Shock Troopers (Arcade) CO-OP Playthrough / A shockingly good, balanced shooter full of action. Nice
5Shock Troopers (1997) by Saurus is One of the best representatives of the run-and-gun genre I've played. We have an isometric view used here, which is very different from standard titles of the genre such as Contra. This gives more room for maneuver, compared to the competition, which makes the action really dynamic and satisfying. The game seems to be very fair and well balanced, there is no constant hail of bullets flying towards us or enemies throwing at us from all sides. You just die by your own mistakes, which should be the domain of every game really. The plot is simple..... some scientist is kidnapped along with his daughter by some terrorist group. The terrorists want to get the formula for a super serum from the scientist that gives soldiers superhuman abilities. A group of 8 soldiers from different parts of the world has been sent to recapture the pair of hostages. As it is in isometric games we move and shoot in 8 directions, and each character has its pluses as well as minuses. Some are faster, others are more durable and the third deals more damage. Each character has a special attack, such as a bazooka shot or a grenade throw. The best mechanic is the dodge button, thanks to which we can freely dodge enemy fire. This mechanic alone makes the game more in-depth, and requires us to fully concentrate and watch for incoming enemy fire. Admittedly, this mechanic is not a revelation, as it has already been used in such games as Cabal or Blood Bros.
In general, we have a choice of 2 game modes Lone Wolf, where we control one favorite character and Team Battle in which we choose 3 different characters, and during the game we can freely swap them. It's nice that such a possibility was given..... because we have to admit that the list of characters is quite interesting. Everyone should find something for themselves without a doubt. Graphically and musically this game is a masterpiece, so there is no need to write too much here...... The maps are nice and detailed, and the animations are pleasing to the eyes. Between missions we usually have a choice of 2 different routes, so after one completion of the game we are not able to see everything. After finishing the game I conclude that it is currently one of my favorite Arcade games I have ever played.... and a great title for cooperative gameplay. Highly recommend this masterpiece.
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"Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"