Show Notes

Computer Entertainer, June 1987 | The Origins of SNK | Ikari Warriors and the SNK Golden Age | SNK 40th Collection | Computer and Video Games Magazine Issue 101 | Ikari Warriors on Atari ST

OUR THOUGHTS

MIKE

Ikari Warriors was one of the few NES games I owned before starting this crusade. That’s because this is the kind of game easily found at garage sales. A huge hit at the arcade, Ikari Warriors was supposed to be a way to stop wasting quarters and play the game in the comfort of your own living room. Problem is, the port is less than stellar. I’m not just talking about graphics or controls, the overall experience of Ikari Warriors on NES is so lackluster compared to it’s arcade counter that I would never consider recommending this version to anyone. So now the question is, would I recommend the arcade version? My answer: Sure, if you’re into that kind of thing. The arcade version has the unique twin stick control scheme where one analog stick controlled movement and the other controlled firing direction. Obviously this never happened on the NES version (but I like to imagine plugging in two NES Advantage controllers and having it work out). Ikari Warriors is only fun to people who grew up playing these kinds of games. If you had an NES growing up chances are you played this one. If you grew up on N64 or later there’s a big chance you won’t find anything inside this one. I joked that this is like a better Commando, but what I really meant is that it’s a more fleshed out version of Commando. Which one controls better on NES is anyone’s guess.

THE VERDICT - NOT ESSENTIAL

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