Rush 'n Attack: Ex-Patriot is out

[X-pert74]

I honestly forgot this game existed. I've been really enjoying the Rush 'n Attack series though; I've been playing the first game on DS and the second game via Game Room a lot recently.

Has anyone here played Ex-Patriot yet? I haven't tried it for myself yet, but I looked through the screenshots on Xbox live and it looked pretty gritty How does it hold up to the other games, if you've played them?

[kitten]

I've only briefly played the first Rush'N Attack a handful of times, but I went ahead and bought Ex-Patriot.

It's actually pretty good! Although it's unfortunately a bit easy to see why it got a $10 price. It tries to go for the Bionic Commando: Rearmed (the first one) treatment and falls short on quite a few grounds, particularly in the music department.

As far as I can tell, the game is comprised of three enormous levels, each of them with a pseudo-Metroidvania approach to them while still maintaining a fair sense of linearity. There are a few collectibles scattered about and a boss at the end of each of them. The mechanics are fairly solid, and it plays like a mix of the old Rush'N Attack and side-scrolling Metal Gear.

Play the demo a couple times before you make up your mind on the purchase, though. At first, it seems a bit cooler than it really is, then when you get to going through it again, you realize that the levels are more linear than you had previously thought and that there's a bit less to the game. Later levels do add impressive enemy variety, however, and I still think it's worth the $10, just give it a bit of thought before plunking just from demo impressions.

[Weasel]

Well, shit, there is no demo for those of us stuck with only a PS3.

[Ryu the Grappler]

Mar 30, 2011 20:53:05 GMT -5 kitten said:

The mechanics are fairly solid, and it plays like a mix of the old Rush'N Attack and side-scrolling Metal Gear.

So it plays like the side-scrolling segments from Snake's Revenge then?

I'm more curious to know if they have retained the Kung-Fu Master method of jumping or whether the game has a dedicated jump button now like every other side-scroller.

[lanceboyle94]

Hang on, there was a Rush'n Attack sequel? Or maybe you guys are confusing it with Green Beret (which I think is Rush'n Attack's Japanese version)

Anyway, it does seem as if Konami are reviving some of their older games nowadays. Hopefully they do a new Time Pilot (which plays like the original instead of Time Pilot '84)

[Ryu the Grappler]

Yes, there was a Rush'n Attack sequel for the arcades in 1989. M.I.A., which is not an "official" sequel per se, but has pretty much the same play mechanics, only with better graphics, a 2-player mode, and switchable weapons. So yeah, I have no idea why it wasn't called "Green Beret 2".

[X-pert74]

Missing in Action kicks ass. I love it even more than the first Rush 'n Attack. While the game is a little easier thanks to moving around while attacking, I think the gameplay is a little more dynamic that way, and I really love the soundtrack. The keyboardy music towards the end of most stages sounds kind of like something from an early Final Fantasy game.

This new game sounds pretty nice, I must say. I haven't had the opportunity to play the demo yet, but I'll be sure to do so. I can't buy it right now though because I'm short about 60 MSP :/

[shelverton]

I just played through the demo and I kinda liked it. IGN gave it a 4.0 though, so I guess the game has some serious flaws further on? Or maybe it's just that - a review done by IGN. Not to be taken seriously.

The first level did remind me of Bionic Commando Rearmed, but also Shadow Complex (albeit not as pretty). Rush'n'Attack? Not so much.

If all the levels had been connected this could've been a decent Metroidvania.

[vysethebold]

MIA has more records than the KGB.

[lanceboyle94]

M.I.A. was the "sequel"? Didn't know that...

[Colonel Kurtz]

Author Topic: Rush 'n Attack: Ex-Patriot is out

And... it stinks. Don't believe for a second this is another Shadow Complex, and;
They fO(Z&ing took away everything that made Rush'n'Attack/Green Beret what it was. It is a sequel in name only, and as a game, it will bore you out of your skull. The LiveArcade version of the original(400 pts), or, better even, the DS Konami collection version, respect the spirit of the original, wich is a twitchy, speedy, exciting hommage to Irem's Kung Fu Master. This new one is really drivel. Well, maybe not THAT bad, but it offers nothing of interest. You can play it, though. And die. Of BOREDOM.

[Ryu the Grappler]

Care to elaborate.

[Colonel Kurtz]

Well, Johnny, as much as the NEW Rocket Knight was expensive and a bit less intense (OK, a LOT less intense) than the original, it remained faithful the Genesis/Mega Drive original, in the way it controlled, as in the way it played. So in that sense, it truly was an hommage to the original. Whereas with Ex-Patriot, the very fundamentals of the game are changed.

The original played, as said above, like Kung Fu Master: fast, no combo, a knife, simple horizontal scrolling levels, and that was that. Ex-Patriot involves rescuing prisoners, sloooooow action with stealth (stealth is absolutely not in the original, of course), slow finishing moves, and even a fair bit of platforming. All of this creates a game which has absolutely nothing in common with Rush'n'Attack, except the name.

If you like Ex-Patriot but would like it to be a bit more speedy, may I direct you the surprisingly good DS/IPhone version of Assassin's Creed II (yes, it controls like a dream on IPhone, plus, you know, it costs 5 bucks or less); a game which uses the same basics as EX-P, (vertical and horizontal levels, Strider like acrobatics, people to rescue, packages - in that case, "Wanted" posters to collect.

Again, Ex-Pat is NOT a nightmare, but it is a bit boring, a bit slow, and most of all,

IT HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH Rush'n'Attack/M.I.A.

It betrays the very essence of those games, whereas Bionic Commando Rearmed, for example, was perfectly faithful in its gameplay mechanics AND enhanced the original.

I repeat, this game per se is.... let's say it's mmmkay, and it will give you mild thrills. But there are a LOT of other, faithful remakes/hommages on LiveArcade/PSN (Think BC : Rearmed), enough anyway that the price asked for Ex-Pat is not virtual bucks well spent.

And I repeat, it offends me that they called this game Rush'n'Attack, when it clearly has almost nothing in common with that title. Again, see Bionic Commando Rearmed or Rocket Knight, which kept the basic system of the games being remade. You could say it's an evolution. Well it certainly is a departure, so Kudos to the developpers for trying something else; but I think the result is a very mezzo game for me.

But if it floats your boat, then more power to us all here: after all, in the end video games are entertainment, and my kusoge may well be your Game of the Year. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Ryu the Grappler]

I'm not really defending the game at all (or criticizing it for that matter), I just wanted to read a concrete criticism of the game rather than "THIS GAME SUCKS". You're putting words in my mouth.

In all honesty, Ex-Patriot doesn't grab my attention that much, even though I liked the arcade original and the NES version (and M.I.A. while we're at it). From all the trailers and screenshots I've seen, it looks like they were trying to do a side-scrolling version of Metal Gear than a real Rush'n Attack sequel. Even the title is kinda stupid.

[Colonel Kurtz]

Yeah, I was using brash words in order to deter people from spending their money on this one game, because I think it is not worth the price, and there are many, many other, better downloadable games available.

I did not presume anything regarding your relation to Ex-Pat; when I wrote "If it floats your boat", it was honestly hypothetical; I did not think you were here to defend the game. Really sorry if I was not clear enough on that.

And of course, my opinion on the final product is just that, an opinion. And we all know what they say about opinions. I was a bit passionate about this game simply because I loved and revered the original. But it's an oooold game, and new gamers may not know about it. So they won't be disappointed. Still, I think the product is a bit dull. It is technically OK, no problem, and the mechanics are polished for what they are, but it truly is a case of "been there, done that".

Oh, and yes of course, I bought the game. I wouldn't be so dishonest as talking trash about a game I only experienced via a demo!