Play Ikari Online

Summary

Ikari on the NES still feels like a hidden gem from the mid‑80s, especially when you remember the arcade’s signature rotary joystick that let you spin your soldier without moving the stick. The home version translates that quirk into a simple button press that lets you hop into enemy tanks and helicopters, turning the battlefield into a chaotic playground of metal and fire. Playing as the two commando‑type heroes—known as Ralf and Clark in the original, but renamed Paul and Vince for the Western cartridge—adds a surprisingly smooth two‑player co‑op experience, letting friends coordinate attacks while dodging a parade of Neo‑Nazis whose insignia even includes a swastika in the final room. Scattered power‑ups pepper the path to the village of Ikari, giving you extra firepower or a grenade when you need it most. The game’s small details, like the unchanged Japanese name of General Kawasaki on the NES, hint at its roots as a planned Rambo tie‑in that never quite made it to market.

Storyline

The player assumes the role of commandos—Colonel Ralf Jones and Second Lieutenant Clark Still (renamed Paul and Vince in some regions)—in Ikari. They must fight northward through enemy‑infested terrain to reach the village of Ikari.

Their objective is to rescue a captive high‑ranking officer: Colonel Cook in the US/European releases, or General Kawasaki in the Japanese version. Along the way they confront tanks, soldiers, helicopters and other hostile forces identified as Neo‑Nazis. The final confrontation occurs in a swastika‑marked room, underscoring the Neo‑Nazi enemy affiliation.