Try as I might to approach every new game without any preconceived biases, I couldnt help but hold some reservations going into EAs movie-tied G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. I mean, more than most, I actually appreciate licensed titles for what they are, but one based on a summer film, based on a bunch of plastic crap that cluttered toy store aisles in the 80s (sorry, I was a Star Wars action figure fan), definitely had me skeptical.
Well, shame on me; it took all of about 90 seconds for my concerns to be washed away and replaced by a satisfying sense I hadnt been stung with since lining tokens along the marquees of arcade cabinet classics such as Ikari Warriors and Contra. Yep, Joes simple, yet addictive and accessible third-person action totally hearkens back to the quarter-munching days of old. Its varied, colorful environmentssnow-covered forests, sun-soaked deserts, lush jungles, urban battlefieldslittered with power-ups and lined with goons to target and stuff to blow up, fast-paced firefights, and same-screen co-operative play, almost allow you to forget youre not clutching a grimy joystick and hammering away on big red buttons.
But its not just the obvious arcadey call-outs that make this one tick. Smaller touches, like the rousing spike in theme music every time you equip the Accelerator Suitgranting your Joe temporary battlefield-clearing invincibilityor the very visible scores being tallied in the upper right and left hand corners of the screen, also give it some welcome old school cred. For me, it was the menacing Cobra cackle that played upon my untimely deaths, recalling the similarly sinister laugh from Rolling Thunders (one of my all-time arcade faves) game over screen, that totally clobbered me with the nostalgia stick.
Of course, despite all this thumb-blistering appeal, Joe isnt a token-siphoning classic, but a fresh entry with the horsepower of current-gen hardware behind it. So, while you shouldnt expect a Gears of War-like production, it does flavor its arcade aesthetic with modern amenities like pilotable vehicles, destructible cover, and the ability to call in air strikes. Oh, and theres also that whole G.I. Joe thing. I wasnt much of a fan; my appreciation for the franchise began and ended with a Snake Eyes action figure, and I only played with it because I was obsessed with ninjas as a kid. Anyway, more faithful followers will no doubt find even more to love here, like 16 playable characters (12 Joe, four Cobra), complete with character-specific primary and secondary weapons, and fan-pleasing unlockables, including some of those now-classic PSAs.
Joe piles the fun high, but its also got its share of flaws. The fixed camera can occasionally be a bear; the targeting, which grants very limited player control, is sometimes wonky; and the co-op is offline only. I have little doubt many critics will harp on these shortcomings and see the flaws over the fun. However, if youre looking for a licensed title that forgoes the usual restrictions of the genre in favor of accessible, joystick-jockeying thrills, then Joes your go-to guy.
score 8.0 out of ten
verdict Its not without its flaws, but Joe manages to pack in plenty of third-person, fast-paced arcade-flavored fun. Addictive co-op, power-ups galore, and thumb-numbing action make it much more a modern-day Contra than another lame licensed effort.
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