Budget Games #1

Chronos (1987)
By: Mastertronic Genre: Shooting Players: 1 Difficulty: Medium-Hard
Featured Version: ZX Spectrum First Day Score: 36,950
Also Available For: Amstrad CPC

Back in gaming’s distant past, a phenomenon known as budget games was born. Budget games were something that, until Sony came along and introduced their 'Platinum' range of older titles, had never graced the console market - they were restricted to the now-classic home computers of the day. They were at their most successful during the days of the battle for 8-bit computer supremacy and, at this time, they usually cost £1.99 or £2.99. They included, either top-selling titles which had been on release at full price for a while already (much like the Platinum range), or they were original but often somewhat limited games whose developers felt wouldn’t shift many units at full price, and thus released them for a knock-down price. Some budget games were indeed substandard, or even mind-numbingly crap, but there were also many better than average, or even awesome titles available too. Chronos was among these.

Even in its day, Chronos was one of the most basic shoot 'em ups seen for years. It's a horizontally scrolling affair spread over six fairly long levels. It features no power-ups, very basic and repetitive enemies, and little else. It should be complete crap, but for reasons I find myself completely unable to explain, it's not! The first level features two kinds of enemies. The first are flying aircraft things which fly in a straight line and explode, either when you shoot them or when they hit part of the scenery. The second kind is a simple sphere which does much the same thing, but doesn't move as quickly. The level is over when you reach the 'Chronos Zone End' marker, at which point the next level begins and the monochrome graphics change colour. Each new level brings with it a new kind of enemy. Level two for instance, sees the introduction of the 'tumbling' squares. These erratic fiends are much harder to avoid or shoot due to their unpredictable flight path and they often seem to lie in wait, popping up at the most inconvenient moments! All the enemies seem to appear randomly too, and often in or from rather strange parts of the levels.

The levels themselves are quite interesting. They feature an abundance of scenery - some of it along the top and bottom of the screen, as is standard, some of it simply floating in the middle of the screen, and much of it pretty sizeable and arranged in such a way that you're rarely able to fly along in a straight line. At a few points it even offers two different routes, but one of them generally ends in a dead-end! Amusingly, many parts of the scenery also display various non-game-related messages, presumably as a result of the programmer larking around while writing it! This doesn't represent the extent of the levels' features either. The first of the obstacles you'll encounter are segmented barriers, which can be destroyed a section at a time by shooting them. They are numerous and appear in all sorts of locations - sometimes they are only one or two sections high inside a tunnel or small gap in the scenery, other times they appear screen high (on the rare occasion that's possible). They are replaced by honeycomb-like barriers in later levels too, which effectively do the same thing. There are also energy barriers which span the distance between the top and bottom of the scenery. These are taken out by shooting them at the top or bottom which disables the beam. A more aggressive feature, which can be found increasingly frequently as the game wears on, are the gun emplacements. They are usually found near the bottom of the screen and shoot directly upwards. Just about the only other feature of note is the bonus letters which appear every now and then. They gradually spell out B-O-N-U-S (what else) and give you extra points.

There's not a lot more to it that that. Chronos is a basic shooter to say the least, but it unquestionably has a certain something. But what is the hook? One of the most appealing things about it is its appearance. Each level is presented in a monochrome style - one colour for the space background, which is littered with stars moving at different speeds, and the other colour for everything else. The first level features a black background with yellow scenery and sprites for instance. While technically far from the pinnacle of Spectrum achievements, Chronos's graphics are very neat and suit the game well. The only bad point here is the somewhat jerky scrolling. Like many Speccy games, the sound is far less impressive, however. The only tune in the game is present on the title screen and during play there are all of three sound effects - your ship's shooting noise, explosions, and when you collect the bonus letters.

As far as the gameplay is concerned Chronos should be a bit of a stinker, but for some reason it's not. I'm not sure why this is but I've always enjoyed playing it, from right back in 1987 when I first got it up until this very day. I think at least part of this is down to the highly imaginitive scenery. Shooting the aliens almost takes a back-seat at times to navigating your way around the screen, down tunnels, and taking out or avoiding obstructions - the game always keeps you on your toes. The six levels won't challenge you forever and I've finished this game several times, but it's a good game to return to due to its high-score potential. There are a fair few enemies on the screen at any time and you can't cover the entire screen the whole time. Therefore, if you can't destroy all of them, the possibility to improve your score will always exist, as there are always points missed.

When you see Chronos in action for the first time, you'd know it's a budget game. It doesn't have the 'presence' of a full-price title, but the truth is I've spent far more time playing this than I have almost all other Speccy shooters, full-price or otherwise. But at the same time, it would be slightly unjust to give this game a huge score, due mainly to the existence of far more polished Spectrum shooters such as R-Type, Side Arms, Salamander, and Flying Shark. The mere mention of those titanic games should see this game immediately fade into obscurity, but for some reason I can't stop myself from liking this cheap and cheerful, but highly enjoyable little game.

RKS Score: 8/10

On a footnote, such is the love for Chronos, there's a decent PC remake available. Download it from the excellent World of Spectrum remakes page, here.

Top Five Planets

5 - Venus

Its atmosphere has constant lightning and is so dense the first few Venera probes sent by the Russians were crushed before reaching the ground, and the ones that managed to land unscathed only lasted an hour or so before melting, there is sulphuric acid rain, the entire surface of the planet features evidence of volcanic activity, and the entire planet leaves a tail behind it in space, much like a comet, due to the Sun's solar wind! Oh, and it looks like a really bright star from here...

4. Saturn

Because it has rings, of course! Oh, and it's got such a low density it would float in water (if there was a bowl big enough)...

3. Mars

One reason could be Olympus Mons, a volcano three times higher than Mount Everest, and over 500 km wide at its base. Another could be Valles Marineris (see picture), an immense canyon 4000 km long (compared with the Grand Canyon on Earth at 446 km). But let's face it - the main reason is because it has Martians!

2. Earth

The largest and most diverse of the terrestrial planets, and home to many natural wonders of amazing beauty, and many species of plant and animal life. Unfortunately the dominant species is an ignorant, self-destructive, and irresponsible one which is slowly destroying the aforementioned natural beauty in the name of comfort and convenience. Would be in the number one spot were it not for them...

1. Jupiter

What else? The gargantuan Jupiter is two and a half times as massive as all the other planets in the Solar System combined, has such immense gravity that it 'squeezes' its nearest large moon, Io, causing constant volcanic eruptions (and also stopped the asteroids inside its orbit from coelescing into a fifth terrestrial planet), has such an enormous magnetic field that, if visible from Earth, would make it appear as large as the Sun, despite being over five times further away, has a moon bigger than some planets (coughMercurycough), has its own (though lesser known) ring system, and of course... The Great Red Spot! A hurricane-like storm three times bigger than Earth that has already lasted for hundreds of years! Yeah!

Overrated! #1

Ridge Racer (1994)
By: Namco  Genre: Racing  Players: 1 Difficulty: Medium
Featured Version: Sony PlayStation
Also Available For: Arcade, PlayStation 2 (as part of compilation)

Back in the good old days when amusement arcades actually had games in them, every now and then an example would arrive that took the world by storm. Everyone, everywhere is talking about it, playing it, or talking about playing it, and if you're not among them, you're left out. Arguably one of the very last of these titles was Namco's rather popular Ridge Racer. When it was announced as a launch title for the Sony's new PlayStation console its fans went into mild hysterics. "We can now play the best racing game of all-time in the comfort of our own homes!" they all exclaimed with glee. It arrived - they all bought a PlayStation and a copy of it, played it for a couple of hours, and realised that Ridge Racer was far from the best racing game of all-time, after all. A valuable lesson to us all then, that good arcade games do not always make good home console games.

Yep, you start at the back. Every time... *sigh*

Okay, maybe there's some slight exaggeration there, but it's true to some extent - at least as far as some games are concerned, particularly the ones that don't receive much in the way of, shall we say, supplementary material. That, unfortunately, is where this port of Ridge Racer falls down. Of chief concern is the number of courses on offer here: one. Okay, it's a fairly good course, and a reasonably large one, but even for an arcade game one course just doesn't cut it for me. Some fans of this game defend its appalling number of courses by claiming that Namco had a very short amount of time to develop it, being under a lot of pressure to rush it out in time for the PlayStation's launch. This may be true, but I don't think it's the real reason - Ridge Racer Revolution - the sequel to this game, is not a significant improvement after all, and Namco had plenty of time to get things right there.

The OutRun-esque beachside section...

As mentioned though, the sole course is more than half decent in itself. It is quite a large one and takes you from the city over bridges and through tunnels past such views as a construction site, mountainsides and a beach. Before racing on it, you must choose a car, and there are four available. Actually, one nice feature of this conversion is that you can play a single-screen version of Galaxians while it is loading. If you manage to shoot all the aliens before the game loads, the quota of available cars is trebled. Regardless of how many cars you can initially choose from though (all of which are fictional), each has differing attributes - acceleration, traction, handling and top speed all vary from vehicle to vehicle, and the usual manual or automatic transmission can be selected. There are no play modes to choose from - it's an arcade mode or nothing - so with the car selected it's onto the race.

Never liked this background... groo :(

These begin with a leggy girlie walking across the track for no real reason other than to look nice, after which you'll find yourself at the back of the grid (grrr!) with eleven computer controlled opponents in front of you. The 'course select' option on the pre-race screen actually lets you choose between two difficulty levels which determines the number of laps (two or three respectively) and the top speed of the other cars. You can also choose between the same two versions of a 'different' course which is actually just the normal course but with a small, more challenging (and rather crap) section added to it, and later on some races can also be contested over mirrored, reversed, or night versions of the course. In the last race, you'll have the opportunity to race the mysterious black 'Devil Car' which is the fastest in the game. Beat it and you'll have completed the game as well as having gained access to the black car yourself. The only other option left is the time trial where you can try and beat the best lap times for the course in its various configurations.

A nice uphill bridge section...

The biggest orgasms Ridge Racer fans, and indeed the first of the PlayStation fanboys were having about this game is down to its graphics, and they are indeed quite impressive for such an early title. Aside from a slight reduction in background detail and polygon count, it's close to arcade perfect. A helicopter follows your car around as you race and afterwards you can watch a replay of your hopefully splendid performance as seen from the helicopter. Races start at different times of the day like sunrise, midday or dusk, so some nice lighting effects and colours can be seen throughout, and the cars look nice, though they can't be damaged. The in-game view can be switched between a front bumper mounted camera and a behind car camera. The 'techno' music selected for the game will probably be awesome or terrible, depending on your taste. It consists of six 'bangin choons' which you can choose from before racing, although most of them make me sad.

Look! It's Galaxians on the little screen!

Even if, unlike me, you like this kind of music though, I suspect though they will begin to grate after a while, but the composer obviously thinks highly of them as there’s a 'music player' on the option screen which shows cars racing around while the music of your choice plays. Luckily, they are not mandatory - in a fairly innovative feature, you can put your own CD's in your PS and listen to them instead! Sounds effects are quite poor, including an awful engine sound (lawn mower?), and unfortunately an annoying commentator rambles on throughout each race too saying the same stuff all the time such as "Wow, what a start!" regardless of whether you made a good start or not! Making a good start isn't easy either. The handling style of the cars has obviously been retained from the arcade version, which is a good thing for an arcade conversion I guess, but I've always found the cars incredibly annoying to drive.

One of the two tunnel sections...

The main problem is a bit hard to explain but when grip is lost the car will most often start pivoting left and right around a central point of the car until your speed decreases substantially and you can start accelerating away again. It's ridiculous, annoying, and completely unrealistic. Yes I know this is an arcade racer and realism is not the order of the day here, but some sort of basis in reality wouldn't go amiss, I deem. Another annoying aspect of gameplay is that contact with other cars or the side of the course, even if it's slight, results in a severe reduction in speed, and once you've hit one once, particularly as far as the roadside barriers are concerned, it's very easy to keep bumping them, thereby ruining any chance of a decent finish. This obviously gets very annoying after a short time. Having said that, the challenge on offer here isn't really befitting a game with one course - you’ll win the first race within your first three attempts to very little fanfare.

The highly uninspiring 'extra' bit of the course...

Those (fairly major) points aside, however, Ridge Racer, as limited as it is, can be fairly enjoyable for a day or two before it gets boring. The main course is quite pleasant (although the 'extra' bit sucks - it just has grey walls all along it) and there are lots of nice touches such as homages to other Namco games, there's just not enough to it. Of course, a two-player split screen mode would help matters, but even that is absent! As an arcade game, Ridge Racer was thrilling for a one-off (or occasional repeat) play, but as a home game it just doesn't work without a radical overhaul which it has not received here. There really is very little to return to after the first few days - the desire to improve lap times is something that prolongs the lifespan of most driving games, but when that game only has one course, it's not nearly as attractive a proposition.

Still going forward, just twisting back and forth too!

When this first came out, it understandably had a big 'wow' factor - after MegaDrive and SNES racing games, it was a genuinely impressive sight and a great demonstration of what the next generation of consoles had in store for us, but it didn't take long before there were a good few decent alternatives - Gran Turismo, Colin McRae, Total Drivin', Test Drive 4 & 5, TOCA Touring Cars, Porsche Challenge, Need For Speed and many others are much more enjoyable driving games and much more worthy of your time. It's a shame too, there was real potential here. If Namco added just a few more courses, this could've been a half-decent game. If they tinkered with the car-handling, it could've been even better. Later games in the Ridge Racer series showed what was possible on the PlayStation - the stupidly-named Ridge Racer Type 4 has eight courses and a two-player mode, for example, and is a great racing game. This original is not.

RKS Rating: 4/10

Crush Series - Part 3

Dragon's Fury (a.k.a. Devil Crash MD) (1992)
By: TechnoSoft Genre: Pinball Players: 1-2 (alternate) Difficulty: Medium
Featured Version: Sega MegaDrive / Genesis First Day Score: 22,593,300
Also Available For: NEC PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16
Download For: PlayStation Network

For two years, Devil's Crush had been thrilling Japanese (and to a lesser extent, American) PC Engine gamers before, unlike its prequel, it finally received a conversion, and it was MegaDrive owners who were the lucky ones to receive it. Handled by Technosoft (famous for the Thunder Force series), it's a more or less a straight conversion of the Engine game (aside from the unnecessary name change), but there are a few noteworthy differences. Aside from a few small, almost unnoticeable changes, the main table in this version looks pretty much the same as it did on the Engine - everything's in the same place and everything does the same thing, though the ball feels a little weightier and doesn’t seem to bounce around quite so much.

As far as I can determine, all the bonuses and scoring techniques also remain unchanged, too. The graphics are slightly different, though. While good in both versions, this version appears less colourful and slightly fuzzier and less defined than the Engine version, and the surface of the table is much brighter here, which makes the colours at least appear to be less contrasted. I actually prefer the graphics of the Engine version by quite some margin but that’s just me. Check out the shots in both reviews and make up you own mind as to which version you think looks better. The music has changed very little during the conversion process, though the sound effects are slightly different (and better) here. Since they are one of this game's strongest points on the Engine they certainly increase the enjoyment of playing this version, as I'm sure you can imagine.

One significant difference between the two versions is the bonus tables. There are still six of them here but only two of the ones from the Engine version have survived the transition; the other four are all new. I’m not sure that they’re better but they are probably easier (except for number six which is well ‘ard). Also, this version has an ending! If you can defeat all six bonus tables, you'll progress to a final table featuring 'King Dragon' (or King Demon, depending on which territory you're in). Defeat him and you've completed the game! If you're like me though, you'll purposely avoid reaching him in order to achieve the highest score possible.

Which reminds me of perhaps the biggest difference between the Engine and MegaDrive versions of this great game - the difficulty. This was the version I first played, and it's the version I've spent by far the most time playing, and I'd like to think I've become pretty good at it, achieving scores in the nine-figure region fairly easily. This, however, proves a lot more difficult when playing the Engine version. For example, the top section of the table is where high scores can be quickly amassed, and it's A LOT easier to get there, AND stay there for prolonged periods on this MD version. It's not that the tables on the respective versions have been designed differently though, nor that this game has been badly converted by TechnoSoft. The ball physics is outstanding on both versions, but, as mentioned briefly earlier, they are slightly different here, which results in a couple of tricks I learnt when playing this version, didn't work when I started playing the Engine game.

So there you have it. Both versions are essentially the same. The Engine version is more challenging and looks prettier (in my opinion), this MegaDrive version is easier and louder. Both are amazingly playable, both are as addictive as hell, but this version is the one where I cut my teeth, so to speak, so I'll always love playing it.


RKS Score: 9/10

Red Parsley - Crush Pinball Series:
Part 1     Part 2     Part 3     Part 4     Part 5     Part 6

Film Review #3

Iron Man (2008)
Director: Jon Favreau Starring: Robert Downey Jr.,Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Shaun Toub

Certificate: 12 Running Time: 121 Minutes

Tagline: "This Summer: Heroes Aren't Born, They're Built"

They're gradually working their way down the popularity list of super-heroes, aren't they? Whilst hardly an unknown, I doubt as many people know who Tony Stark is as Peter Parker or Bruce Wayne! That may have helped this film when it was first released though - I don't think there was huge expectation, even from the fanboys. That combined with the fact that this is Marvel's first self-financed feature made this quite a gamble. But did it pay off?

As with most films of this type, this is an 'origins' story. It has obviously been updated to make it easier to relate to, but the basics are the same as they were way back in the 60's. It tells the story of how millionaire playboy and genius engineer, Tony Stark (Downey Jr.), suffers a fatal heart wound on a visit to Afghanistan, during an attack by kidnappers who want him to construct super-weapons for them. In the case of this film, the antagonists in question are, predictably enough, Middle-Eastern terrorists. Instead of building the 'Jericho' missile as ordered, however, he constructs, not only a device to keep himself alive, but also a powerful suit of armour which he uses to blast his way to freedom.

Stark is helped by fellow captive, Yinsen

As you might imagine, after three months in captivity, in a cave, in fear of his life, Tony's ordeal changes him. When he finally gets back home, he declares that the company he inherited from his father, Stark Industries, a major weapons manufacturer and military contractor, will no longer create death-dealing devices. Naturally, his father's old partner, Obadiah Stane (Bridges), who effectively runs the company, is strongly opposed to this. Instead, Stark devotes his time to building an improved version of his suit while Stane plots to wrest control of the company from him, inevitably resulting in a confrontation between the two.

The story is pretty well-known, and somewhat predictable even to those who don't read comic-books, but that certainly doesn't detract from the entertainment factor. In the wrong hands, this could be a fairly mundane movie, but luckily, with masterful helm-control from actor-turned-director, Favreau (Swingers), and top-notch casting, it's anything but mundane. Whoever it was that decided to cast Robert Downey Jr as Stark was almost as much of a genuis as Stark himself! They were perhaps more of a gambler than Marvel too, given his somewhat 'colourful' past, but it was, however, a masterstroke - he's a revelation, and elevates this film all by himself. It's almost as if the role was made for him. His (apparently) natural charisma and charm are perfect for the role, and suit the confident, outgoing, extroverted, Stark to a tee, as does the decor of his updated, futuristic Malibu mansion - his workshop is full of super-advanced technology and watching him interact with it all is really enjoyable, especially his banter with his computer and robotic helpers!

Other casting is also of a high standard too. Stark's loyal assistant, Pepper Potts, is nicely played by Paltrow, Jeff Bridges is almost unrecognisable as the imposing Obadiah Stane, and Terrence Howard is stern, but likeable as his friend and military liaison, Rhodey. Overall, it's pretty much as good as it could've been. Does it best the first Spider-Man? Possibly not (it's close though), but Iron Man is a bit more of an unknown quantity. There's something for everyone here - political and biblical references for those looking for a bit of depth, action and witty dialogue for those wanting to sit back with some popcorn and turn off their brain on a friday night. This has to rank among the best comic-book adaptions to date and you'll almost certainly enjoy every minute. Oh, and don't turn it off when the credits start rolling! ;)

RKS Score: 8/10

Top Five Master System Two-Player Games

Games-Related Top Fives Disclaimer: I've traditionally stuck to the games I know and love so far, and these game-related top fives reflect that. One of the purposes of this blog is diversify my gaming experiences, to play games I haven't played before, so I will do new game-related top fives in a few years to see how different they are!

5. Super Off Road (1992)

This classic is the spiritual successor to the great Super Sprint and pretty much revived the flagging overhead racing genre all by itself. Its popularity saw it converted to virtually every system under the sun but this splendid MS version is the one I played the most (although I also liked it on the Speccy!). Unlike the arcade (and NES) version, it does only support two players simultaneously (as opposed to three and four respectively), but that doesn't massively detract from the enjoyment of racing the big chunky trucks around the numerous bumpy, pot-hole-ridden courses. It's not a huge step forward from Super Sprint, gameplay-wise, but its exciting, addictive, fast-paced action never gets old and is great fun for beginners and experts alike.

4. Gauntlet (1990)

As a self-confessed Gauntlet addict, it took me a concerning amount of time to finally get around to playing this version of the classic but I'm glad I finally did! Some say it's a game that was never meant for the solo player and is no fun when played alone. I don't agree, I've always loved playing it, by myself or not. There can be little doubt, however, that it's much more fun with a friend in tow, even if the age-old problem of deciding who gets to choose their favourite character never seems to go away! This MS version of the famous Atari coin-op was a revelation when it came out and was surely the best version of all the ones to be found outside the arcade. The little MS can handle the hordes of simultaneous on-screen enemies surprisingly well and as a game it still holds up fantastically well today.

3. Double Dragon (1988)

The arcade version of this one was much loved, but the home conversions have always been a real opinion-divider! I can still remember the arguments about which ones were good and which weren't! This MS version was renowned for its horrifying levels of sprite-flicker, and indeed it is among the worst examples of this graphical glitch on the system (so much so that even getting a usable screenshot is a challenge!), but it was still one of the most enjoyable two-player games available for the MS and remains so today. In fact, my good friend, Luke, and I still play this one regularly which says a lot about its splendour. Good quality scrolling-fighting games are few and far between, but ones this slick and playable are to be treasured!

2. Spy vs Spy (1986)

As much fun as a two-player co-operative game is, I think most people will agree that outwitting (no to mention beating the crap out of) a friend is even more fun! And what better way to do it than the fantastic MS version of this classic? Playing the part of the opposing spies from the pages of Mad Magazine, you're supposed to be rushing around the rooms looking for the items you need to escape, but most players end of spending most of their time setting booby-traps to catch their friend out, then cackling as they get fried/blown-up! It's a simple but highly addictive premise, and the random room and item placement, as well as the fairly extensive later stages, mean you'll never get bored of doing it!

1. Fantasy Zone the Maze (1987)

Unusual choice? Maybe, but Luke and I have spent so much time playing this under-appreciated gem I just had to put it in the number one spot! I'll be the first one to admit, a Pac-Man-inspired collect-the-dots game wouldn't have been the most obvious use of the Fantasy Zone name, but it works really well. The graphics are slightly less eye-melting than the other Fantasy Zone games but the music and sound effects are superb and there's a lot of game here for your money. Collect the coins, use them to buy weapons to shoot the enemies and get further in the game. Yes it's a tough slog - some later enemies move ridiculously fast - but plentiful supplies of weapons derived from the earlier Fantasy Zone games help prolong the enjoyment, and enjoyable it is too! Beyond all that though, it can get so testing on my own that I need some help! Simple, addictive, and awesome fun.

Film Review #2

Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
Director: John Moore Starring: Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman, Gabriel Macht, Vladimir Mashkov, Olek Krupa, Joaquim de Almeida

Certificate: 15 Running Time: 101 Minutes

Tagline: "In War There Are Some Lines You Should Never Cross"

Better known these days for his comedic tomfoolery with other 'frat pack' alumni, Owen Wilson is less well known as an action star, and yet here he is in the leading role of one such film, and with nary a humorous moment to be found! Pretty good he is too in this Bosnian War-set thriller, based unofficially on the experiences of a real-life American pilot. Lt. Chris Burnett (Wilson) is stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Adriatic Sea and has grown bored and frustrated with his career in the US Air Force and is preparing to leave. However, Burnett, along with Stackhouse, his buddy and the pilot to Wilson's navigator, are given a reconnaissance mission on the eve of their ship's departure. Briefly straying off-mission, they discover some far from friendly activity in a supposed demilitarised zone, including evidence of war atrocities. Obviously keen to keep their secret, the Bosnian-Serb army shoots them down.

Looks like someone could use a white jacket!

After an exhilarating, edge-of-the-seat, trying-to-avoid-surface-to-air missiles sequence, their F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (apparently) fighter is finally downed over occupied territory. Now stranded... well, behind enemy lines, it's up to Burnett to stay alive and evade capture by the enemy long enough to make it to safety. Back on the carrier, a frustrated Admiral Reigart (Hackman) tries to find a way around the red tape preventing him from sending a rescue party after Burnett, who is being relentlessly persued by pretty much the whole Bosnian-Serb army, including a very dedicated and skilled sniper (Mashkov). Having to remain undetected in both rural and urban areas, Burnett, for the first time in his career, has to remember and make use of his military training, as well as hope for a bit of luck!

Burnett tries to outrun trip-wire explosives...

Granted, there's not a hugely intricate, interweaving plot, but this is a solid and exciting action film, albeit fairly typical Hollywood fare. Gene Hackman is in familiar territory but does well with his limited screen time. Owen Wilson, however, proves surprisingly proficient in his portrayal of the initially panic-stricken, deer-in-the-headlights, Burnett, clearly out of his comfort zone. Also very noteworthy is Vladimir Mashkov as chilling Serb sniper, Sasha, hell-bent on taking his target out. Despite being filmed in Slovakia and featuring no Serb actors in the cast (none wanted anything to do with the production, apparently), John Moore does a good job of recreating the war-torn landscape of civil-war era Bosnia, complete with armies, Bosniak Guerillas, towns in ruins, and roadside wreckage, each separated by stretches of desolate countryside. Also keenly felt is the sense of isolation felt by Burnett as he sporadically manages to make contact with Reigart inbetween dodging Bosnian-Serb bullets and grenades, and hiding under corpses.

Overall, Behind Enemy Lines isn't perfect - it's very much a Hollywood film, complete with a suitably over-the-top, unrealistic ending (although, surprisingly, no love interest!), but it's more about the journey than the destination, right? And it's a solidly entertaining journey throughout.

RKS Score: 7/10