I Always Love To Gain Some Ground.Original Info:
Original Box Description: Gain Ground became a sensation overnight as the newest human vs. Android competition. One day, though the mother computer that controlled the androids went crazy and trapped spectators in the coliseum! Join the group of skilled fighters who are trying to defeat the system and save those innocent people from a fate worse than death.
Original Price - Unknown
Developer - Sega
Publisher - Sega?
Levels - 40
Stages - 4
Platforms - Arcade machine, Sega master system, mega drive/genesis?
Original Release - 1988
Genre - Action/Strategy
Mode - Up To 3 Players
Basic Thoughts: 9.8/10
Addictive. Fun. Just some of the words that can be used to describe the wonderful game I am going to be talking about, a quick look at this game would seem very odd basic and just not worth your time really in general. The concept of the game is some what simple really, playing as different characters or warriors through a?variety of stages and levels that are set in different era's of time. Stages consist of many different types of enemies along your journey with different abilities same as the warrior's you rescue with similar attributes. Basic goal would be to rescue the captures warriors adding them to your team, beating each stage as quick as possible to finish the game.
Graphics: 9/10
Now people may look at this game and shrug it off in the graphics side of things but if you actually take time to be interested in the game and pay attention to its appearance. Originally being around as an arcade machine for people to have great fun filling it up with their coins in the 1980's, the game as a result of this was very strong in the 8-bit market and really made good use of what was up and available around the time of the game being made. I personally have always loved a good old 8-bit graphics and music that came with the games, really for the time this game was around it would have been on top of its game although now days we know there's 64-bit we can't forget where things start. All of this still didn't stop them creating such a great looking game though with great textures all around which makes the game a delight to look at while enjoying yourself for hours on end, with all this basic block graphics and such the game still has its unique look and textures which are a great sight and really compliment the game well and the graphics team for this game have done a perfect job.
Sound: 9/10
The sound used to make and bring together what is known as gain ground has been very much so of the era it was created and designed in with much around 8-bit and?chip-tune, what can be said its some of the earliest forms of video game sounds and tunes coming into the mix for the first time around this point. So really that means its got to have some of the more complex forms of composition to make the sounds and sound tracks that were used within the game, just takes a good ear and the willingness to listen as you play the game because sound is something usually not really?appreciated?by the gamers. Taking time to listen and understand?what's?gone into a game?sound wise?is always a treat for me, the sound in game ground being retro 8-bit style is compiled of many?individual?sounds and tones that when put together can form to make some of the greatest and most?memorable video game soundtracks there is. With sounds of this type and era it does take a lot to make a game stand alone on a sound basis which gain ground has done a great job of, the game really has a unique feeling to it and takes you away into another world as you play and are taken away. Overall the sound is something that plays a big part in the game and the tune's in gain ground are truly catching and addictive especially the main theme for the first stage and game, without the composition of these within the game I just don't think it'd be the same and somewhat dull and am glad I have enjoyed the hours hearing the sounds.
Controls: 4/10
Starting off with the fact that I made this category myself as I feel it's useful to know about the controls of a game and basics and I rated this on how hard the controls are to grasp from the start, so a 4/10 meaning the controls are going to be somewhere in the middle of what to be expected. The game may take a bit of getting used to and learning nothing too extreme though. The game is on the lower spectrum and I would say is more user friendly than a lot of other games out there with the ability to pick it up and give it ago, soon enough you should have gotten a grasp for the controls and be able to play the game at a fairly good pace and just keep learning as you go through the game further. With this in mind its a game for those up to learn a little but nothing too complex that most if not all should be able to get a hang of fairly easy, having a?multi player?feature also works for a great game with friends and/or family. All mean the game can be a great thing to pick up and play and pretty straight forward, this by far does not make the game anything easy though especially as you progress some real skill and strategies are going to be needed but I'll leave you to find that out for yourself.
Story: 6/10
Most the older games around this time would end up being one off's and or just games that didn't really have any kind of story or meaning in them, gain ground is probably one of them also but research can find you things out and little articles here and there can tell you what you are looking to find which will also give you a better view on the game rather than just thinking on what you can see and know you actually learn something new and some things you didn't previously actually know about the game or even think?existed?as its always good to know things about the game you are playing:?A long period of peace has deprived the earthlings of their instinct to wage war. The Federated Government, greatly concerned regarding this ever increasing dangerous situation, developed a Gain Ground simulation system in the year 2348 in an effort to instigate their ever waning fighting spirit. However, suddenly without warning, the Supercomputer went berserk and took many of the citizens as hostages. In order to rescue the?POWs, three of the bravest warriors were urgently dispatched to go forth into the deadly Gain Ground. The goal of the game really is to just progress as far as you can saving all the warrior's on your journey to beat the game using what you have gained and learned from the previous stages so far.
Depth: 8/10
The depth to gain ground can't really be said that its got that much of a meaning story or background to it, you kinda get what it is and that's it for the whole of the game for most people really but a bit of a story can be found with research. Game play itself can offer quite a depth really depending how you want to play the game can be very interesting, with the chance to gain extra playable characters on almost all the levels but often in awkward places and often involve risky strategies to get to them it really can add a bit of fun and excitement into the game during playing. All of this in mind I would say the game does have quite a bit to offer maybe not as much as others though, even with that fact behind it it still has such a great experience to it when playing and you can really enjoy your time spent well.
Difficulty: 8/10
Gain ground can either be played solo like a lone wolf for the big serious gamers out there who want to see what they can do when it comes to games such as these and really push themselves to get big scores, also the ability to play with a team player is an option resulting in a split of the warrior's you come across in level's having to decide how you split them between the pair yourself. Although the difficulty of the game doesn't really seem to change much when doing either solo or co-op it has to be said there are some real differences when it comes to plaything the game in either mode, if you go for solo while everything will be all yours the warrior's all the score and no one to really get in your way at all you will find it harder without someone to watch your back and help at certain points where as in co-op you do share the warrior's so you have to choose who gets what and of course the score is also split due to both killing enemies but you have a higher chance of succession and getting further in the game. It would gradually get harder as you progress just as most games do the same with many stages to go up against and rather a long play time depending on your playing technique, I can say it is a great play and is such a good feeling playing through the levels and maybe even beating the game alone or with your best buds. The game overall can be quite a difficult experience but with time and patients and maybe a best pal by your side it can be done.
Addictiveness: 9/10
The game once you start playing is one you won't really want to put down until you have either got game over or complete as it just pulls you into the zone and totally absorbs you into the game world, It has given me many hours of entertainment that I have built up with a lot of playtime since I first came across the game. Gives many good memories and laughs when you are playing the game in co-op with another it's just so much fun and really requires that you work together and think like a team more than you have done in the past, if you go solo on the game you may get frustrated at times but I can bet you would still return to the game and try again to better yourself and see if you can beat the game this time round and get a higher score maybe. Be sure to give this game a chance whenever you can?I'm?sure it will surprise you with its amazing?experience?of game play, hours and hours of game time await within this one and I'm sure it can please most gamers into this type of game truly a golden classic game!
Conclusion: 9.8/10
After all I have said up to this point the game really truly is worthy of greatness in a hall of greatest video games up there with other big titles from the same era and time, I have spent so many hours playing this game over the years since I discovered its greatness and realised just what an amazing piece of work it is in the video games world. Played it with friends and family studied and?experienced?what the game has to offer looking for better ways to improve my game play but overall enjoying the game, truly a golden oldie that I forever will love and have time for to play watch and just enjoy. Love this game one of the greatest in my eyes and if you haven't then you should give it a shot already, go on!
I give it a 9.8/10?
My Quick Game Play Video Of Stage 1: [youtube]uEPUfn_Y8cI[/youtube]
Graphics
9 Sound
9 Addictive
9 Depth
8 Story
6 Difficulty
8
User Notice 
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