Renegade

[Stan]

Here we go, a bit off the track, but let's do it! The main man with the capitalized, cap-locked lettas, CRV, is brining up the rear with the next game! I know about this little beauty, and think it's quite good. So much better than the NES version, but before I give it away, I'll give it to him. Hit us!

[CRV]

Without further delay...

Renegade
Developer: Technos Japan
Port Developer: Taito
Publisher: Sega

In 1986, before Technos Japan hit it big with Double Dragon, they released Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun into arcades, the first game in their Kunio-kun series. When it was released overseas, it was drastically altered, excising Kunio or anything remotely Japanese. Now, you were going up against stereotypical inner-city street thugs and their leader, Mr. K. An NES version soon followed, but it got trounced for its putrid graphics, control, and sound. Fortunately, the SMS version, ported by Taito, is superior in every way to that version and frankly, it's better than the arcade (which was a bit of an ugly mess in its own right). But I guess it helps that it was released many years later (1993).

Gameplay: Renegade is different from later games in this regard. You hit to your left with one button and to the right with the other. When you knock a guy down, you can continue to slam them into the ground. No real complaints here.

Levels (or missions) are pretty straightforward until the Mansion, which was also in the NES version, but not the arcade. Essentially, it's a confusing maze. Frustrating if you don't use a walkthrough...

Graphics: The graphics are nothing less than colorful and well-detailed, even down to the lights in the subway tunnel in the first mission.

Sound: Iku Mizutani (who also worked on the Sagaia and Special Criminal Investigation ports) did a very good job of adapting the music for the SMS. I'm going to be careful about saying it's better than the NES and arcade versions (which it is), because again, those came out 6-7 years before. At any rate, we're shown that the SMS PSG could compete with the NES (at least IMO).

Overall, we have a pretty well-done beat-'em-up, surpassing all past versions. I'm tempted to say it's the best in the genre on the Master System, mostly because Streets of Rage is just a watered-down port of the Gen/MD game.

[Tonto]

One of those games I've always thought looked good, but I've never owned it. Well, I've got two weeks to get a copy and check it out.

[Stan]

BUY NOW. It's really so much better than the NES version, I was so happy to play a great port of this one. Must try it out again to criticize.

[Hades]

I used to have this one, really enjoyed it. I will always remember the very last boss of this game, what he says when you lose to him. I had never seen any swear words in a game and when I saw what he says I was stunned (being a youngin' at the time!). But to get to him is friggin hard as hell, the game wasn't to difficult until that last maze. I don't know how many tries that level took, I could never do anything like that these days... And if I did it would probably be with the help of GameFaqs.

I've never played the NES or arcade versions, is there any reason at all to after playing this one, cause you guys make them sound pretty horrid?

[CRV]

hades said:

I will always remember the very last boss of this game, what he says when you lose to him.

So he really uses the s-word, eh? I saw it in the ROM, but never actually got that far.

hades said:

I've never played the NES or arcade versions, is there any reason at all to after playing this one, cause you guys make them sound pretty horrid?

If you're a Kunio-kun fan, you might want to try the original Japanese versions of those. I guess the arcade version is supposed to be a little more straightforward (no maze), but I don't remember having too much fun with it (trying it in MAME a while back).

[psychofox]

I haven't got this one either.

I've always really liked the cover art on this one.

I'll try to pick it up on ebay this week

[Stan]

Great game, so much better than the NES version. That one was always so unplayable but this one really responds quite well. The only problem I have with it is the second part of the second stage, where you ride the motorcycles. Why is it that my kicks only seem to actually hit the dudes now and then? Is there a trick to this?

[dezanuebe]

I really like this game, i still remember playing target renagade on my 48k+, everything is really nice, but i still think SOR is way better than this one. Nevertheless, excelent and surprising pick CRV!!

[Stan]

Hey, dez, you make it past the motorcycle part?

[Jo Musashi]

stanstepanic said:

Hey, dez, you make it past the motorcycle part?

Just played this now, and guess where I got my ass kicked? The title scre...I mean, the motorcycle part! I found I did better if I forced the riders to the bottom of the screen. Not enough to pass the level though...

Everything about this game is slick. I think I might eventually like it more than Double Dragon. Not that DD is the technological pinnacle of 8-bit beat-'em-ups; I just like it cos it's the one I grew up with and it's a decent game.

[CRV]

stanstepanic said:

Hey, dez, you make it past the motorcycle part?

I used to have trouble with that part. What works best for me is to just furiously and randomly kick up and down the bike.

[Stan]

Okay, that's what I was trying, but now and then it seemed like a well-timed kick actually hit with some sort of non-chaotic certainty.

[JellyCrystals]

Yeah... Jelly don't have this one either... But I have been bidding on a copy. Soon my precious....

[Sinistral]

I remember this one well, just can't help comparing it to double dragon and I know I shouldn't. Personally, I didn't find the game that good, maybe it arrived too late, and I think my blood thirst days were over by the time I got this.