Ikari Warriors (US JAMMA)

SNK’s Ikari Warriors arrived in arcades in 1986 and offered a novel take on the shooter genre. Players assume control of either Ralf or Clark, two commandos tasked with battling through enemy territory to rescue their unit. Unlike traditional shooters where players often pilot vehicles, Ikari Warriors has players physically traversing environments on foot, engaging in close-quarters combat alongside their partner. The gameplay involves navigating a series of war zones, utilizing machine guns and grenades to defeat hordes of soldiers and armored vehicles. As the game progresses, players can acquire more powerful weapons such as missile launchers, adding variety to the action. Two players can cooperate simultaneously, coordinating attacks and providing mutual support in this side-scrolling experience. Originally developed in Japan, Ikari Warriors was distributed internationally by Tradewest, with a slight alteration of character names reflecting the involvement of both companies. The game spawned a series including Victory Road and Ikari III, and later saw numerous ports to home computers and consoles.