Rescue: The Embassy Mission (1989). Play online

Summary

Rescue: The Embassy Mission is a quirky NES translation of the classic computer game Hostages. The port chops out all spoken dialogue and the pixel art drops noticeably in fidelity, a common sacrifice for 8‑bit cartridges. Gameplay is split into three distinct phases: a side‑scroll stealth run where you guide a lone GIGN sniper past searchlights, a shooting‑gallery‑style sniper assault from fixed windows, and an interior “enter‑and‑clear” raid that swaps between first‑person hallways and third‑person rooms. Each phase demands timing, precise aiming and careful positioning, with a built‑in map that marks hostage and enemy locations in some versions. Success isn’t just about blowing away foes; the final screen tallies speed, accuracy and casualties, then prints a newspaper report that praises or condemns the operator. It’s a rare glimpse of a tactical shooter on the NES, packed into a cartridge that showcases how developers reshaped a complex PC title for Nintendo’s humble hardware.

Storyline

Rescue: The Embassy Mission drops you into a tense hostage crisis at the French embassy in Paris. A diplomatic mission has been seized by political fanatics, putting the ambassador and his staff in danger. You command a six‑man GIGN counter‑terrorist squad, positioning sharpshooters around the perimeter and using cover fire through the curtained windows.

Once the assault team breaches the building, an electronic floor‑plan diagram guides you through the corridors toward the captives and the waiting enemies. The objective is to eliminate the terrorists, free the hostages, and extract the ambassador safely.