The Expendables 8-Bit Video Game Apes Contra Style

Going into The Expendables 8-bit Video Game on Facebook, I had no idea what the movie it’s based on was about. Now that I’ve played through all three missions as a pixelated version of Sylvester Stallone, I still have no idea what the movie’s about. But it’s all good, because The Expandables 8-Bit Video Game scratches the Contra itch.

The game gives you a choice of three characters: Barney Ross (Stallone) is most difficult, due to his low speed and jump height. Lee Christmas (Jason Statham) is a little bit easier, and Yin Yang (Jet Li) is the easiest, with his throwing stars and ninja kicks. There are three missions, all with the same chiptune soundtrack, culminating in a boss fight against a dictator who’s naturally twice your character’s size. Beating the game unlocks a bonus mode, in which you must beat the game as all three characters, back-to-back, to unlock an alternate ending. Having played this, I’m not sure I need to see the film, but then again I do miss the action films of the late 80s and early 90s.

One downside: You have to “Like” The Expendables movie on Facebook to access the game, but you can make your affection expendable. When you’re done playing, you can “Unlike” the film by scrolling down its “Info” page to the button on the bottom. Or you can just remove the application by clicking on “Account” in Facebook and heading to “Application Settings.” [Facebook via Kotaku]