Vice: Project Doom

VICE: Project Doom from American Sammy is sort of "Ghostbusters II" meets "Aliens." Earthbound extraterrestrials are secretly synthesizing a potent neon green gel for nourishment. After discovering its intoxicating effect, humans go ga-ga over the goo even though long-term abuse proves fatal. The aliens have decided to cash in big-time, and now the world has a massive "Green Gel" problem.

Vice, Vice Baby

Enter Officer Hart, top vice cop assigned to squish the gel. You've got some allies, but since this is a single-player action/adventure game, you (as Hart) do all the dirty work. Then, as if things weren't all, you discover you're an alien... and that isn't the worst of it.

Ninja Gaiden III?

No, but this game sure comes close. From the inter-stage cinema sequences to a lightning-filled train ride, VICE looks and feels like the NES ninja king itself. In fact, Ninja Gaiden isn't the only game that VICE recalls. There's a Spy Huntertype vertically-scrolling, overhead view, automobile shoot-em-up and a first person. gunfight a'la Operation Wolf and Golgo 13.

ProTip: You can't do this in Ninja Gaiden. Hold down Lower Left or Lower Right to run and duck under enemy fire.

This is all good, but on its own VICE matches those action/adventure games. The hard-boiled storyline has more twists than Chubby Checker and leads to a truly surprising conclusion. The sounds are passable, and the music's almost catchy.

The slick side-view, multi-scrolling graphics including the sharp between-stage story sequences are as good as they come, even though you invade the usual video hideouts including rooftop construction sights, a research lab, a jungle, and sewers. But you're here for action not sightseeing anyway. The fighting's steady, and tossing in the bosses and the obstacles makes this game downright painful. You run, jump, slash, and shoot your way through 11 dangerous stages and 15 sub-stages.

• To send Rat Man back into the Stage Two sewers, move in close and attack with the whip or the gun. Then dodge the steel girders he throws and toss a grenade at him.

• Beat the Stage 5 Vardkin robot by whipping its missiles and striking him before he flies away.

• To avoid Hawke's gunshots on Stage 10, duck down and rush him as you shoot Duck before he fires or hell duck, too. Don't get too close or he'll slash you.

Fight the Power

Your main weapon is a wicked Electro-whip, and you also pack a Magnum Pistol and some Handgrenades. And you'd better learn when to use them. The alien gang features innumerable mutant animals, robots, and misguided martial artists, but every time you waste a bad guy you get supplies such as bullets, grenades, or coins for extra lives.

This oldie works. Load up with stuff by beating a "thing," grabbing its valuables, backing up, and beating it again.

VICE Is Nice

Actually VICE is more than nice -- it's superb! The intriguing story sequences keep you interested, and the excellent action keeps you on your toes. If it seems easy a first, hang in there -- there are enough challenges to make VICE a good habit.

• Machine: Nintendo

Shoot To Trill

Vice officer Quinn Hart is on an assignment unlike anything he's ever seen! Weird bodies are turning up dead, top secret weaponry is missing, and organized crime is at an all time high. But Hart's up against something more than the Mob, street gangs, or even hostile terrorists.

A new force has risen and Hart finds himself plunged into a conspiracy of terror!

Shoot To Thrill!

Vice officer Quinn Hart is on an assignment unlike anything he's ever seen! Weird bodies are turning up dead, top secret weaponry is missing, and organized crime is at an all time high. But Hart's up against something more than the Mob, street gangs, or even hostile terrorists.

A new force has risen and Hart finds himself plunged into a conspiracy of terror!

This is a Nintendo game that has some features of the Ninja Gaiden and Spy Hunter games.

The story: the aliens landed on our planet a few centuries ago. To survive in the new for them environment of the Earth, they made some neon gel which provided nourishment. To blend into human society, they made clones. Some centuries later a BEDA Corporation was founded. It manufactured and then distributed electronic and technological equipment. But the real aim of the company was maintenance of the alien race. That gel had different effects on humans, but also was proved to be lethal for human users. BEDA produced it for profit. Quinn Hart, a vice officer together with his partner Detective Reese, had to set off on a mission to find out the truth about the mysterious gel. Then, Reese disappeared and his body was never found. Hart must go alone to discover the source of the gel and the force behind it.