After releasing the 3 biggest games of my career, I was desperate to blow off some steam with a simple concept. Few are more simple than Sure Shot - which harks back to the good old days when games were nonsensical, addictive fun (and so hard that you could barely get past the first level!). However, all nostalgia stops at the concept - because the game has been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century...

Blast From The Past
Love it or hate it, Sure Shot is one of my oldest and most enduring creations. Although it shot to fame in 2002, the concept was actually conceived way back in December 2000. The idea of 2 soldiers sandwiching enemies in a blaze of machinegun fire was the product of a random doodling session, and I couldn't wait to see if it would translate to a game. Unfortunately, the first outing was a woefully crude attempt that didn't do the idea justice. It wasn't until the Spring of 2002 that the game got the treatment it deserved - and the recognition too, as it was praised as a "gem" by PC Utilities magazine! Since then, it has divided my fans like no other game. My wrestling fans sit on one side of the battlefield and wonder what all the fuss is about, while the more traditional players sit on the other and hail it as a retro classic. It's time for the 2 tribes to go to war all over again...

Martial Arts
Coming a good 2 years after the original, Sure Shot 3D boasts infinitely superior presentation. Superior, in fact, to practically every other game! Not only has the logo been spruced up for its new "3D" moniker, but the menus have also received a makeover. They demonstrate the most graphical buttons and fonts yet - complete with a suitably martial background. In true arcade style, it's all big, bright, and easy to use too. Most noticeably, the transformation is accompanied by Sure Shot's first theme tune. It's not my best work, but it's simplistic style could be said to compliment the style of the game itself. Hey, the original game didn't even have one - so at least it's a step forward!

Hanging Gardens Of Bedlam
Thankfully, the impressive presentation extends to the game itself. Like Popscene, Sure Shot 3D has benefited from my newfound dedication to perfecting game features. The characters are nicely animated and textured, the scenery is reasonably stable, and the camera that follows the action is as smooth as it needs to be. Advances were made in lighting too, which helped give all of the above a bright, cartoony feel - much like the 2D original. Speaking of honouring the original, a lot of work also went into keeping things as fast and frantic as in the first game. Responsive controls and animation have done an admirable job of ensuring that. Now there's nobody to blame for your failures but yourself!

Deadly Games
For all the visual advances, you may be surprised to find that the gameplay has benefited most. I had feared it would play worse than the original - let alone better - so that's quite a relief! The superior animation gives your shots more of an impact, and it's generally easier (and more enjoyable) to follow the action. That said, there are a lot of differences to get used to. The new 3D world allows the enemies to move in and out of the line of sight - in addition to the usual ducking and diving - which makes things realistically difficult. Improved artificial intelligence makes them more formidable opponents too, as they flirt with the line to force an error on your part! They're also more handy with their own weapons, and won't hesitate to punish a sleeping player. As frustrating as it sounds, a worthy player will accept this new gameplay for the challenge that it is. The fact that it's so hard now makes the action much more intense - and makes each victory more satisfying than ever before...

Snap Shot
To help you get to grips with the new 3D environment, there are 10 completely different camera angles to experiment with. The standard 2D replica is of course the best, but adventurous players can work at an angle, see the action from above, or head behind the players to create a vertical version of the game. There's even a first person perspective if you really want to feel the pressure! And if none of the presets take your fancy, you can always stab at the cursor keys and move the camera manually. Whatever you capture on camera can, as ever, be preserved by taking a "Recon Photo" with the F12 key...

The Line Of Duty
If the camera angles don't alleviate the pressure, you can always fall back on the "Learning Line". This translucent line highlights your joint line of sight, and even lights up when an enemy is most vulnerable. It's supposed to be an "option", but you may find that you can't bear to be without it! Speaking of options, that's another strongpoint of this latest version. A surprisingly deep list of preferences help to mould the game to your liking. Not only can you get the most out of your computer with the display options, but you can also toggle things like health meters and hostage comments - and can even decide how the dead enemies are disposed of! It's all part of the superior presentation that has every base covered...

Welcome To The Jungle
The only option you don't have is avoiding the enemy! They're back, better than ever, and need to be dealt with. The line-up is essentially the same as in the original game, but they're so much improved that you may take a while to recognize them. Some characters are simply wearing spruced up versions of their old costumes, while others are sporting brand new fashions! The 3D modelling has helped to make them even more unique - thanks to different sizes, builds, and accessories. The improved animation has injected more character into them too. When they're not trotting around, they stop and scan the area trying to make sense of the situation! Underneath these aesthetics, the real character shines through their genetic make-up. As ever, some are fast, some are slow, some are strong, some are weak, etc.. However, some have characteristics that go beyond that. The "Bomber", for instance, is back on the battlefield - ready to explode upon death! The "Officer" now has a similar effect to make him more significant too. When he falls, the lowly soldiers are duty-bound to run to his aid - which can be used to great advantage by a tactical player...

Hostage Negotiations
You shouldn't be killing everybody in your line of sight though. The hostages are back to bring a shred of compassion to the proceedings! These weary prisoners stagger around the battlefield with everybody else, but you must carefully shoot around them until they reach the safety of your position. To help you make sense of the situation, the comment tags have returned to the screen. Boasting a nice new graphical style, these messages clearly indicate their status. Defaulting to "Help Me!", it changes to "Don't Shoot!" when you start slipping up - and eventually "Hostage Down!" if you go too far! The one you're looking for is "Thank You!", which occurs when you clear the area or they stumble their way to freedom...

Serial Killer
Whether friend or foe, the sequence of characters can vary as much as the enemies themselves. Some waves are fast, some are slow. Some are spread out, some come in clusters - and some are even more unpredictable! The contents of the wave are equally mixed up - with the various enemy types spread out amongst the patrol. To help you prepare for every eventuality, the "Training" facility is back - which allows you to mix and match any environment with any opponents, in any conditions. You can essentially construct your own stages piece-by-piece, which breathes new life into the game long after completion...

Men On A Mission
Of course, the best way to get acquainted with the game is to trawl through the huge 25-stage adventure! As in the original, it gradually introduces you to the world and the various enemies that inhabit it. Since the game is more difficult this time, it offers a more lasting challenge too - and should take even the sharpest shooter a while to conquer all 25 stages. Although it's a faithful recreation of the original journey, the feature does benefit from improved presentation. Everything, from the icons to the stage descriptions, has been completely revamped - even extending to fully animated 3D characters delivering the info!

Coast To Coast
The game recreates the same 5 areas that we saw in the original game - but they're so far advanced that you wouldn't know! Furthermore, each of the 25 stages spread amongst them are completely unique. The original game offered only the most minor of changes between each location, but now every single one has its own look - from the texturing to the landscape itself. The "Woods" offer green wooded areas, bristling with trees - and even the odd river! Then things get a little more barren out in the "Plains", where dry roads are lined with dying trees. Order is restored in the "Base", where the enemy have made the territory a little more civilized - complete with buildings and roads. From there, our heroes head out to the "Mountains" - where the territory is suitably craggy and uneven. It peaks with the game's first snowy areas, before sliding back down towards the sands of the "Coast". Once there, it's hoped that our heroes can finally escape...

Inside Out
Not only does the adventure offer all kinds of outdoor landscapes, but it also introduces the game's first ever indoor stages! The enemy's lair is littered with buildings, so it's only natural that our boys sneak inside one or two of them. One such stage is a realistic looking dorm, complete with beds lined up all over the room. A similar level sees our heroes pushing their luck in the offices of a more important building. A subtle (but cool) feature is that they each boast realistic windows that look out into the outside world! It only reveals itself when your playing around with the camera, but it's a striking feature that makes the indoor atmosphere very convincing. All in all, these stages tend to be the most interesting - so they're a welcome little treat in the middle of the game...

Dying In The Moonlight
One of the best atmospheric developments is that the game uses realistic daylight hours. Each stage you play pushes the clock forward, gradually cycling through day and night! It's an effective feature that gives you a good sense of time. Plus, it makes the stages even more unique (even repeating the same old stage feels different!). Best of all, the night setting lights up the action with a meandering spotlight effect. It's a cool little gimmick that stops the darkness from being too much of a hindrance. In fact, you find yourself looking forward to these stages instead of dreading them!

Mission Impossible
Wherever you are, at whatever time of day, the mission remains the same. The aim of the game is to eliminate the enemy with as much health remaining as possible. Only then can you progress to the next stage. A true Sure Shot veteran should be playing for medals though! The Gold, Silver, and Bronze honours are back - and they're awarded based on that health mentioned earlier. The game is so difficult that they do actually mean something this time! Fortunately, you can revisit any stage to improve your status once the game has been completed. The presentation has improved a notch here too. Not only are the "Area Clear!" exclamations a little tidier, but the new music also has a role to play. As is often the case in my games, the tune breaks down to a dull pitch upon failure. It's an effective little development that makes the situation more poignant...

Tug Of War
You won't be earning too many of the above honours without your "Lifelines" though! The rope bomb that adorns the battlefield is back, and better than ever, for this game. It's a vital smart bomb that helps you destroy multiple enemies instantly. You've only got one though, so it must be spent wisely. Fortunately, it's more effective in this 3D setting. After all, you can reach any enemies in a 360 degree radius (rather than just those at either side). As if that's not enough, there's a whole new lifeline that uses an electric cable rather than a bomb! This little firecracker destroys anything along the whole line - so it's a completely different ball game, which is fun to get used to. Whichever device you're playing with, you'll be pleased to see the improved 3D animation on the rope. It sways from side to side beautifully as the soldiers drag it towards them...

Stand Up For Yourself
In addition to various doomsday devices to get used to, this game also introduces whole new attack stances! Rather realistically, the tactic can now be executed standing up or lying down - instead of just kneeling all of the time. In fact, some stages demand it - offering crates and railings that are designed to be stood behind. Likewise, some things like the beds in the dorm are designed to be hid under! It's an entertaining little gimmick that adds some variety to what could have been a repetitive concept. Between these stances, the lifelines, and the atmospheric changes, no two games ever feel the same...

Secret Agent
Speaking of variety, things get even more mixed up once the cheats have been unlocked! As if the 25-stage selection wasn't enough, you can gain access to 3 extra ones upon completing the game. They include classic stages from The MDickie Show, Wrestling MPire, and Popscene - which IS as bizarre as it sounds! Similarly, you can unlock different bullet types to replay the game with. Amongst them are colourful paintball pellets, and even Star Wars style lasers...