Not quite as good as the arcade, but fun nonetheless.
Yes, it is true that this version of tank-combat game Vindicators can't compare to the arcade. The sound and graphics are obviously inferior, and the standard NES pad is hardly a substitute for two shift sticks with buttons. But this is, at its core, still a good game.
The music remains nice, especially the synthesized track heard on the Zone Select menu. Even though the sound effects are tinny and somewhat indistinct, they still generally sound like what they're supposed to be (i.e. the gun sounds at least a little bit like a weapon firing).
The game's one flaw is the bosses: they're nearly impossible to beat, even if you've spent the preceding levels farming for powerups. You'd think they would have made them a little less cheap on the home version, but whatever.
Vindicators is not a bad game at all. If you see this version for cheap in a store somewhere, pick it up, for the co-op if nothing else.
Score: 6.5