Hostages

About

Terrorists have taken an embassy hostage and you have to bring in a 3 men strike team to rescue the civilians inside.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

27%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

graphics2 negative mentions

The game is a nostalgic trip for those who played it in the 1980s, providing a sense of joy and fond memories.
It is recognized as a pioneering title in the tactical shooter genre, blending action, strategy, and stealth in a compelling way.
The game builds tension effectively with its minimalistic graphics and atmospheric sound design, creating memorable moments.

The Steam port suffers from significant input lag and lacks controller support, making gameplay frustrating.
Graphics and sound quality are abysmal compared to the original Amiga version, leading to disappointment among players.
The game feels outdated and is only likely to appeal to those with nostalgic memories, while new players may find it dull and unengaging.

story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The story of "Hostage: Rescue Mission" is centered around tactical counter-terrorism operations, effectively building tension within its mission-based structure. While it stands out for its realistic portrayal of hostage situations for its time, players note limited replay value due to the small number of missions available. Overall, it is appreciated for its accomplishments given the constraints of the NES hardware.
- “For its time, Hostage: Rescue Mission builds tension remarkably well.”
- “What’s impressive about Hostage: Rescue Mission is how much it accomplished with limited hardware.”
- “The mission-based structure and realistic (for its time) depiction of counter-terrorism operations made it stand out in a sea of straightforward shooters.”
- “I actively play Rescue: The Embassy Mission a lot on the NES, so believe me when I tell you this is horrible.”
- “Additionally, there’s not much replay value beyond mastering the handful of missions.”
- “Do you remember the NES version of this game, which was titled Rescue: The Embassy Mission?”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The gameplay is criticized for being dull and unengaging, particularly in stealth mechanics, while some players appreciate its challenging aspects despite clunky controls and outdated mechanics. Overall, it seems to lack the excitement needed to maintain player interest.
- “The gameplay is incredibly smooth and intuitive, making it easy for both new and experienced players to jump right in.”
- “I love how the mechanics are well-balanced, allowing for a variety of strategies and playstyles to emerge during matches.”
- “The level design is fantastic, providing a perfect blend of challenge and exploration that keeps me engaged for hours.”
- “Silly and boring stealth game; the gameplay gets dull within 5 minutes.”
- “This level of challenge gives it a timeless quality, even if the controls and mechanics feel clunky compared to modern games.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The graphics in this game have received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing the Steam port for its inferior visuals compared to the Amiga version, describing them as "abysmal." However, others appreciate the minimalistic style, noting that it effectively conveys character animations despite its simplicity.
- “Graphics and sounds are abysmal compared to the Amiga version.”
- “The minimalistic graphics get the job done, with simple but effective character animations.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The atmosphere is characterized by basic yet effective sound design, featuring sparse effects that create a tense and immersive experience.
- “The sound design is basic but atmospheric, with sparse effects that keep you on edge.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
- “Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere lacks any real tension or excitement, leaving me feeling disconnected.”
- “The environments are visually appealing, but the overall atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any emotional response.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in this Steam port is disappointing, as it lacks the quality of the original Amiga version and instead features the inferior music from the DOS version.
- “Sadly, this Steam port is not the superb Amiga version with nice music and graphics, but rather an abysmal DOS version.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers note that the game offers limited replayability, primarily due to a lack of diverse content beyond the few missions available, which may only appeal to those interested in mastering them.
- “Additionally, there’s not much replay value beyond mastering the handful of missions.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of diverse outcomes makes replaying the game feel tedious and uninteresting.”