Rambo III

Rambo III is a run-and-gun action game developed and published by Sega for the Mega Drive in 1989, based on the 1988 film starring Sylvester Stallone. The plot follows former Green Beret John Rambo, who is called back into duty to rescue his former commander, Colonel Sam Trautman, captured during a covert operation in Soviet-controlled Afghanistan. The game is notable as one of the first movie-based titles released for the 16-bit console. It supports up to two players simultaneously in co-op mode, with the second player controlling Colonel Trautman. The gameplay features a top-down perspective reminiscent of Commando or Ikari Warriors.

Megadrive

Released in Japan on October 21, 1989, and in North America in November 1989. The game follows Rambo through six missions, each with multiple objectives such as finding the level exit, freeing prisoners, or destroying enemy ammunition supplies. Rambo is equipped with an infinite-ammo machine gun, a knife for close-range kills, timed bombs, and his signature longbow with explosive arrows—though bow ammunition and bombs are limited. After certain missions, the perspective switches to a behind-the-back view for boss fights against Soviet tanks or helicopters. Rambo can take cover behind obstacles to avoid enemy fire. The game is brutally unforgiving: Rambo dies from a single hit, forcing level restarts with no health bar. The soundtrack features an arrangement of Jerry Goldsmith's film score.