Commodore 64 Longplay - Express Raider
Express Raider, developed by Damned House and Published by US Gold in 1987. A conversion of an Arcade original game by Data East.
“Bandits have seized the Gold City Express. Rescue the passengers, save the train, and recapture the loot! Fight your way from car to car to regain control of the engine. It’s a test of strength and stamina as well as your sharp-shooting skills. Hi-yo Raider, a-way!”
I originally had this game as part of the USGold Gold Collection III disk set. I didn't play much as it seemed a bit naff at the time and old looking for 1987. Best games in the pack were Super Cycle and Ace of Aces. I wanted to like Super Huey II but just could not figure out that game. I’m not entirely clear on what role you play in the game as the manual suggests your the good guy saving the train but the game gives the impression I am robbing it. Not that it really matters as you just beat up and shoot everyone and collect what money you can while claiming the trains at the end.
The capture wasn't really meant as a Longplay. At the start im not really paying much attention to what is going on and losing all my lives to the time limit. It took awhile for me to even notice that you shouldn't shoot the bankers/sheriffs/good guys? that are throwing money bags out of the cart as that has a negative effect on your kill target ultimately costing you time. Anyway I slogged onto the end and while I should have started over to play it over properly I decided to publish as is as I can't say I liked the game enough to care.
There are 3 modes to choose the start. Practice which gives you 32 lives and I think it stops/loops after the second cart. Normal which gives 5 lives but you can continue from the last cart reached if you lose all lives. And Expert shown here which gives 5 lives but you have to start at the beginning of the level if using a continue. I play on difficulty 4 which really squeezes you for time.
After completing 8 levels you get a brief ending which doesn't make much sense and leaves a sour taste. I tried infinite lives to see if it changes the end in any way but ...no.