Action Force II
Encyclopedia
Action Force II: International Heroes is a video game released by Virgin Games in for the ZX Spectrum
home computer. It is the sequel to Action Force
.
to rescue them. They are being held in separate groups atop various urban buildings. Each block must be scaled by Quick Kick
while Airtight
covers him from the helicopter.
, the player must shepherd a character across a dangerous environment, however the game is otherwise completely different.
The player controls the crosshairs of Airtight's weapon, and must shoot enemies that appear before they injure Quick Kick as he ascends the side of the building. Quick Kick also loses energy as the level progresses; it can be replenished by shooting the U.S. flags on the walls of some screens. When Quick Kick reaches the roof the hostages are released and make their way to the rescue helicopter.
At the end of each level Airtight may switch weapons; he can choose between a machine-gun, bazooka
or bio-gun, each of which has different advantages and drawbacks.
Every two levels the player must defeat a tank by shooting it a certain number of times within a time-limit.
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
home computer. It is the sequel to Action Force
Action Force (video game)
Action Force: International Heroes is a video game released by Virgin Games in for the Sinclair Spectrum and Commodore 64, and in for the Amstrad CPC. The game is set in the world of the Action Force toys by Hasbro. It was followed by a sequel, Action Force II.-Plot:Cobra have launched a...
.
Plot
Cobra has taken a number of innocent citizens hostage and it's up to Action ForceAction Force
Action Force was a 1980s range of European action figures initially based on Action Man, and later used to introduce G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys to European markets...
to rescue them. They are being held in separate groups atop various urban buildings. Each block must be scaled by Quick Kick
Quick Kick (G.I. Joe)
Quick Kick is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's martial arts expert, and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
while Airtight
Airtight (G.I. Joe)
Airtight is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's hostile environment specialist and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
covers him from the helicopter.
Gameplay
As with Action ForceAction Force (video game)
Action Force: International Heroes is a video game released by Virgin Games in for the Sinclair Spectrum and Commodore 64, and in for the Amstrad CPC. The game is set in the world of the Action Force toys by Hasbro. It was followed by a sequel, Action Force II.-Plot:Cobra have launched a...
, the player must shepherd a character across a dangerous environment, however the game is otherwise completely different.
The player controls the crosshairs of Airtight's weapon, and must shoot enemies that appear before they injure Quick Kick as he ascends the side of the building. Quick Kick also loses energy as the level progresses; it can be replenished by shooting the U.S. flags on the walls of some screens. When Quick Kick reaches the roof the hostages are released and make their way to the rescue helicopter.
At the end of each level Airtight may switch weapons; he can choose between a machine-gun, bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
or bio-gun, each of which has different advantages and drawbacks.
Every two levels the player must defeat a tank by shooting it a certain number of times within a time-limit.
Reception
- Sinclair UserSinclair UserSinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
:"Hey! This game is brilliant... After a bad patch Virgin seems to have regained its former glory. Dan Dare was brill, Dan Dare 2 was exceptional and Action Force 2, well it's transcended!"
- Your SinclairYour SinclairYour Sinclair or YS as it was commonly abbreviated, was a British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum.-History:...
:"Action Force 2 is full of wonderful little touches: bullet-holes appear in the brickwork, torches on the walls burn, your gunsight judders as you hold down the trigger. Quick-Kick expires convincingly if the enemy manages to shoot him or drop weights on his head. If you remember to shoot the dustbins, keep blasting the flags to restore energy, and keep your cool against the tank, the early levels are fairly straightforward. But as it gets harder and harder, Action Force 2 just gets better and better."
Background
Martin Wheeler, one of the developers"I think Action Force 2 was the game I was happiest with. We wrote it with instant arcade appeal in mind, deliberately playing on the tastes of the games reviewers who slated DD2. They gave it the 'Smash' we thought Dan Dare 2 had deserved."