Heavy Barrel (NES) Playthrough

Playthrough of Data East's 1990 run-and-gun shooter for the NES, Heavy Barrel.

Heavy Barrel is a 1990 run-and-gun shooter for the NES, developed and published by Data East. Originally an arcade title released in 1987, the game follows the trend set by SNK’s *Ikari Warriors*, delivering a fast-paced, action-packed experience with a top-down perspective. In the NES port, players take on the role of elite commandos tasked with infiltrating an underground nuclear missile base overrun by terrorists. Their mission: eliminate the enemy leader before disaster strikes.

The game starts players off with a basic firearm that has unlimited ammo and a limited supply of grenades. As they progress through the enemy-infested base, they can upgrade their arsenal by collecting various weapons and power-ups, many of which are locked away in crates that require keys to open. Inside these crates, players can find more powerful guns, improved grenades, and pieces of the game’s titular superweapon—the Heavy Barrel.

The Heavy Barrel is a devastating energy cannon that, once fully assembled from six separate pieces, allows players to obliterate enemies with a single shot. This temporary but immensely powerful weapon is especially useful against the game’s toughest bosses, giving players a much-needed edge in critical moments. However, the weapon's energy depletes after thirty seconds, forcing players to continue the battle with conventional weapons. In the two-player mode, the first player to collect the final piece gets to wield the Heavy Barrel, adding a competitive twist to the cooperative gameplay.

Compared to Ikari Warriors*, *Heavy Barrel improves on the formula with more varied environments, a well-designed power-up system, and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack. The NES version successfully translates the arcade experience despite the hardware limitations, adapting the dual-joystick controls to the gamepad and maintaining the game’s intensity. While the visuals are scaled down, the action remains engaging, making it one of the better top-down shooters on the system.

Although Heavy Barrel doesn't receive as much recognition today, it remains a standout title in the NES library. Its mix of strategic weapon management, intense firefights, and rewarding cooperative play make it a hidden gem worth revisiting.