Rush'n Attack (NES) Playthrough

A playthrough of Konami's 1987 action game for the NES, Rush'n Attack.

Rush'n Attack was first known as "Green Beret" when it appeared as an arcade game in 1985. But Konami, ready as always to lean into politics to drive sales, renamed it Rush'n Attack for its 1987 US debut.

As any kid of the 1980s could tell you, the Cold War was a big deal. Between the nightly news, movies like Red Dawn, and the bomb drills that we were subjected to in school, it's safe to say that we were taught to view the USSR as the bad guy. The intent behind the name change makes much more sense in this context: it's not short for 'Rushing' or 'Rush and' Attack. It's 'Russian.'

And since Putin has just ordered a Russian invasion force into Ukraine, this seemed like the perfect time to play Konami's stab-happy tale of lifting the iron curtain.

In Rush'n Attack, the Red Army has developed a superweapon, and the player is asked to infiltrate a base and destroy the missile before it launches. You play as a green beret, obviously, armed with nothing but his wits and a knife.

In each of the six stages, you run along, wildly stabbing anything that comes your way. Some bad guys run in straight line, some will jump at you, and others will actively follow and shoot at you, but they all go down with a single jab of your knife. You can also pick up a few limited use items like rocket launchers, grenades, and pistols for a bit of extra firepower. At the end of each stage you'll have to tackle a boss battle before you are allowed to move on.

It's a simple design, but the placement of the enemies and other hazards does its best to keep you on your toes. There are some tricky spots that you'll have to condition yourself for (especially that last battle at the missile silo!), but since the enemy spawns are generally consistent between play sessions, you can learn how to handle specific situations with some practice. You'll need it - Rush'n Attack is not an easy game.

(And you'll really come to hate ladders, I promise.)

It is a fun game, though, especially with its 2P co-op play. If you've never experienced this classic, you're missing out. I mean, it's basically Contra but with knives!
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.

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