Rambo: First Blood Part II (Master System video game)
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 3, 1960 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Video games, gaming consoles |
Rambo: First Blood Part II (commonly referred to as Rambo) is a top-down run and gun video game inspired by the 1985 movie of the same title. Developed for the Master System and published by Sega in 1986, it saw a budget re-release in 1990. The original Japanese edition, named , was launched without the Rambo license. Similarly, a European and Australian version titled Secret Command was distributed without any Rambo branding. An earlier game based on the same film had been released on 8-bit home computers.
Gameplay
The gameplay of Rambo involves overhead run-and-gun mechanics reminiscent of Commando and Ikari Warriors. Players take control of Rambo, who wields an M-60 machine gun with unlimited ammunition (capable of firing up to two bullets on screen simultaneously) alongside a finite number of explosive arrows used to eliminate stronger foes such as tanks and barriers. A second player can participate as Zane, a companion character designed specifically for this title.
Players must battle through enemy lines, reach each level’s exit gate, then overcome arriving reinforcements until the gate flashes to signal completion. Starting with three lives, players earn an extra life after clearing every stage. The game concludes if either participant loses all lives following the second level.
Firing directions are restricted to five angles—left, up, right, or diagonally up-left and up-right—while movement allows eight directions. Interestingly, moving downward causes the character to shoot upward; enemies can also fire diagonally upwards. Power-ups appear when defeating foes or rescuing prisoners from huts, which require arrows to break open. Only one power-up can be active at once; if another appears while one is present, the previous disappears. These enhancements improve shot range, movement speed, arrow quantity, and arrow power in four directions. Items marked with "?" either clear enemies or grant additional lives.
Each life begins with five explosive arrows; collecting items adds two more arrows (up to a visible maximum of nine, though players can carry more).
Release
Originally launched in Japan as Ashura, the game featured players controlling armed Buddhist monks Ashura and Bishamon on a mission to rescue captives.
For the North American release, Sega secured the Rambo: First Blood Part II license, redesigning Player 1 as Rambo and Player 2 as his ally. The title screen was updated to display Sylvester Stallone’s iconic image, while the original soundtrack was replaced with a PSG adaptation of Jerry Goldsmith’s film score. Gameplay modifications included making flamethrower-wielding enemies vulnerable to standard gunfire—unlike in Ashura. Stage Clear visuals were altered from Asian scenery to action shots of Rambo.
In PAL regions where licensing rights were unavailable, the game was issued as Secret Command, combining aspects from both versions. The manual refers to characters as Bishamon and Ashura, although their appearances match those from Rambo. The title music aligns with Ashura, while Stage Clear screens showcase Asian landscapes.
Both Ashura and Secret Command were eventually re-released on the Wii Virtual Console within their original territories; additionally, Secret Command appeared on the North American Virtual Console as an import title. These editions are playable within several entries of the Yakuza series that feature Master System games, beginning with Lost Judgment.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1986 video games
- Sega video games
- Master System games
- Rambo (franchise) video games
- Run and gun games
- Virtual Console games
- Video games based on films
- Video games based on adaptations
- Video games set in Vietnam
- Vietnam War video games
- Video games developed in Japan
- Multiplayer and single-player video games