Che Guevara
One of the two playable revolutionary fighters; the Japanese version identifies the principal hero as Che Guevara.
Documented for this version
Joystick | Move the character The arcade joystick provides eight-direction movement. |
|---|---|
A | Fire the equipped weapon The attack button fires in the character’s current direction. |
B | Throw a grenade Grenades are limited and should be conserved for dangerous targets. |
Button labels refer to the standard arcade control layout.
Two-player cabinets use one joystick and two action buttons per player.
How it plays
The game uses a top-down, vertically scrolling perspective. Players advance through linear stages, defeat infantry and armored enemies, destroy installations, and rescue prisoners or civilians where required.
A joystick controls movement, while separate buttons fire the current weapon and throw grenades. Power-ups change or improve weapons, and vehicles provide stronger firepower or protection. The campaign is designed for solo play or cooperative two-player play, with limited lives and continues controlling progression.
Plan your run
Keep moving while firing rather than stopping in open ground. Use the edges of the screen and scenery for partial cover, but avoid corners where enemy shots can trap the character.
Save grenades for clustered enemies, armored targets, and fortified positions. Collect weapon upgrades carefully, and use tanks or other vehicles when available to reduce exposure during difficult sections.
In two-player mode, spread out enough to cover both sides without moving so far apart that one player is left without support.
Meet the cast
One of the two playable revolutionary fighters; the Japanese version identifies the principal hero as Che Guevara.
The second playable fighter in the two-player game, identified in the Japanese version as Fidel Castro.
Before you begin
Grenades are effective against groups and strong emplacements.
Watch for enemy fire from the top and sides of the scrolling screen.
Cooperative play makes crowd control and rescues easier.
Editorial context
A fast, difficult overhead shooter remembered for its cooperative play, destructible environments, and satisfying weapon variety.
Guerrilla War is a 1987 arcade run-and-gun game developed and published by SNK. It presents a fictionalized revolutionary conflict inspired by Cuba, with players guiding armed fighters through a top-down battlefield. The game supports one or two players and combines constant shooting with grenade attacks, vehicle use, destructible scenery, and rescue objectives. Its fast scrolling and heavy enemy fire make it a demanding arcade action title, while the ability to continue after defeat gives it a more approachable structure than some earlier SNK shooters. In Japan, the game was released as Guevara and explicitly used the names of revolutionary figures. Internationally, it was recognized as a technically polished follow-up to SNK’s overhead military-action formula.
Catalog entry maintained by EmuGamers Editorial Team
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