Summary
- Release Year: 1985
- Genres: Platform, Shooter
- Platforms: Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Melbourne House
- Publishers: Melbourne House
Bazooka Bill (1985): A Retrospective
Bazooka Bill is a classic arcade action-adventure game released in 1985 by Konami. The game is set in a war-torn future where the player takes control of the titular Bazooka Bill, a one-man army on a mission to rescue General MacArthur from a group of revolutionaries.
Bazooka Bill is a side-scrolling shooter with simple but effective gameplay. The player controls Bazooka Bill as he runs and guns his way through hordes of enemies, using a variety of weapons and power-ups to defeat them. The game is known for its fast-paced action, challenging difficulty, and iconic graphics and sound.
Gameplay
Bazooka Bill is a simple game to learn, but difficult to master. The player controls Bazooka Bill with a joystick and two buttons, one to shoot and one to jump. Bazooka Bill can run, jump, and shoot in eight directions, and he can also pick up a variety of weapons and power-ups to help him on his mission.
The game is divided into five stages, each with its own unique set of enemies and obstacles. The player must defeat all of the enemies in each stage in order to progress to the next one. The final stage is a showdown with the game’s boss, a giant robot named Big Boss.
Weapons and power-ups
Bazooka Bill can pick up a variety of weapons and power-ups to help him on his mission. These include:
- Machine gun: A rapid-fire weapon that is effective against most enemies.
- Shotgun: A powerful weapon that is effective at close range.
- Flamethrower: A weapon that can burn enemies to death.
- Bazooka: A powerful weapon that can destroy multiple enemies at once.
- Grenades: A throwable weapon that can be used to damage or stun enemies.
- Speed power-up: A power-up that increases Bazooka Bill’s speed.
- Power-up: A power-up that increases Bazooka Bill’s strength.
- Shield power-up: A power-up that gives Bazooka Bill temporary invincibility.
Graphics and sound
Bazooka Bill’s graphics are simple but effective. The game’s characters and environments are colorful and detailed, and the animation is fluid and smooth. The game’s sound is also well-done, with catchy music and realistic sound effects.
Legacy
Bazooka Bill was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging difficulty, and iconic graphics and sound. Bazooka Bill has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, and it remains a popular game among retro gamers today.
The game has also been cited as an influence on a number of other video games, including the Contra series and the Metal Slug series.
Conclusion
Bazooka Bill is a classic arcade action-adventure game that still holds up today. It’s a challenging and rewarding experience with great graphics and sound. If you’re a fan of retro games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Bazooka Bill.
Review Score
8/10
