This is indeed one of the better NES out there, and I think, at least in comparison to Super Mario, or Mega Man, Vice: Project Doom is largely unknown to the general gaming public nowadays. I guess it is just one of those respectable games of the past that has basically stayed there - at least I certainly don't hear about this game anymore, nor is it available for the Wii's Virtual Console, so that it would be available for a new generation. I argue that it should be, because it is an undisputed NES classic. It was a game that certainly added a significant amount of depth to the vast NES arsenal of games, as it stood out amongst the best.

     You assume the role of Officer Hart, and your mission is to take down an evil corporation called BEDA, who are apparently helping out an alien race. Most of the levels in the game are of the side-scrolling blend, but there are a few, including the opening level, that are over-head driving missions a la Spy Hunter. They are nice little diversions that add variety to the game, and do not detract from the experience. In between levels, the story unfolds via cutscenes - a rarity in games of this era. The cutscenes are entertaining and gritty in nature; they look great and the graphics are pushed to the max.

     The gameplay itself is a lot of fun with a lot of variety. In the side-scrolling stages (which comprise the majority of the game), you run and jump through various, nicely detailed stages, battling an interesting yet unusual array of enemies. The best is that you have three different choices of weapons - a whip, a pistol, and grenades. You may be using the whip most of the time because it of course never runs out of ammo - but the pistol is cool despite its fairly short range, and the grenades are quite empowering during boss battles. I like transitioning between all three, as they each are quick and responsive, and are each nicely balanced, complimenting each other. The choice in weaponry can make for some nice strategy as you traverse the stages - it's really awesome stuff.

     All of these different elements make for a classic game - Vice: Project Doom is just that. It offers and accomplishes so much, that it is a surprise that this game isn't particularly popular today. This game should be resurrected on the Wii's Virtual Console so that a new generation of gamers can experience this amazing title. It wasn't a trailblazer, but it certainly had the credentials to be one. If you could hunt down a cartridge of it somewhere, then I would suggest getting it. It's one of the best NES games out there.

-Kurt L.

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