Atari User


Green Beret

Author: Mark Fowlis
Publisher: Imagine
Machine: Atari 400/800/600XL/800XL/130XE

 
Published in Atari User #25

Green Beret

"Heeyyyy! Don't push me!" Yes, you guessed it - another Rambo-type shoot-'em-up. Predictably, your mission is to rescue hostages captured by the enemy forces.

It's no picnic either as the enemy are out to stop you with all the armed forces they can muster.

Green Beret is based on an arcade game so there are, inevitably, some compromises in this 8-bit conversion. But Imagine has done a pretty fine job in this, its first release for the Atari in quite a long time.

Green Beret

During the game you progress through the scenes which scroll smoothly from right to left. Enemy soldiers run towards you from different directions, intent on your capture.

Some will take pot-shots at you with rifles, while others try to fell you with a kung-fu flying kick. You can despatch them with your knife, operated by the fire button. However the response to the button is slow, calling for good timing.

If you come across white soldiers and kill them, you will be provided with a bazooka holding four rounds. This can be fired in either direction by pressing the spacebar at the crucial moment, taking out all the men in that direction.

Green Beret

Some parts of the arcade game, such as the mortar crews and ground mines, seem to have disappeared. However, if they had been included it might have made the game a little too difficult, as Green Beret is quite challenging as it stands.

One funny moment is provided at the end of the second stage. In the arcade game you are attacked by Doberman and Alsatian guard dogs.

The programmers have retained this feature, but the attacking dogs look like emaciated Yorkshire terriers.

Green Beret

The background graphics are detailed and colourful and rate as excellent. However, I was a little disappointed with the graphics of the figures. These were a little too big and lacked detail.

There is no music, though the game starts with a wail of sirens followed by a drum rhythm which accompanies you throughout, adding to the atmosphere. Sound effects are limited and could have been better.

All in all, a good game which should sell well. Hopefully, just the first of many new conversions from Imagine.

Mark Fowlis

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