Rush ’n Attack: Ex-Patriot

12 cert, Konami, Playstation Network (also Xbox Live) ***

So, another retro release from Konami, the former giants of the console game. This time the theme is . . . Cold War paranoia? I guess it's appropriate for a retro game. Rush 'n Attack: Ex-Patriotis a simple, violent, endearing little project. You play a US soldier who must break out of a Russian gulag and sabotage a missile threat. Much of the gameplay involves negotiating platforms and performing stealth attacks. You use the environment around you (dark doorways, walkways, gaps in the ceiling) before pouncing on guards. Too many noisy attacks and you're inundated with bad guys. The bulk of the combat is done with a Rambo- style Bowie knife, but you can also pick up guns, grenades and handy equipment like night vision goggles. This is a low-fi, neat side-scrolling combat/ platform game with the right level of difficulty.