Play Rocketeer, The Online

I remember picking up The Rocketeer for the NES back in 1991. It was published by Bandai, one of those many licensed games that tried to capture the spirit of its movie. On a system filled with platformers and action titles, it was another attempt to bring a cinematic adventure home.

You control Cliff Secord, the pilot who becomes the Rocketeer. Your main goal is to stop the Nazis from getting their hands on the jet pack technology. The gameplay is split between side scrolling platforming stages and flying shooter sections. On foot, you punch and jump your way through enemies and environmental hazards. When you take to the air, the perspective shifts, and you fly into the screen, shooting down enemy planes and dodging their fire. The game moves at a decent clip, but it can be quite difficult, demanding precise jumps and quick shooting. Navigating through the different types of levels keeps you on your toes. It feels like a challenging, straightforward action game from that era.