Jackal
1986 · Run and Gun · Arcade
Overview
Jackal (1986) is Konami's overhead jeep game: drive into enemy territory, rescue prisoners and fire both a machine gun and grenades or rockets.
Deep Dive
Jackal puts one or two players in armed jeeps driving up through enemy territory. A forward-firing machine gun handles soldiers while a lobbed grenade — upgraded to rockets by rescuing prisoners — works in any direction and hits armour. Freed prisoners ride in the jeep until they are dropped off at a helicopter pad, and helicopters and fortified bases block the way. The arcade game was known as Top Gunner in some markets, and the NES version kept its co-operative mayhem.
Developer Story
Jackal was developed by Konami in 1986, released in arcades as Top Gunner and later on NES as Jackal. Players drove a jeep through enemy territory rescuing prisoners of war, with a passenger who could fire in all directions while the driver aimed the mounted cannon forward. The two-player co-operative mode was intense and chaotic.
Did You Know?
- Jackal's jeep had two functions: a forward cannon for the driver and a grenade launcher for the passenger — co-operation used both simultaneously.
- Rescued prisoners upgraded the jeep's firepower by riding in the back — a risk-reward mechanic for filling the vehicle.
- Helicopter bosses required targeting with both weapons simultaneously — some enemies were only vulnerable to the passenger's grenades.
- The NES version was considered an exceptionally faithful port of the arcade original.
Sources & further reading
- Jackal (video game) — Wikipedia
