Gain Ground
System: Genesis
Release Date: February 1991
Developer: Sega CS
Publisher: Renovation Products
Genre: Strategy
Outperform the computer in a simulated war environment in Gain Ground! Humanity has nearly achieved perfection, but it has left them weak. Fearful that a lack of survival instinct has left them vulnerable, the United Earth Government has created a simulation to train the best. But the system is no longer working properly and the creators are now captives! Waves of rescue parties have failed and it’s up to your team to save everyone, or the plug will have to be pulled.
I classify this as a strategy game, because even with crack reflexes, you’ll screw up if you don’t have the right character for the job. While you start with three characters of varying speeds and weapon types, you can collect many more as you travel the levels. Each stage is one screen that doesn’t vary. There are also a number of enemies to contend with. Levels can be conquered in two different ways. The first is to get every character to the exit. This is the harder way to do things and nets you less points. But if you want to collect any new characters or rescue ones that have been hit, you need to get them to the exit. These characters are represented by small icons and can be saved one at a time.
The easier way to beat a level is to just kill all the enemies present. Of course, this is easier said than done in many cases, but as long as you have the proper characters, you can take them down. Characters differ in a few ways. Firstly, speed is majorly important and some characters are speedy, while others are molasses slow. Another difference is in their weapons. Each character has a main weapon, like throwing spears, bow and arrows, guns, etc. But they also have a secondary attack that really makes or breaks their usefulness. My favorite characters were Webad and Marty. Their secondary attacks allowed me to attack enemies on the high ground and behind barricades. This proved to be invaluable.
Other characters worth their weight in enemy killing were Mud Harry, who has a bazooka that can only fire straight up, but moves the entire length of the screen. Killing baddies with this is super nice. I also liked Syber, who would shoot out six missiles that fanned out as they traveled. I leaned on this heavily in the final set of levels. I didn’t get much use out of the knights, but they would have had their uses, too.
There are five sets of ten levels you need to conquer. After clearing a path to the exit, I would then save any characters on the level. This would include any of my team that got hit. Then I’d clear the last enemy, because killing them all nets you a bonus that increases after each level. Just walking everyone to the exit takes longer and doesn’t get you a bonus at all. The 10th stage of each round culminates in a boss battle. While they could be a challenge on the first try, most were simple. In fact, I felt most of the levels were easy, but they were definitely interesting. I can see this as a game I may go back to here and there.
Graphics: 2.5
Sprites and level designs are nothing to write home about, but aren’t ugly.
Sound: 3.0
Music and sounds were pretty decent. One of the songs was very familiar and I think sounded like Strider.
Gameplay: 3.0
There’s a lot of strategy at play, but I would have liked to have been able to change characters on the fly without exiting or dying.
Difficulty: 3.0
You get as many lives as characters you’ve rescued. So get as many as you can and don’t die while on a rescue mission!
Fun Factor: 3.5
I found myself quite engaged with this title as I played it and have an itch to give it another go through.
Overall Rating: 3.0
Gain Ground earns a B. This is a really good game and I think anyone that hasn’t played it definitely should.