8 Bit Avengers

Ever since the dawn of commercialized video games, comic book heroes have found themselves given new digital life. Video game creators have found that comic books have been a great resource for video games whether it’s because of their easy marketability or because they’re a treasure chest of estabilshed creative sources. Unfortunately, the early era of video games have always sucked so much ass, they’d smell like sweat and poop out of the box.

Of course, video games have greatly improved since then, especially with X-Men Legends, Ultimate Alliance and the Spider-Man games. Unfortunately, old school games would suck so much ass, they’d smell like sweat and poopoo crumbs. Ever so often, though, you’d come across a masterpiece among the forgettable 8-bit, 16 bit comic book based games. Captain America and the Avengers, the NES port, based off the coin operated, 4 player co-op beat-em-up game.

In the four player game,  you use Cap, Hawkeye, Iron Man and Vision, and they all have the same exact powers so it really didn’t matter who you picked. In the NES port, Cap and Hawkeye have very different abilities and move sets, which make it more comic-like.

Cap’s attack while standing throws his shield forward. At higher levels, after collecting diamonds because apparently bling gives them power, the shiled goes forward then flied behind Cap then back to him. Thing is, that’s a lot more hassling than it is useful. Pressing forward twice makes Cap does justice-y stars and stripes dash forward, obliterating much of  anything in his path. WITH JUSTICE!

Nevermind the pinkness of the background. This is a manly game.

Jumping until cap turns into a swirly red, white and blue ball then pressing the down button on the d-pad makes Cap sit on his shield in a non erotic way, stomping enemies, landing on water and on spikes. This is not a very realistic game. Cap can also hang onto those bars the bad guys conveniently leave around for him. See, they’re not all that evil. Oh, and pressing up make him guard his head, although it really isn’t useful at all.

Cap is stronger than Hawkeye. At the same levels, Cap does the same damage in one attack is equal to Hawkeye’s two arrows.

While Hawkeye isn’t as strong and is a lot less agile, and I think developers were trying to give him a form of digital asthma because he fucker doesn’t even run. He can shoot arrows vertically and horzontally though. When an arrow is flying off, he does a little wuss punch or kick, which is a lot more useful than previously thought.

Low levels just shoot out an arrow. Higher levels make his arrows explode. Everyone knows diamonds do that.

There are areas that Cap can access and areas only Hawkeye can access. Cap’s range is quite limited.

The game is quite difficult. If you have a thing for fighting bosses that take four dozen exploding arrows while it takes four hits to kill your Avenging ass. Even grunts pack enough of a punch to take you out. Getting through a level can be quite daunting. Make sure you kids go back to levels to try and level up.

You face off against Crossbones, The Wizard (I think) and Ultron, and of course The Mandarin, who captured Iron Man and Vision

The graphics for a game released in 1991 were pretty good. Sure, everyone looks like blocks of pixels, but they look pretty cool. If you can find an emulator, this is a game you gotta try, especially if you’re a Marvel fan and you like failing.