Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode

One of the first games I remember really developing an attachment to that wasn't centered around Mario or Zelda was Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode. Scour the web for reviews on this game and you'll find that most either love it or despise it. Put me in the former category because this one will always be one of my favorites.

 

"Only you can help him save the world!" That's all it took to convince me that this game was going to be awesome. At the time, I hadn't played a game that had the mature feel that this offered. From late night hotel rendezvous' to sudden informant murders, it was like a James Bond movie in video game form (and better than the actual James Bond games we got on the Atari). Were the controls a little off? Yes. Was the story a bit ridiculous? Sure. Were the graphics a little sub-par? Affirmative. And none of that mattered because this game had everything. Even the names of the different chapters were based off of famous classic movies.

The game never got stale because of the variety. You'd spend some time in the main side-scrolling areas then get thrown into a 1st-person rail shooter. You'd get to fly a helicopter, traverse underwater areas, and run around in 1st-person labyrinths looking for items and exits. Nothing else I had played at the time could match the various challenges this game threw at you.

I'm proud to say that I have, in fact, gone through the entire game (without the use of the Stage Select code) and it was definitely a rewarding experience and something I plan on doing again soon. If you've been contemplating giving this game a try, but have been hesitant due to the criticism it sometimes receives, do yourself a favor and go for it. It's not for everyone, but if you're lucky it'll click with you and take you on a completely original ride. Oh, and if you're an anime fan, be sure to check out Golgo 13 in "The Professional". You'll be glad you did.