crossbow. While aiming the bow, Rambo cannot move, but otherwise he can hide behind rocks or other obstacles from enemy fire. This is reminiscent of the Taito arcade game of the same name, which also had the player firing into the screen at helicopters and jeeps, but instead of just a single segment after each stage, the whole game is played out in this perspective.[citation needed]

The ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC versions had three missions, and varied from the console version drastically, in terms of gameplay, graphics and music.[citation needed]

Reception[]

Computer and Video Games reviewed the Sega Master System version, stating this "Operation Wolf clone is definitely the best Light Phaser game available on the Sega."[2]

References[]

  1. ^ "Rambo III (Registration Number PA0000440906)". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Complete Games Guide" (PDF). Computer and Video Games (Complete Guide to Consoles): 46–77. 16 October 1989.
  3. ^ Mega rating, Mega, issue 9, page 21, Future Publishing, June 1993

External links[]

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