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Intro Wouldn't you like to play Metal Slug on your Game Boy Advance? Yeah, I would too. Unfortunately, that won't be possible for quite some time. Until then, you might want to give a CT Special Forces a try. A side-scrolling 2D action title, CT features the same kind of action that made SNK's little gem so popular; and despite a few nagging problems, it remained a challenging and enjoyable experience with a charm all its own. Gameplay: 7.5/10 To be honest, I had never heard of this game before. One day, lo and behold, the game stork left me a little bundle of joy with the initials UPS on it. Inside was LSP and Hip Games' latest, if unknown, GBA action title - an action with a little something extra. Aside from the typical gameplay one would expect, there are also a few surprises. The player assumes the role of one of three different Special Forces soldiers attempting to thwart terrorist activity; while two are only distinguishable by their garb, the other is a pilot that comes with his own attack copter. Of course, the player gets to play the role of the pilot, which means they will be taking down waves of enemy copters, ground-to-air tanks, and heat-seeking missile launchers in old-fashion shooter segments. A majority of the game will be played out in the familiar side perspective. Players will have to make their way through jungles, snowy mountainsides, deserts, and all sorts of inhospitable environments. A story gives reasons for going to all the different locals, but the only thing noteworthy about it is that the player gets their information from a debriefing screen that resembles that of Metal Gear Solid. Following the how's and why's, it's time for the action. With a standard single-shot rifle, the player can also acquire rapid shot, along with rockets and grenades to take out infantry and armored vehicles. The enemies aren't particularly bright and are a standard bunch, with most looking like generic terrorist foot soldiers; there is some variety of course, like snipers, grenadiers, and bulkier gents that pack rocket launchers. Since the player has no means of defense, aside from jumping - ack! Counter-Strike flashback - rationing out the various weapons becomes essential as the level design can make it difficult to play things safe. Compounding the difficulty is the fact that the player only has a handful of lives. Once those lives are gone, the game ends - no continues. Health and ammo caches are placed throughout the levels, the only way to gain actual lives is by arresting special units - these guys are few and far between, so don't count on running into them often. It isn't all running from side to side, though. The helicopter levels do a good job of keeping the game from becoming repetitive, as do some nifty sniping portions. In some levels a small sign with crosshairs will be in the background indicating that there are hostages to save and it's time to get behind the scope. Sniping can be a little difficult since there is no way to tell where fire is coming from, and after the first hit the other shooters seem to become incredibly accurate, but it's vital to not be rash because saving a hostage replenishes some health. It takes a set number of enemies to be killed before continuing and the portion is timed, so these segments can get hectic. Also adding a bit more excitement to the levels are parachute portions. For quick exists, the troops will make small jumps that are handled like free-throws in Basketball games, the player has to wait until a gauge is within a small section of a horizontal and vertical bar before opening their parachute - otherwise they slam onto the ground. The developers did a good job in balancing all this out because, even with these different sections there is still plenty of the traditional action. CT
does have its negative quirks, though. The lack of a good defense is annoying;
I understand that the soldiers pack light, so whipping out a shield would seem
weird (but somehow a rocket launcher isn't?) but it doesn't make much sense that
the only thing a Special Forces soldier can do to avoid incoming fire is jump.
The ability to slip into the background, found in Flashback and other titles,
would've been a great asset. The lack of continues also hurts; since levels have
3 portions, it's never fun to get to the last boss of the third portion and have
to start all over. The game does feature password saves though, so dying doesn't
mean a complete restart. The controls are also a little stiff, forcing the player
into precarious positions they normally wouldn't have found themselves in. I can
slide on the difficulty, but the lack of a good defense mechanism and the controls
are a bummer. This is still a fun game, though. For those wanting a little action,
albeit sometimes frustrating, CT Special Forces should do you well.
Graphics: 7.5/10 Sound:
6.5/10 Control:
7/10 Overall: 7.5/10
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