Ikari Warriors (1986). Play Free Online

Summary

Ikari Warriors on the NES still feels fresh thanks to its quirky rotary‑joystick control, a rarity outside the arcade. You spin the stick to turn your commando without moving, letting you shoot in any of eight directions while sliding around obstacles. The two‑player co‑op is instantly engaging – the red‑clad Ralf and blue‑uniformed Clark can cover each other’s blind spots, which feels perfect for couch‑side chaos. Each soldier juggles a rapid machine gun in the right hand and grenade‑throwing in the left, plus a ‘call for fire’ mechanic that rattles you if you linger too long moving upward. What really amps the fun are the drivable tanks and helicopters: tanks shrug off bullets until fuel or damage runs out, while helicopters offer a spread gun or a cannon and even skim over water, turning the battlefield into vertical playgrounds. All this, wrapped in Micronics’ faithful port, makes the NES version a standout among Commando clones.

Storyline

Ikari Warriors on the NES drops you into a side‑scroll battlefield where you control the commandos Colonel Ralf Jones and Second Lieutenant Clark Still. Starting at the bottom of the screen, the duo fights upward through waves of enemy soldiers, tanks and helicopters, all revealed to be Neo‑Nazis. The ultimate goal is the village of Ikari, where a captive high‑ranking officer awaits rescue—Colonel Cook in the US/European version or General Kawasaki in the Japanese release. After battling the final swastika‑marked room, you free the officer and make a hasty escape from the enemy forces.

Edited by Maya Carter