Ikari Warriors/Gameplay

Controls

 * Rotary Joystick: The rotary joystick serves two simultaneous purposes. The joystick can be pushed in any one of eight direction to direct the players to move in that direction.  As either player advances to the top of the screen, the screen will automatically scroll down.  If the player retreats, the screen will scroll up, but only to a limited extent.  The second purpose of the joystick is to control the orientation of the players.  The joystick can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise.  As the joystick is rotated, so too will the players rotate in the same direction.  In this manner, a player can move in any direction while continuing to face one particular direction.
 * Gun: Press the fire button to shoot your primary weapon, your gun. If you are in a tank, press the fire button to fire the cannon.  (In the NES version, if you are in a helicopter, press the fire button to fire the three-way guns.)
 * Grenades: Press the grenade button to lob one of your grenades ahead of you in whichever direction you face. If you wish to pilot a vehicle, stand on top of it and press the grenade button to enter.  When you are piloting a vehicle, press the grenade button to escape the vehicle and return to running on the ground.  This is especially important to do when the explosion of the vehicle is imminent.
 * 1-2 Players: Press either button to begin a one or two player-simultaneous game.

Ralf and Clark
Note: The players are referred to as Vince and Paul in the original American version. Ralf and Clark are mercanaries for the Ikari Warriors agency. In this, one of their earliest missions together, they are attempting to rescue a kidnapped Colonel who is being held in a South American village. On the way to the village, their plane was shot down by the enemy, forcing a crash landing. Ralf and Clark sustain minor injuries and are able to walk away from the crash. However, they don't have to walk far before they realize that they are right on the outskirts of enemy territory. Equipped with guns, and a supply of grenades, they must push through the entire enemy army in an attempt to rescue the colonel. With respect to ammunition, Ikari Warriors is a realistic game. Ralf and Clark do not possess an infinite supply of bullets or grenades. They must collect resupplies of ammunition from special enemies and base installments. Ralf and Clark continue to appear in the subsequent Ikari Warrior games, as well as entering the fighting tournament known as The King of Fighters.

Vehicles
Ralk and Clark have both received extensive training in the piloting of various military vehicles, including tanks and helicopters. It just so happens that as they advance through enemy territory, they will find abandoned tanks that they can utilize against the army. When driving a tank, the tank and any player inside will be immune to the effects of bullets. Additionally, driving over enemies in the tank will kill them. Tanks are only susceptible to two things: large weapons like grenades or cannons, or running out of fuel. If a tank gets hit with a grenade or cannon, it will fracture and begin to smoke. At that time, Ralf or Clark must exit the tank immediately (by pressing the grenade button) and get far away or they will be killed by the tank explosion. Ralf and Clark must also resupply the tank with fuel before the tank runs out. Fuel can be found by destroying large enemy installations or tanks. White driving the tank, the controls operate in the same manner, with the joystick controlling where the tank moves, and rotating the orientation of the tank cannon. In the original (arcade) version, the only unmanned helicopter (as seen to the right) is booby trapped, and should not be approached. However, in the NES version of the game, the player may freely access helicopters as well, and fly over territory with them. They fire a three-way spread gun, and are susceptible to the same dangers as tanks, although they can't crush enemies.