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Crime Fighters
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| Crime Fighters | |
|---|---|
North American arcade flyer | |
| Developer | Konami |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Designer | Shūjirō Hamakawa |
| Programmers |
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| Artists |
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| Composers |
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| Series | Crime Fighters |
| Platform | Arcade |
| Release | |
| Genre | Beat 'em up |
| Modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
Crime Fighters[a] is a 1989 beat 'em up video game developed and published by Konami for arcades. It was released in Japan and North America in July 1989.[1] The players takes control of an undercover police officer who is assigned to rescue a group of kidnapped damsels from a crime boss and his army of punks. The game supports multiplayer of up to four players in the North American version and two players internationally.
Crime Fighters served as the basis for Konami's future acclaimed beat 'em ups, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men and The Simpsons.[2] It was followed by a sequel titled Vendetta (released in Japan as Crime Fighters 2). Hamster Corporation released the game as part of their Arcade Archives series for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in March 2021.[3]
Gameplay
[edit]In the four-player versions, each player position has its own coin slot and each credit value adds around a hundred health points to that position which slowly drains one health point per tick (similar to Gauntlet). Players are able to accidentally hit each other and cause allies to drop their weapons permanently. After defeating the boss at the end of each level, if the game has more than one current player then the players are given a time limit that refreshes when a player is hurt and tells the players to fight as long as they want and lose health. While some health is granted at the end of the time limit, it is possible to lose more health than granted during this fight. The two-player version gives players a set number of lives and the health/timer system is replaced with a life meter and life counter similar to other beat-em-ups.
Players start in the first level of play, the subway. Upon knocking down the first few enemies, a large icon instructs player to kick downed opponents. There are buttons to punch and kick; pressing both performs a spinning jump kick. It is also possible to grab enemies and attack them, as well as kick them in the groin to stun them. Many enemies have weapons. Enemies use knives, lead pipes and handguns. Upon killing these enemies a player may pick up a weapon and use it indefinitely (including handguns in the two-player versions), however if players are hit once, the players will drop the item and it will disappear (except for the handguns in the four player versions, provided that they have ammo).
In the final stage, the final boss throws a key to the players and tells them to pick it up. Doing so will allow the boss to pull out a machine gun and shoot at the players. Should the player run out of health at this point, the game will end and a bad ending will be seen with the final boss telling the players to try again. The player however can choose not to get the key and kick (or shoot if the player has a handgun) the main villain repeatedly until he is defeated. Upon winning the game, player will then be subjected to a difficult final all boss round where the players must kill every boss in the game, who all appear on screen at once. If all the bosses are beaten, the game will either end or repeat endlessly.
Reception
[edit]This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (February 2026) |
In Japan, Game Machine listed Crime Fighters on their August 1, 1989 issue as being the third most-successful table arcade unit at the time.[4]
See also
[edit]- Vendetta (1991 video game) - Sequel to this game.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. p. 62. ISBN 978-4990251215.
- ^ Yarwood, Jack (March 15, 2023). "Interview: Konami Legends Reveal The Secrets Of The Arcade Hit Factory". Time Extension. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
- ^ Doolan, Liam (March 18, 2021). "Konami's Beat 'Em Up Crime Fighters Joins The Arcade Archives This Week". Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
- ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 361. Amusement Press, Inc. August 1, 1989. p. 21.
External links
[edit]- Crime Fighters at Arcade History
- Crime Fighters at the Killer List of Videogames
- Crime Fighters at MobyGames
