Fire at Will in the Metal Slug-Inspired “CT Special Forces 3: Navy Ops”

by Louis Bedigian

“We took all our experience from the creation of CTSF1 and CTSF2 to make this game the best of the series.”

Dodging bullets as they fly past your head, you think you have what it takes to win.  Gun turrets are no match for you and your tank.  And when you’re not the one driving the tank, surely you’ll have the firepower to take it down.

Powerful you may be, but what will you do if the enemy catches you with your pants down?

Packed with all the shoot, run, dodge-and-jump action you desire, CT Special Forces 3: Navy Ops is the kind of title the Game Boy Advance needs.  Anyone who’s played the previous games knows how fun the series is.  For those of you who haven’t played – just look at the screenshots.  You can’t deny the similarities between CT Special Forces 3 and SNK’s beloved Metal Slug series.

It’s no accident either.  While chatting with Level Designer Mourad Majeri, I learned that the development team loves the Metal Slug series.  Their love and inspiration shines through in their latest CT Special Forces adventure.

In your own words, describe the gameplay of CT Special Forces 3.

Mourad Majeri: In CT Special Force 3: Navy Ops is a 2D horizontal scrolling platform/action game.  You control a member of a specialized Counter Terrorist Special Force team, trained to fight and infiltrate enemy bases and wipe out the threat of terrorism.  You can use your personalized skills and high tech equipment to combat and contact the enemy.  With more than 20 different levels to navigate the game tests your reflexes and your navigational skill.

Try dodging this!

This is the third game in the series.  What's new to the series, and what classic features are returning?

MM: In this installment the team takes the plunge into underwater adventure – literally – with the addition of a scuba diving skill!  Now you have the ability to explore a number of aquatic locations including, shipwrecks and a Russian Seaport.  But be prepared to face an entirely new set of weapons and enemy threats when you suit up. 

The previous games let you control enemy vehicles.  Will that feature be included in CT Special Forces 3?

MM: Yes.

Speaking of vehicles, how many are there and how do they differ in the way in which they're controlled?

MM: You can control a Helicopter, Truck, Jeep and Inflatable Boat.

Air vehicles are viewed from above and can drop bombs on ground targets, while all ground transportation is shown from the side and equipped with missile launchers to destroy air targets.

Which one’s stronger: the tank or the turret?

It depends on who’s in charge of them: you or the enemy.

Tell us about all the cool weapons that are being designed for the game.

MM: The game includes an arsenal of weapons including: Knives, Pistol, M4 & M16 Assault Riffles, C4Explosive charges, a Grenade Launcher, Grenades, Flame-thrower, Rocket Launcher and the new lethal Harpoon-Gun.

The CT Special Forces series has made excellent use of the GBA's 2D graphic power.  We assume that CT Special Forces 3 will look even better and we're dying to hear about it.

MM: Indeed, the graphics are excellent as well, but one of the major improvements is that now we can display more enemies in the same area and keep the same quality of graphics. You will also notice the animations of the main characters.

Parachuting into battle.

Will CT Special Forces 3 have any secret content?  Any hidden items to find or secret stages to unlock?

MM: No secret stages to unlock but some areas are hidden in the missions, where you can collect special rewards (extra life, special weapons).  The level design is more complicated in CTSF3, less linear than the previous episodes. Many ways can be found to reach the exit, thus the replay ability is increased.

The first two games had a lot in common with Metal Slug.  Has that series been a major influence for CT Special Forces 3?

MM: Yes :)  We are fans of the series and many others.

Now I have the strangest craving for Tubby’s Submarines.

Have any other games influenced the direction you're taking with CT Special Forces 3?

MM: One or two other games...but the main influence is Metal Slug game.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers about this hotly anticipated action game?

MM: We took all our experience from the creation of CTSF1 and CTSF2 to make this game the best of the series.  The entire team is extremely happy with the finished product – we had a long wish list of features we wanted to incorporate.  In the end we succeeded in including them all to give fans of the series the best CTSF game possible.

Thank you for your time.