Snake's Revenge
Snake's Revenge is a stealth-action game published by Ultra Games for the NES, released in 1990, and it is a sequel to the NES version of "Metal Gear," though it was not developed by Hideo Kojima, the creator of the Metal Gear series, and is therefore not considered part of the official canon, making it a curious and somewhat controversial title among fans. You play as Solid Snake once again, a special forces operative, who must infiltrate enemy bases and facilities to stop a new and dangerous weapon called "Metal Gear 2," which is being developed by a rogue military faction, using a combination of stealth, combat, and tactical planning to complete your objectives. The gameplay involves sneaking past guards, rescuing prisoners, and using a variety of weapons and gadgets, including a pistol, grenades, and a radar to track enemy movements, with a top-down perspective similar to the original game. A unique feature is the "stealth" system – you must avoid detection by staying out of sight, using cardboard boxes to hide, and carefully timing your movements to avoid enemy patrols, and you can also use a "smoke bomb" to create a diversion. The levels include various military bases, jungles, and warehouses, each with unique enemies, traps, and obstacles that require you to use both stealth and combat skills to overcome. The game features a health bar that depletes with enemy attacks and a continue system, though continues are limited. A trivia: the game was developed by Konami, and it was released exclusively in North America and Europe, never seeing a release in Japan, and it was produced without the involvement of Kojima, who has since disowned the game, calling it a "gaiden" or side story. The graphics are detailed with a military theme, similar to the first game, and the sprites are well-rendered, with clear animations for Snake and the enemies. The music is suspenseful and atmospheric, with a military-style soundtrack that fits the stealth-action genre. Critics praised the stealth gameplay and the variety of weapons, but noted it was not as polished as the original "Metal Gear." It supports one player. Snake's Revenge is a solid stealth-action game for fans of the series, despite its controversial status.