Nintendo P.O.W. - Prisoners of War
Updated: May 14, 2023
P.O.W. - Prisoners of War is a classic arcade game developed by SNK and released by SNK and Taito in 1988. It was later ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1989. The game is set during World War II and puts players in the role of a captured soldier attempting to escape from an enemy prison camp.
In P.O.W., the player controls a lone soldier who must fight his way through a series of side-scrolling levels filled with enemy soldiers, armed guards, and various obstacles. The primary goal is to reach the end of each level while defeating or evading enemies along the way.
The gameplay mechanics of P.O.W. are relatively straightforward. The player character can punch, kick, or jump to attack enemies. There are also opportunities to pick up weapons, such as knives or guns, from defeated enemies, which can be used for more powerful attacks. Additionally, the player can perform special moves like somersaults and backflips to dodge incoming enemy attacks.
Throughout the game, the player encounters a variety of enemy types, including foot soldiers, snipers, and bosses who require more strategic approaches to defeat. The levels are filled with hazards like landmines and barbed wire, adding an extra layer of challenge to the gameplay.
P.O.W. for the NES maintained the essence of the arcade version, attempting to recreate the intense action and escape theme on the home console. It featured updated graphics and audio to suit the capabilities of the NES hardware while preserving the core gameplay mechanics.
Overall, P.O.W. - Prisoners of War offered an exciting and challenging experience for players as they fought their way to freedom through enemy-infested prison camps, making it a notable entry in the action genre during the NES era.