"Jackal" is becoming my favorite NES game

[mbd30]

1.) I love the slow, methodical gameplay. It's unique in that respect. You have to approach each level slowly and carefully, planning for what is ahead. This is a very engrossing style of play as opposed to the usual action games that are all about quick reflexes and button mashing.

 

2.) Enemies are smart. They don't just move back and forth in predictable patterns. They'll keep chasing you. They'll fire heat seeking missiles at you. They'll fire bullets at you with accuracy. The difficulty also adjusts to how well you are armed. Sometimes the game is tougher when your weapon is upgraded. The way that enemies appear all of a sudden at the edge of the screen is annoying at first, but it provides for very tense moments.

 

3.) There is a good risk/reward system. Towards the end of the game there is a lot of risk involved in rescuing the POWs. You can ignore them or risk trying to save them and bringing them to the helipad for more points.

 

4.) The difficulty ramps nicely and things don't get too tough until the last couple stages.

 

The last stage is brutal though. I'll make it to the last boss, but I never have enough lives to beat it. I can enter that level with 7 or 8 lives, and I'll lose most of them by the end of the level. I _hate_ that helicopter. It always gets a perfect shot in to kill me.

 

 

 

 

[+GoldenWheels]

A game you can often get dirt cheap in commons lots too. Very good game.

 

Took me awhile to adjust to the pace, actually. I used to try and race through the game....doesn't work so well! Only thing that would make it better IMO would be more power ups/types of power ups.

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

I have the game but never really had a dedicated playthrough of it. But when I get some free time I'll need to go and give it a run after reading your review of it. Konami branded games for the NES never fail and they have awesome soundtracks.

[Cynicaster]

Enjoy this one on MAME, but haven't dusted of the NES cart in ages. In fact, I think I picked it up cheap about 4 years ago, and haven't played it once. Maybe I should.

[Gentlegamer]

Choplifter with a jeep is awesome!

[leods]

I had this game in a bootleg cartridge back in the day and it was one of my favorites. It really is a great game for the aforementioned reasos. Very balanced, fair and challenging Level design. Good art design. very fun game.

[Austin]

Fun game for sure. It was popular back in the day, but you don't hear a lot of people talking about it now. One of Konami's better action/arcade style games on the console.

[mbd30]

So I made it to the final boss with 7 lives and still lost.

 

I lost three of them to the part with the lasers and then only had four lives to deal with the huge tank which wasn't enough. Oh well, I'm getting closer to being able to beat it.

[stupus]

Yeah jackal is one of the best 2 player nes games!

I've played it all the way thru many times, loved it back in the day and still love it with the kids now

[homerhomer]

It's got that Konami quality to it. They sure knew how to port an arcade game to the NES.

 

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