Code Name Viper is a side-scroller that features shooting, moving and jumping between a lower and upper floor, collecting things to complete your quest. You are a pistol-packing agent tasked with clearing stages in South America that are full of goons from a drug cartel.
There are 8 stages, each completely different environments. You start off in the jungle, and travel through warehouses, a strange prison, Aztec ruins are a sample of what to expect. Most don't really fit the theme of a drug lab, and hardly any feature signs that its used for such. This hurts the story, as I can't see too many drug dealers wanting to hang out inside booby-trapped ruins. Regardless, each stage ends at a door, which you will need a grenade-like bomb to open and clear the stage.
How do you find the bomb to clear the stage? Via secret doors that are inexplicably set into cliff faces and walls. There is no cut-scene, nor does your viewpoint change. Its a revolving door that as you go in, the door flips to show you what is inside. From finding the bomb, to saving hostages, sometimes ammo or a better weapon, the submachine gun. There are also a few doors that have great prizes, such as a permanent boost to your health, or an extra life. Many times doors are empty, but they are good to dodge attacks or use the element of surprise on a bad guy, just don't let them hit you on the way out.
Speaking of health, you get two dots to start with. Your agent will suffer one damage if he touches any bad guy. A bullet will do two damage, and will take you right out. Finding the upgrade to 3 life is quite fortunate, as now you can take one bullet and keep going. Your enemies will feature a wide variety of color palettes, and this determines their rank and overall AI. Some like to move fast, some are indecisive, others pack pistols and fire back. None feature the submachinegun upgrade you get, so there is that thankful element. Most take two bullets to finish. There are also special enemies such as snipers, a fire bomber type, and other dangers unique to the stages themselves.
Story-wise there is not a lot go to on here. You go to clean out the bad guy's hideouts, and then at the end of each stage, a P.O.W. will give you piece by piece info about the last stage where the boss is. There's not really any surprises or special way of finishing any of the stages. All in all, its a fun game that doesn't really do anything different from other games like it. The music is fairly standard, two stages have the same music, then a new song for two more stages, and none of it really memorable. The noise when the bad guys die is kind of interesting. While its a bit average, I do enjoy this game alot as its very similar to other games like Rolling Thunder, and Sega's Shinobi/Shadowdancer. Its fast paced and is a short, quick time-waster.
Code Name Viper is a side-scroller that features shooting, moving and jumping between a lower and upper floor, collecting things to complete your quest. You are a pistol-packing agent tasked with clearing stages in South America that are full of goons from a drug cartel.
There are 8 stages, each completely different environments. You start off in the jungle, and travel through warehouses, a strange prison, Aztec ruins are a sample of what to expect. Most don't really fit the theme of a drug lab, and hardly any feature signs that its used for such. This hurts the story, as I can't see too many drug dealers wanting to hang out inside booby-trapped ruins. Regardless, each stage ends at a door, which you will need a grenade-like bomb to open and clear the stage.
How do you find the bomb to clear the stage? Via secret doors that are inexplicably set into cliff faces and walls. There is no cut-scene, nor does your viewpoint change. Its a revolving door that as you go in, the door flips to show you what is inside. From finding the bomb, to saving hostages, sometimes ammo or a better weapon, the submachine gun. There are also a few doors that have great prizes, such as a permanent boost to your health, or an extra life. Many times doors are empty, but they are good to dodge attacks or use the element of surprise on a bad guy, just don't let them hit you on the way out.
Speaking of health, you get two dots to start with. Your agent will suffer one damage if he touches any bad guy. A bullet will do two damage, and will take you right out. Finding the upgrade to 3 life is quite fortunate, as now you can take one bullet and keep going. Your enemies will feature a wide variety of color palettes, and this determines their rank and overall AI. Some like to move fast, some are indecisive, others pack pistols and fire back. None feature the submachinegun upgrade you get, so there is that thankful element. Most take two bullets to finish. There are also special enemies such as snipers, a fire bomber type, and other dangers unique to the stages themselves.
Story-wise there is not a lot go to on here. You go to clean out the bad guy's hideouts, and then at the end of each stage, a P.O.W. will give you piece by piece info about the last stage where the boss is. There's not really any surprises or special way of finishing any of the stages. All in all, its a fun game that doesn't really do anything different from other games like it. The music is fairly standard, two stages have the same music, then a new song for two more stages, and none of it really memorable. The noise when the bad guys die is kind of interesting. While its a bit average, I do enjoy this game alot as its very similar to other games like Rolling Thunder, and Sega's Shinobi/Shadowdancer. Its fast paced and is a short, quick time-waster.
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