For some unfathomable reason, Gain Ground has something of a cult following with Sega fans. Originally released in arcades in 1988, it gained notoriety largely down to the fact that it was quite unlike anything that had appeared before; while it looked like Atari's Gauntlet, the gameplay was actually totally different, requiring the player to marshal warriors from different periods of time through increasingly challenging single-screen environments.
Running on Sega's System 24 coin-op hardware and boasting a portrait screen orientation, Gain Ground felt a little underwhelming when compared to other arcade titles available at the time, and is perhaps best known for its subsequent conversion on the Genesis / Mega Drive – which was met with an equally lukewarm reception from the gaming press at the period. Simply put, Gain Ground wasn't up to the high standard of Sega's arcade output in the late '80s.
It's puzzling then that it has effectively jumped to the front of the queue in Sega's 'Ages' range of titles, all of which are ported by the emulation experts at M2. We can only assume it holds a special place in the heart of someone at either Sega or M2, because there are many other games in the company's vast and enviable library that are much more deserving of a resurrection than this. Still, in its favour, this is the original arcade version of the game and as such offers a fairly unique experience, even for those retro gaming veterans who remember playing the home port all those years ago.
Set in a future where mankind has finally settled all of its differences and everyone lives in peace, the game is focused on a computer simulation – the titular 'Gain Ground' – which has been created by the world's greatest minds to allow people to maintain their aggressive, war-like instincts in a safe and controlled environment. The trouble is that the computer suddenly goes haywire and starts killing those who enter the simulation, as well as taking several innocents hostage. You must enter Gain Ground with your team of warriors to rescue the hostages and shut down the computer.
It's a pretty silly plot, but you have to applaud Sega for at least trying to do something creative in order to justify the fact that Gain Ground is set across several time periods in human history; the idea is that the simulation could replicate these eras and give humanity the varied skills it needs to maintain that tactical edge. The end result is a game that not only spans hundreds of years in terms of environments but also offers up a cast of playable warriors that range from primitive cavemen to laser-spewing soldiers from the future. It's an odd mix, and it only gets odder the more you play.
While the game boasts some high-resolution visuals for a title from the late '80s, the actual graphics are pretty poor. The sprites are tiny and look very goofy indeed, with stilted animation that certainly isn't anything to get excited about. The single-screen levels are also disappointingly sparse and lacking in detail; even when playing in TATE mode (you can use it with the Flip Grip, naturally), Gain Ground doesn't dazzle. It's a very basic affair in terms of presentation, and that extends to the music, which is surprisingly weak for a Sega game from this period in time.
The real killer is the gameplay, which many fans will tell you has been badly misunderstood over the years. Gain Ground may look like a Commando-style shooter, but if you go in all guns blazing you're likely to see the 'Game Over' screen pretty swiftly. Sega has previously referred to it as a 'strategy action' title, which sounds overblown but is actually quite an accurate description of what's involved here; it's all about knowing how to attack each enemy and picking the right character for the job.
There are a lot of variables in Gain Ground, despite the rather lacklustre nature of the levels. Some enemies swam you on sight, while others will only attack or approach when you move within a certain distance. Some have weapons which are short-ranged but can be thrown over obstacles, while others rely solely on their speed to get close and hit your with their melee attacks. There are large 'boss'-like enemies to face, and as you progress through each time zone, the weaponry available to your adversaries becomes more advanced. Other enemies are situated on high platforms, which means you need the right kind of weapon to successfully dispatch them. This is where your team of warriors comes into play.
Each warrior has a basic attack and a secondary attack. The latter is key to getting past some of the game's harder stages, as these are often weapons that can be fired upwards onto high pieces of scenery to take out archers and the like. As a result, many of the levels you'll face can only be overcome by employing good, old-fashioned trial-and-error; you need to painstakingly figure out which route to take, which warrior to use and how best to deal with the more aggressive enemies present. You also have to take into consideration certain enemies that only appear once you reach a particular point of the level.
The objective is to either kill all of the enemies or reach the part of the level marked 'Exit' before the surprisingly strict time limit expires. To add another level of complexity, there are hostages to liberate on some of the levels, and if you can successfully get them to the exit, they will be added to your available roster of warriors on the next stage, giving you more options moving forward.
It all sounds like a pretty interesting setup, but in practice, it's anything but. For starters, Gain Ground is awkward to play due to the fact that even aiming your weapon at an oncoming foe is a challenge in itself. For some reason, Sega decided to make each character left or right-handed, and this impacts where your projectiles appear when you press fire. Because of this, it's possible to be lined up almost perfectly with an enemy and still miss them because your good arm is a pixel or so to the left or right. You could argue this gives the game even more depth, but when you're in the middle of a tense firefight, the last thing on your mind is "Did I pick a warrior who was left or right-handed?" It's just an unnecessary annoyance that adds little to the game, other than making it frustrating.
Each character has different speed attributes, but on the whole, none of them is particularly fast and this can lead to some annoying deaths, too – especially when you consider that some of the enemies you face are as rapid as Usain Bolt trying to catch a bus. The collision detection is also painfully unforgiving, with your character's hitbox being just that little bit too large, so projectiles that look like they've grazed you kill your warrior instantly.
Death comes quick and often in Gain Ground, largely because it doesn't actually mean the end of your game. When one of your warriors dies, they become a 'hostage' on the level and you simply call in another of your characters. If they can reach their fallen comrade without dying, they can escort them to the exit so they're ready to fight another day. However, should they die before rescuing them – or if the level is completed without picking them up first – then they're gone forever, which presents another of Gain Ground's more egregious issues.
As we've already touched upon, certain warriors are needed to defeat certain enemies; if you've got a foe who is happily raining down projectiles from higher ground and you don't have a character who can reply in kind, then you're basically screwed. This situation happens more often than you'd imagine, and leads to an incredible amount of frustration. Given how easy is it to lose a vital character due to the ropey controls, slow movement and the fact you have to remember which bloody hand their weapon is in, getting anywhere in Gain Ground is a real test of patience. Oh, and did we mention that some of the stages literally flood you with enemies from the get-go, giving you little chance to figure out what the best strategy is, let alone which character you're best off using?
To mitigate this, M2 has thoughtfully included a 'Rewind' feature which allows you to skip back five seconds when things end up going wrong. This makes things a lot easier to stomach, as does the 'Full Member Mode', which removes the need to rescue other warriors along the way and gives you all 20 characters from the outset. It's also worth noting that when playing the 'International' version of the game in this Switch port, you can use three Joy-Con and play as a trio, something that was possible in the original arcade edition (the Japanese version only supports two players). Even so, none of these elements change the fact that Gain Ground, for all of its clever ideas and deep strategy, is actually much fun to play.
Conclusion
While M2's emulation work cannot be faulted and the inclusion of a 'Rewind' feature reduces the frustration, there's no escaping the fact that Gain Ground isn't a particularly good video game. Granted, it was perhaps slightly misunderstood back in 1988 because it tried to present a more cerebral experience to an audience weaned on games like Gauntlet and Commando, but the end result is a slow-paced and tactical experience that isn't really suited to amusement arcades. Even when played in the comfort of your home, Gain Ground has too many issues to be anything more than a retro curiosity.
Comments 60
🤔 I thought this was a good game? Is the internet lying to me? Any rebuttals from those who enjoy it?
@Agent721 Nah it aren't so good, not sure why M2 even bother to waste time on this when they could of gave us a better game instead seeing how it takes ages to make these
out of the two I would go with Alex Kidd
I love this game. Haven't played it in many years. I think what I liked best was that it was different then any other game at the time. It was a miss match of other genres and required the player to take his time and really think about each level and warrior to use. I'm glad Sega choose this game, because we need more rare or obscure titles to come out again. I'm tired of seeing the same old popular titles again and again.
I completely disagree. I was looking forward to this for months and was not disappointed. My friend and I played through it and had a blast.
Wow, the review is harsh, although I appreciate the honesty.
I tried the Mega Drive port a little, and I saw this wasn't a particularly thrilling game, but I was hoping to enjoy the arcade version here. I still might, when (soon) it gets on sale. But it was hard to read.
Unique topdown gameplay paired with tactical single-screen action. Even back on Wii Virtual Console the Mega Drive version was great fun. I actually completed it and gave it an 8/10.
In comparison, other so-called Sega classics (Altered Beast, Alex Kidd, Golden Axe, all the pseudo 3D stuff, etc.) have all aged much worse.
@ClassSonicSatAm So that's why the series is called Sega Ages!
Never played the game until the Genesis collection back on the XBox 360 in 2008 and fell in love with it, so it isn't a nostalgia thing for me. I would suggest playing it co-op, that's where it really shines.
This game never grabbed me (although the music can get quite catchy in places)
Oh I played this game on a plug in play console when I was young, and I loved it! So Screw this review!
@RadoGoji @Darthroseman Maybe co-op is the key.
@Agent721 Haven't played the arcade version. I played what came with the Genesis Classics and I really enjoy the game. Especially in co-op. Not sure exactly how it compares to the arcade version. I do have a 3rd person I could play with, so maybe...
Also, never even knew about the right / left handed thing. Never noticed it when playing and I've used a large chunk of the characters several times. Unless, this is another one of the differences between the arcade version and the Genesis version.
Anyhow, this is definitely not a game for everyone. As mentioned, it's not a guns blazing game, but much more strategic.
1) Determining who's the best character to clear out the initial wave.
2) Can that character make it to the exit?
3) Who can quickly scoop up the "hostages" and exit without dying?
4) Do I have the right characters remaining to kill all the enemies or will I need to have my characters run fast for the exit?
In my opinion, I would give the Genesis game a 7/10. Definite worth trying out if you get the Genesis Classics collection. Can't really speak for the arcade version until I've played it.
@RadoGoji How does it compare to the Genesis version?
Wow, Gain Ground, or get gud, it seems...
It has a cult following maybe cause it has a light but perfectly blended strategic element for us action arcade fans! Choosing your warrior and their attributes or lack of. Loved it on Genesis and love it now!! 👍👍
@NotoriousWhiz I like this version more. As much as I like the Genesis version I'm not very good at it, and even with the difficulty turned down I've never passed the third epoch with the limited continues. This version has a lot more polish and enemy variety and is overall more interesting and fun to me.
I actually agree with the score here, it has not aged well.
@RadoGoji Good to hear. I may have splurge on this one then and get some 3 player going when my buddies are available.
Release Golden Axe: RotDA or Outrun arcade games. Who asked for a mediocre late 80 title?
If it's not a good game why have M2 bother to re-releasing it? Instead of this we could of have Shenmue by now. Man I hate it when Sega make bad choices by choosing bad game.
Why can't M2 port some of the Sega Ages 2500 games?
SAAAAYYYYYGAAAARRR.
Cosmic Creepers needs his Go-Cat. Be back soon dears.
@ClassSonicSatAm @NotoriousWhiz
Thanks guys. I like strategy games so I might try it out. Perhaps Alex Kidd first though,
@GrailUK man i used to put that headset on and get deep into this game and remembered thinking wow this is awesome music for a cartridge! 😊
The game is a bit of an acquired taste. I recently played the Genesis version again. I was into it at first, but it didn't have staying power for me. The game is an arcade game first, and that's a tricky thing to balance with the strategic game play. It can be a good game for certain people. I'm glad that games like this see release, though. Hopefully, it is a sign of things to come.
Add 3 stars to the score. This is a good game and very fun.
I guess M2 wanted a System 24 game (to showcase the high definition - for the time), but I would have preferred the excellent Crack Down instead...
Rating this and Atari Flashback so low is criminal.
Given the overwhelmingly negative review, I'm surprised this still got a 5.
Tbh the SEGA AGES collection on switch is kinda bumming me out. It feels like most of the titles are either re dos of Sega 3D classics or or just games that aren't all that exciting. The only real "wow" release was Thunder Force IV and maybe Virtua Racing and there just doesn't seem to be much else to get excited about on top of the drip feed of titles...
The first time I played this was on the Wii’s VC, as an adult, so I don’t have deep nostalgia for Gain Ground. But, at that time I thought it was great.
I think it might appeal to people who like their games to be interesting and quirky. If you prefer the most refined but formulaic mechanics in your games then maybe it’s not for you.
Finished this earlier this year and found it quite fun. A diverse range of characters, each with their own quirks to learn in order to use effectively. A great strategy game.
Sounds like a challenge!
Totally disagree with this overly negative review. I discovered this game a couple of years ago and it is loads of fun. Looking forward to getting the arcade version!
To each their own but I enjoy this one from time to time
I reluctantly bought it wanting to support the Sega Ages project so we get more games. But I have a feeling this series will fall short of what it could have been, hitting the well-trod super popular titles or the lesser of the obscure Sega games like this one instead of games like Revenge of Death Adder or Air Bike Cop
@Agent721 the issue is it doesn’t translate well to modern audiences. Gain Ground can be fun but the learning curve is steep and frustrating. I enjoy it, but it isn’t a go to game.
Atari classic collection is hurt by the fact that the best of Atari 2600 is missing (no Activision or other third parties) and a lot of Atari titles are equally confusing (abstract gameplay was great until we could actually produce non-abstract versions).
Pretty harsh, this game is awesome with a mate in co op.
Why the vitriol?
I really enjoyed the Sega mega drive mini HD version with my brother in law at christmas, until the machine itself chugged to a grinding halt as it didn't have the power to emulate it correctly. So I have been looking forward to the Sega ages version ever since!
Great game, terrible review.
Reviews on this site are usually horribly positively biased, guess this is a change. Maybe someone who is a fan of the genre or at least not as biased against it should have done this review? This is just sour grapes. The editor should be embarrassed by this review.
I wish Square Enix would do something like this with their Taito library. I'd love to be able to play Cadash on the Switch.
@Axlroselm Out Run was released some time ago inside Switch's Sega Ages, actually.
Ah man, love this site so much, hate this review so bad, should've let me write it instead.
I don't know to what 80s arcade standards, you speak of, that this game hasn't met. I paid 20€ for the switch Capcom bundle, which had a good review on this site and many others, and it's filled with rubbish, games made to trick you into spending coins, repetitive, all the same gameplay...., anyone would be more well advised to download gain ground then for following the review of that mess of a bundle.
Gain Ground is pure arcade perfection, and the reason it has a cult following is the uniqueness of it's design. I still to this day play through the game regularly with my brother, which is the only other person I know that knows about it and likes it, it was our favorite game on the mighty mega drive as kids and is a bonding thing for us to play through it.
Gain Ground, is a beat em up with a twist. It offers refreshing perspective as it is a top down view, that you clear each stage vertically. By choosing the hard difficulty on the options menu, makes the game easier too, as you start with every single character in the game.
The sides of the screen have this rotating slots on which you can select a character, there's 20 different ones to choose from.
You either beat the level by killing all enemies or by making all the characters go through the exit, which is a yellow line at the end of each stage, also, on all the stages you can see them fully from the start since you play with the top perspective and they're designed to be cleared from the bottom up, vertically.
The characters in the game, and the enemies too, range from natives with spears and bows, to boomerangs, to futuristic ones with machine guns, grenades, rockets and missiles, you also have these knights that have magic powers such as creating hurricanes in the stage that spin all throughout the stage and kill enemies as they hit them. That said, the same applies to the stages and enemies, it will start in nature settings and evolve into futuristic ones. The choice of character will matter, as you'll need the guy that throws arrows or a guy that fires missiles to clear enemies that have higher ground, while machine guns and grenades and boomerangs will only defeat enemies on the same ground level as you.
This makes for a unique gameplay retro experience, and the games music, is absolutely amazing, comparable to Castlevania 4 on most memorable and sick tunes in videogames in that era.
Do your self a favor, if you've read all the way here, and go download Gain Ground, it really is special and one of a kind, the very best Genesis/Mega Drive game in my opinion.
@Agent721 I've written kind of a review for this, you can find it here in the comments search for my username, this was my favorite game as a kid, and a game I still comeback to very often to play it through, it really is a fantastic game, that this review does no justice.
Over priced port flip sent to clog up the eshop. Finally a fair score for these little nostalgic cash grabs.
I imagine there's a lot of talent and resources being wasted on this junk when they could be making new games.
I love the Genesis version, but have never played the arcade version. I hope Sega Ages keeps the arcade ports coming, as many of us have Genesis and Master System games in one form or another.
Anyone know if this game has an online leaderboard?
@SKTTR Maybe the other two have, but the arcade versions of "Golden Axe" and pseudo-3D classic "Space Harrier" are still great fun to play.
It sounds like this is one of those games (like the first two Zelda games) that becomes a lot more playable with a good FAQ at your side. Still, it's not really my kind of game, and the issues with the strict time limits and the faulty collision detection would probably cause me great frustration. I'll pass.
For some reason, I always end up disagreeing with Damien's articles, writing style, or sometimes he just gets the facts wrong. Which is weird, because he's at the top of this site, and I like every other writer here.
I didn't grow up with this game, so nostalgia is not a factor for me. I see the same is true for some commentors above too. But I had a blast playing this game on the Genesis collection. 7 or 8/10 for sure. The game is just fun, and the thinking and planning is what keeps you addicted for more.
I feel like this a poor review. It is written with personal displeasures, rather than a general review with a general audience in mind. It's not a good review to go by if you are looking for something to make a purchase decision. It's more of a fun personal opinion, that doesn't really fit with the general audience style of the rest of the site.
Wow, this review surprises me.
I've never played the arcade version, but I definitely agree with the bulk of the commentators that the Genesis version at least is fantastic. I first played it a couple years ago and absolutely love it.
It's probably the 2nd best game on the system aside from Ristar imho.
Absolutely fantastic game that was way ahead of it's time and still holds up extremely well.
An utter waste of development time bringing this out in light of the incredible catalogue they have to draw upon.
@Tim_Vreeland I too tried this out on the Genesis / MegaDrive collection.
I really don't think a general audience will enjoy Gain Ground. It's not visually appealing, it's hard to comprehend, your first encounter with it is to walk 3 steps and die. Definitely one for the hardcore retro enthusiasts I'd say.
Don't agree with the review. This is not a shooter, but a strategy game. You have to save other characters and use their unique abilities to clear the level or get everyone to safety. The genesis game was a blast to play.
Review seems to complain about the graphics a lot, but considering this is a port of a old arcade game it's not like they were going to overhaul the graphics.
Can't wait to stream this! We finally have the international 3-player version playable on a handheld/home console. Genesis version was great, PS2 release was bad but the arcade was great. Maybe a niche title but the tactical approach needed to overcome each stage is pretty enjoyable with 2 other people! Great choice Sega. I'm really feeling their Sega Ages brand
Not the best but not terrible.
Gain Ground is fantastic. So many hours of fun was spent playing this game back when I was a kid. Before I even had my own Mega Drive I played GG at a friend's house.
Superbly hard, but it really roped you in and it was extremely addictive.
I don't agree with this review that much, this is one of those older games that made you train your skills to become a better player and it's more like a 7/10 than 5/10. Especially since this is the superior arcade game and not the old 16bit home console port. And you have the magical three player option here!
Complaining about the graphics doesn't make sense, you need to realize this is from 1988.
Got this on sale for Switch just last night. Been playing it and its fun and challenging. I like it that you need to plan and think about what character is best to use for each situation. You cannot just rely on pure twitch reaction, you will need to know the speed and mechanics of each character. I can see why its an acquired taste. I look forward to playing it more. I am happy with my purchase.
Made an account just to counter this. Pretty futile, but wtf.
Gain Ground is great. It's a slow, absorbing, experimental type of vert shooter. The multiplayer element exposes it as Sega's reponse to Gauntlet. It's deep and immensely finely tuned. To see it being misunderstood is frustrating; it is the job of the games critic to understand the game. And yet games are dismissed.
There's no finer role for the Sega Ages line than to recreate arcade experiences like this. The additional options generate many ways to play - lower the difficulty (it's rock hard), play with all characters, rewind options - to allow a wide audience to sample this classic.
Gain Ground is a unique experience. It encourages both strategy and tactics, and does not diminish in satisfaction as excellence is sought through play. It should be used as a gateway test for games critics; a lack of appreciation for this masterpiece should disqualify the inadequate reviewer. It's not hard to see the value in this game. It is unique and brilliant.
@Souflee "Beat 'em up"? It's never been a beat 'em up. It's an isometric shooter.
@Falksi cool man, its an isometric shooter, pretty sure that label didn’t even exist when they publish this game, thats just terms coined, they don’t mean anything, its like pointless music critica coming with categories to place bands, using words no one cares… isometric shooter fine, still this review is atrocious, the testament of the quality of this game, is right here in everyone in the comments saying how much they loved it, that’s what counts
@Souflee Tbh I think the reviews actually quite fair. Without any nostalgic attachment this game just doesn't hold up. I can see why people loved it at the time, but going to it fresh now it's prety average.
"It's a very basic affair in terms of presentation, and that extends to the music, which is surprisingly weak for a Sega game from this period in time." This is a clickbait article, isn't it? No one can be this daft, surely...taking subjectivity out (note: I still think the arrangements are OBJECTIVELY incredible, and more people have that opinion than not), you say "for this period of time." 1988. That's when this game released. 1988, when videogame music was LUCKY to be longer than a minute before it looped. As a random example, Mario's iconic level 1 theme is only 40 seconds before it loops (incidentally, Mario 2's 1-1 theme is also only 40 seconds). The music in Gain Ground rarely loops any sooner than 2 and a half minutes. In fact, most people don't even hear it loop because they've either already beaten a level or been wiped out. You can think Gain Ground is slow, too hard, not fun enough, or any number of things that most people would state of 99% of 80's arcade releases. But to imply this music is below the standards of its contemporaries is at best uninformed and ignorant, and at worst purposefully contrarian for the sake of generating outrage/clicks. If it's the former, educate yourself. If it's the latter, congrats; it worked.
@ImHereToComplain just need to play the gane once, to see the music, presentation, and innovating gameplay, this stands as my favourite genesis game, this review doesn’t due it justice.
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