Rush'n Attack

About Rush'n Attack

Rush’n Attack is a retro arcade shooter developed by Konami and released in 1985. It tasks you with playing a US soldier infiltrating a hostile base to rescue POWs, navigating four distinct stages from marshalling areas to a Siberian camp. The game emphasizes fast-paced action, with weapon upgrades like flamethrowers and grenades earned by defeating enemies. Originally titled Green Beret, it’s a relic of the 8-bit era, available on platforms like the C64, Spectrum, and even Xbox 360. The challenge comes from time-sensitive stages: linger too long and enemies escalate, and a stealth bomber eventually finishes you off. It’s a chaotic, twitchy experience that pits reflexes against relentless difficulty.

Gameplay

You control a soldier in real-time, darting through levels to avoid patrols while collecting weapons and dispatching guards. Each stage ends with a boss-like group of enemies, like a truck of kick-boxing soldiers or dog packs. Movement is twitchy and responsive, with shooting handled via a directional fire mechanic. The knife is your base tool, but you’ll scavenge better gear by killing foes. Weapon upgrades are situational, flamethrowers clear hordes, RPGs tackle armored targets, and grenades disrupt tight spaces. The time pressure forces you to balance caution and speed, as delayed progress triggers harder enemies and a final bomber that requires precise dodging. With no save points and a cycle of four stages, it’s a test of endurance and skill.

What Players Think

IGDB rates it 65.3/100, with 25 ratings. Community moods skew nostalgic but split: many praise its unrelenting action, while others call it unfairly punishing. Average completion time is around 2, 3 hours, though most players cite repeated failures and restarts. The time-based difficulty spikes, like the stealth bomber, draw mixed reactions, some see it as clever escalation, others as frustrating. A Reddit user wrote, “It’s a time capsule of arcade fury, but modern players might hate the randomness.” Completion rates are low, with only 12% reaching the final stage. For retro fans, it’s a cult classic; for newcomers, it’s a harsh lesson in 1980s design philosophy.

PlayPile's Take

Rush’n Attack is a brutal relic best for retro completists or those craving punishing arcade revival. Its design prioritizes challenge over modern polish, with stages that reset after any death and difficulty spikes that feel arbitrary. While the weapon upgrades and varied enemies add replayability, the lack of checkpoints and inconsistent enemy AI might test patience. Price isn’t listed, but even free modern equivalents offer better accessibility. If you’re into 8-bit chaos and don’t mind dying hundreds of times, it’s a gritty time capsule. Otherwise, skip it, stick to titles with forgiving mechanics and clearer progression.

Storyline

The player takes on the role of a United States special operations soldier infiltrating an enemy military base in order to save several POW's from being executed by firing squad. There are four stages: a Marshalling Area, a Harbor, an Air Base and a Siberian Camp. The omnipresent knife can be supplemented with captured arms. By killing certain enemy soldiers, the player can obtain a three-shot flamethrower, a four-shot RPG, or a three-pack of hand grenades. At the end of each stage, the player will face a unique group of enemies specific to that stage: Stage 1 ends with a truckload of running and jump kicking soldiers, Stage 2 with a pack of fierce dogs, Stage 3 with three shooting autogyros and Stage 4 with a skillful multi-shot flamethrower operator. When the mission is accomplished the four rescued POWs salute and the player restarts the game from the first stage on the next difficulty level. While the player can remain still in one area and rack up points, if he takes too long to proceed, the game will start sending out tougher enemies and eventually a stealth-like bomber will appear to take out the player. There's also an invisible time limit that will kill off the player if he takes too long to complete the stage.