Assault Heroes Review (PlayStation Network)

Hint: if you see something moving underground, shoot it.

It’s nice to see that some of the classics aren’t forgotten.  Three years ago, Sierra and Wanako Studios published the first-rate digital shooter Assault Heroes on Xbox Live.  Now that same game is back on PlayStation Network, under the guidance of a new publishing team, Konami (since Sierra went extinct at the hands of Activision).  Although little has changed, that’s no reason to be concerned.  What remains is a fun arcade shooter, whether you’re going at it alone or with a buddy.

Assault Heroes has a lot in common with Sunsoft’s Blaster Master series (which we recently re-examined with the release of Overdrive on the Wii).  You’ll spend half the time on planet surfaces, shooting at enemies from inside the confines of a heavily armored tank (or another vehicle).  The other half, you’re on foot, working your way through catacombs while blasting away at bugs and other dangerous creatures.  As you proceed on your journey, you’ll gain access to a plethora of weapons, including a flame thrower (nice for quick fries), grenade launchers and more.  Obviously, your best bet is your default machine gun, since you’ll never run low on ammunition (although your effectiveness on tougher enemies, like bosses, is questionable).

What’s cool about vehicular combat is that, if your ride takes too much damage, you can still survive on-foot until a new one spawns a few seconds later.  In fact, the game as a whole is wonderfully balanced when it comes to difficulty, with three types to choose from.  The only problem related to this is the game’s final level, a “dash for the exit” style of stage where you have to keep moving while shooting everything in your path.  On one of the higher settings, this is damn near unfeasible.  For some of you, though, this just might be the “ultimate test” you’re looking for.

Gameplay is set up with traditional twin stick controls.  The left controls your movement, while the right directs your line of fire.  Even after three years, this set-up works just fine with Assault Heroes, and will keep you coming back for more.  What’s better, if you prefer a little company with your devastation, you can play alongside a friend in co-op, either off-line or through the PlayStation Network.  Although the lobby didn’t have any many players as we would’ve liked, the option to hook up with a friend is still good to have.

We're going right into the danger zone.

Even though it’s three years old, Assault Heroes hasn’t lost a step in its presentation.  The overhead shooting scenarios still look great, as you can keep a close eye on enemies all over the screen.  The closed, cramp on-foot segments are terrific too, creating a little claustrophobia as you shoot at everything in sight.  The 3-D visuals look great for a three-year old game, and the explosions are second-to-none, especially after you blast a boss to pieces.  (Have you ever seen a robotic spider blow up?  You will here.)  The music is also very well done, with a few gloomy rock tunes and booming noises to keep your speakers busy.

The only real negative we can see with Assault Heroes is its introductory price.  The game sells for 400 Microsoft points (five bucks) on Xbox Live, and yet on PlayStation Network, it goes for double that.  (This might explain why the online co-op lobby is so empty.)

Nevertheless, if it’s a  worthwhile shooting investment you’re after, Assault Heroes won’t let you down.  Even at double the price, the game has more than enough shooting to please.  Here’s hoping that Wanako’s equally remarkable Assault Heroes 2 gets the same treatment.