Vice: Project Doom

Vice: Project Doom, known in Japan as Gun-Dec (ガンデック), is a multi-genre action video game developed by Aicom and published by Sammy for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was released in Japan on April 26, 1991 and in North America on November 15, 1991. Vice: Project Doom is a side-scrolling platformer with noticeable similarities to the Ninja Gaiden series for the NES, with the addition of gun shooting and driving segments as well. The player assumes the role of a secret agent who must uncover a conspiracy involving a new kind of alien substance.[1]

Vice: Project Doom
North American NES box art
Developer(s)Aicom
Publisher(s)Sammy
Composer(s)Kiyoshi Yokoyama
Platform(s)Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
  • JP: April 26, 1991
  • NA: November 15, 1991
Genre(s)Platformer, driving, shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay
Stage 2-1 of Vice: Project Doom, being the Waterfont & Construction Site.

Vice: Project Doom consists of 11 stages. The very first level, as well as Stage 10, are driving stages, while Stage 4-2 and 11-1 are shooting stages; the rest are standard side-scrolling/parallax-scrolling stages. Each begins with a movie-style sequence which provides the game's narrative. As usual of the genre, the player has a health gauge and a limited number of lives. Unlimited continues are provided as well.[2]

In the main stages, Hart can switch between one of three weapons: a Laser whip, a 44 Magnum revolver, and a supply of M-24 Stick grenades. The laser whip is a short-range weapon that can be used infinitely, while bullets and grenades are limited and must be replenished by picking additional supplies dropped by defeated enemies. Other power-ups includes Meat & other health-restoring heal-aids and as well as coins that will give the player one extra lives for every 100th one collected.[3] In the main segments, Hart can jump, attack, crouch, and climb ladders like in most other action games. He can also run while crouching.[4][5]

In the vehicle stages, the action is viewed from an overhead perspective, Hart will drive a Ferrari F-40 red, the player maneuvers the car through the road while shifting between three gears and shooting at enemy vehicles with the car's equipped gun.[6] In the shooting segment, the action is viewed from Hart's perspective, the player moves the target indicator around the moving scenery, shooting the gun with one button and tossing grenades with the other.[7] The stages that the game consists of are Route 246, Waterfront (Construction Site), Chinatown, Port, Ricardo Range, Warehouse 0001, Train and Sewers, Power Plant, Bio-Tech Laboratory, Harbor, and finally the BEDA Corporate Headquarters.

Plot

In the distant future, the B.E.D.A. Corporation, a company involved in the development of electronic equipment and military weapons,[8] is actually a front operated by a race of alien beings who have been living on the Earth for centuries in secrecy. The aliens have developed a substance named "Gel", which was initially intended to be used as food for their species, but also functions as an addictive substance to humans that results in terrible side-effects and is now being sold as an illegal drug within the underworld. The player takes the role of Detective Hart, a member of the Vice unit who is assigned to investigate the B.E.D.A. Corporation following the disappearance of his partner Reese during a previous case.[9] During his mission, Hart is assisted by his lover and fellow Vice agent Christy, and Sophia, an acquaintance of the two.[10]

Reception

Allgame gave Vice: Project Doom an overall rating of 2.5 stars out of a possible 5 stars.[11] The May 1991 issue of the North American gaming magazine Nintendo Power gave this game an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5.

References
  1. "Feature - Vice: Project Doom". Nintendo Power. Vol. 24. May 1991. pp. 8–19.
  2. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 10.
  3. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 7.
  4. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 3.
  5. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 4.
  6. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 5.
  7. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 6.
  8. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 9.
  9. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 2.
  10. Aicom. Vice: Project Doom (Nintendo Entertainment System). Sammy. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 8.
  11. Rating of Vice: Project Doom at allgame
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