.gif)
Jackal (video game)
Encyclopedia
, released in North America for the arcades as Top Gunner, is an overhead run and gun arcade game
released by Konami
in 1986.
dust-off locations. Once the soldiers are secure, the player(s) must then proceed to defeat the boss at the end of each level. In the last level, there are two bosses that must be defeated.
As with most run and gun games, there is a point system that can grant the player extra lives depending on the score attained. If a collision occurs with an enemy vehicle or the jeep is hit by an enemy bullet, a life will be lost. Some buildings contain one flashing prisoner; if this man is rescued, the jeep's primary weapon will be upgraded. In addition, if enough prisoners are rescued, a weapon upgrade will be yielded during the unloading process to the rescue helicopter. The Jeep's initial weapons consist of a machine gun and a grenade launcher. The grenade launcher can be upgraded into a rocket launcher, which can be further upgraded to shoot long-range missiles, and two kinds of spread missiles.
on each one.
was released under the Jackal title on September 1988 in North America. The NES version has a number of changes made when compared to the Disk System version released in Japan, such as wider levels, a new boss, and a map shown before each level indicating the player's progress. The NES version of Jackal was included as a bonus game in the PC compilation Konami Collectors' Series: Castlevania & Contra released in in North America. On July 29, , Konami released a mobile phone version of the game in Japan based on the NES version. Another mobile version was released by Konami in China for normal Java cellphones on August 5, 2010.
Computer ports of Jackal were also released in in North America for IBM PC
and the Commodore 64
. An unrelated Commodore 64 version of Jackal was released in Europe, along with versions for the ZX Spectrum
and Amstrad CPC
in .
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
released by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
in 1986.
Gameplay
The Jackal squad, a four-man team composed of Colonel Decker, Lieutenant Bob, Sergeant Quint and Corporal Grey, is sent to rescue soldiers kept as hostages by the enemy. One or two players control the teams in an armed jeep, which must venture through several enemy strongholds to rescue comrades imprisoned by the enemy. In each of the six levels, the goal is to rescue POWs from various buildings and then transfer them to helicopterHelicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
dust-off locations. Once the soldiers are secure, the player(s) must then proceed to defeat the boss at the end of each level. In the last level, there are two bosses that must be defeated.
As with most run and gun games, there is a point system that can grant the player extra lives depending on the score attained. If a collision occurs with an enemy vehicle or the jeep is hit by an enemy bullet, a life will be lost. Some buildings contain one flashing prisoner; if this man is rescued, the jeep's primary weapon will be upgraded. In addition, if enough prisoners are rescued, a weapon upgrade will be yielded during the unloading process to the rescue helicopter. The Jeep's initial weapons consist of a machine gun and a grenade launcher. The grenade launcher can be upgraded into a rocket launcher, which can be further upgraded to shoot long-range missiles, and two kinds of spread missiles.
Regional differences
There were three versions of the original coin-operated game. The original Japanese version (Tokushu Butai Jackal), the world version (simply titled Jackal), and the North American version (Top Gunner). In the Japanese version, the machine gun shoots in whatever direction the player's jeep is facing, whereas in the worldwide and North American versions, it is fixed so that it always shoots north. In the North American versions, the generic orange and blue flags on the players' jeeps are replaced by an American flagFlag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
on each one.
Home versions
In Japan, a Family Computer Disk System version was produced titled , which was released on May 2, . A cartridge conversion for the Nintendo Entertainment SystemNintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
was released under the Jackal title on September 1988 in North America. The NES version has a number of changes made when compared to the Disk System version released in Japan, such as wider levels, a new boss, and a map shown before each level indicating the player's progress. The NES version of Jackal was included as a bonus game in the PC compilation Konami Collectors' Series: Castlevania & Contra released in in North America. On July 29, , Konami released a mobile phone version of the game in Japan based on the NES version. Another mobile version was released by Konami in China for normal Java cellphones on August 5, 2010.
Computer ports of Jackal were also released in in North America for IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
and the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
. An unrelated Commodore 64 version of Jackal was released in Europe, along with versions for the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
in .
External links
- http://www.system16.com/konami_customchips.php Details on Jackal's custom use of Double DribbleDouble Dribble (video game)Double Dribble, known in Japan as , was the second basketball arcade game developed and released in 1986 by Konami, following Super Basketball...
Hardware - Comparison of The Jackal movie with the video game
- Review of ZX Spectrum version