Rambo: The Video Game Review
Â
Rambo is probably one of the most remembered action heroes, even today who does not remember him and his red head band, so when Reef Entertainment wanted to bring him back to our living rooms with us in control, I was excited to say the least. I grew up on Sylvester Stallone movies, such as Rambo and Rocky, but one thing has always annoyed me about him, they way he talks out of that slanted mouth of his. I could watch him kill and mutilate all day long, but as soon as he has any lines to say, I canât stand him !. Anyway, Rambo The Videogame is set across the first three classic movies and does not include the one where he looks like a plastic surgeons guinea pig, simply entitled Rambo. Reef Entertainment secured the rights to publish this game in 2011 from Studio Canal, thinking perhaps to cash in on the success of the latest Rambo movie and also The Expendables 1 & 2 which kept Sylvester Stallone in the public eye.
Getting stuck into Rambo The Video Game you immediately know where this game is heading, and that is straight for the bin. The game is a straight forward rail shooter, and would not look out of place in a corner of a dusty arcade with a broken plastic gun hanging from a shoe-lace. The developer Teyon was obviously on a very tight budget as this shows in the somewhat mediocre graphics and tired gameplay. Dispite this they actually managed to tie the whole experience in quite nicely with the movies, using some quick time events to portray some memorable moments, such as John Rambo escaping from the jail in the first movie and one sequence in the jungle of the second movie almost had it looking like a game. This game showed real promise in a few ways, Teyon actually tried to put in as much variety as they could into the gameplay aspects without making it into a complete mess and they did try and implement a half decent perk system. All of which if done with a little more care and attention could have made this game go from terrible to bearable.
Throughout Rambo The Video Game, I was often reminded of other titles that I have played, like Gears Of War and Time Crisis as I racked up those active reloads behind cover. Thereâs also a combo system for headshots and the option to disarm opponents for extra points, at the risk of leaving yourself vulnerable if you mess it up. The gameplay is just point and shoot at anything that moves, which Rambo didnât really do until the second movie, but I am glad I didnât have to wait until the second half of this game to get my grove on, imagine, I would have kicked the crap out of the disc. The worst part of the game for me has got to be the dumb and dumber AI, I have seen some bad AI in my day but this, is beyond a joke. Enemies will stand in one spot until shot, even if you miss them, and if you have to repeat a level well guess what, there they are standing just where you left them before tea. To be honest there is more movement out of those little ducks that you shoot at the village fair.
Despite all of those faults, and more, Rambo The Video Game had itâs moments of mindless shooting that were mildly pleasurable. Itâs the type of game that you have always wanted to play back in the arcades of the 80âs, but has no place turning up at my door asking for money. This is one that you should only pick up out of a bargain bucket that says £2 or less, but if you have a stupid friend that has already bought it, then give it a whirl, and tell them not to worry as you will soon return it.
Â
Â
Â
Â