Vice: Project Doom

Nintendo exclusive

Vice: Project Doom is a game that features side-scrolling platform sequences, overhead driving modes and rail-shooter stages. In driving stages Hart's vehicle can accelerate or slow down and fire his weapon straight ahead. During side-scrolling sequences, Hart can jump, duck, climb or use his selected weapon. Weapons that can be selected include a Katana sword, a pistol and a grenade-type weapon.

Released: 26 April 1991
Platforms: NES
Genres: Platformer Racing Science Shooter Vehicular combat
Developers: Aicom
Publishers: Sega Sammy Holdings
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: First person Bird view / Isometric Side view
Themes: Action Science fiction
Country: Japan
Languages: English, Japanese

About

Vice: Project Doom is a 1991 action video game developed by Aicom and published by Sammy Corporation for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was released in Japan on April 26, 1991, and in North America in November 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.

A Sega Mega Drive conversion titled Deep Scanner was in development, but never released. It was released on the Nintendo Classics service in August 2019 by Sega, as Sammy had retained the rights to the game prior to merging with Sega.

Keywords

aliens
cyberpunk
ninja
bird
time limit
conspiracy
crime
boss fight
countdown timer
train level
rat
unstable platforms

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

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.

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 include Meat and other health-restoring aids, and as well as coins that will give the player one extra life for every 100 collected. In the main segments, Hart can jump, attack, crouch, and climb ladders like in most other action games. He can also run while crouching.

Story

The game has a large number of cut-scenes for its time, in which a full-fledged plot in the genres of anime, noir and biopunk is revealed.

A. Corporation, a company involved in the development of electronic equipment and military weapons, 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. A.

Reception

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