Rambo - First Blood Part II (Master System) Playthrough
7Playthrough of Sega's 1986 run and gun game for the Sega Master System, Rambo - First Blood Part II.
Rambo: First Blood Part II for the Sega Master System is a vertically scrolling run-and-gun action game released in 1986, loosely based on the blockbuster film of the same name. Developed during the early days of the 8-bit era, it stood out as one of Sega’s first licensed titles for the North American market. Originally released in Japan as Ashura, the game underwent a visual and audio overhaul for the West, with player characters and music changed to reflect the Rambo license. In Europe and Australia, the game was rebranded again as Secret Command, a hybrid version featuring gameplay and characters from both Ashura and Rambo.
Players take on the role of Rambo, armed with an M-60 machine gun and a supply of explosive arrows. The game supports a two-player mode, allowing a second player to join as Zane—a palette-swapped version of Rambo created specifically for this version. Players battle their way through six enemy-infested stages, rescuing prisoners from hidden huts and collecting power-ups that improve firepower, shot range, speed, and arrow effectiveness. Each life begins with five explosive arrows, and players can gain more by collecting items dropped from enemies or freed hostages.
While movement allows for eight directions, shooting is restricted to just five—left, right, up, and diagonally up-left or up-right. This limitation, along with the inability to shoot backwards, adds to the game's challenge. Dying resets all collected power-ups and arrows, increasing the difficulty significantly. Passwords are required to continue from later stages, which was a common but frustrating system in the pre-save era.
The visuals are solid for a 1986 release, with varied environments and enemy types, including standard soldiers, flamethrower units, and tanks. The soundtrack, featuring an 8-bit version of Jerry Goldsmith’s Rambo theme, is a highlight despite the limited number of tracks. While the gameplay is simple, it captures the spirit of the film with its relentless action, cooperative play, and explosive set-pieces.
Rambo is a challenging but nostalgic title that holds a special place in the early Master System library.