From milton@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu Sun Mar 24 02:36:15 1991
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Date: Sun, 24 Mar 91 02:35:54 -0600
From: milton@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Milton W. Kuo)
Message-Id: <9103240835.AA28313@minnie.cc.utexas.edu>
To: aa561@cleveland.freenet.edu
Subject: Review Of Crackdown
Cc: rjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Status: RO

Game Name  : Crackdown
Game Type  : Action
Game Maker : Sega Enterprises
Game Size  : 4 Mbits (512 KB)

     Crackdown, based upon the Sega coin-op of the same name, is now avail-
able for the Sega Mega Drive and will eventually be made available for  the
Sega Genesis.  Crackdown  takes place  in the 21st century where artificial
lifeforms have been created.  Unfortunately, the  evil Mr. K now  possesses
the technology to  manufacture his  own artificial life  systems and he in-
tends on using them to  conquer the world.  The two main  characters of the
game, Ben and Andy, are government  operatives  assigned to destroy Mr. K's
manufacturing facilities and put a stop to the megalomaniac's schemes.

     Crackdown is played from a top view  much like  Gauntlet.  The players
each have guns, rocket launchers, and  super bombs.  Guns  are the standard
weapon but more difficult enemies take more  than one hit to kill.  For the
more  difficult  enemies, the  rocket launcher  may  be  used.  The  rocket
launcher behaves like the gun except its shot is  much more powerful.  Fin-
ally, in times of dire need, the super bomb may be used to destroy all ene-
mies and enemy fire on the screen.  Throughout the course of the game, more
bullets, rockets, and super bombs  may be  picked up.  The goal of the game
is to  destroy Mr. K's  empire by placing  bombs in each of the levels (the
game is divided into four levels  each of which has four areas to be clear-
ed).  Once all  bombs  have been  put into  place by the players, they must
then leave the area through the  exit before the time bombs explode.  While
attempting to  destroy Mr. K's  stronghold, the heroes of the game are con-
stantly  assaulted by  Mr. K's  artificial  creations.  Upon  reaching  the
fourth and final level, Ben and Andy  must destroy Mr. K's headquarters and
ultimately, Mr. K himself.

     Although the graphics on Crackdown are almost exactly like the coin-op
version, that in itself proves to be the most troublesome facet of the game
since  objects are too small and quickly induce eyestrain.  Nonetheless, if
played sitting very  close to the television screen, the enemy and the maps
are  just  like the  arcade  version.  Despite the  minute graphics though,
Crackdown  displays an unusual amount of detail - enemies attack using dif-
ferent weapons and if one looks closely enough, the method of attack can be
recognized.

     One of the things that made  Crackdown so  much fun in the arcades was
the two player simultaneous  play feature and this feature has been beauti-
fully preserved on the  Genesis.  In the two player simultaneous mode, each
player gets half of the screen showing his view of the map.  While playing,
players may choose to  cooperate or  compete in their quest to complete the
game.  Crackdown for the Genesis is made even more fun because like the ar-
cade, it has the  tendency to "rip-off" players  who are  doing too well by
killing them in a  mysterious  manner.  While  frustrating in some ways, it
makes finishing the game that much more satisfying.

     Overall, Crackdown is a pretty  good  game and anyone with an interest
in the coin-op version or two player  simultaneous play games will enjoy it
immmensely.  Crackdown's  only  real  fault is its brevity - four levels of
this addictive game isn't enough!

Ratings:
     Graphics  : 6 (objects are too small and hard to see)
     Sound     : 7
     Gameplay  : 8
     "Funness" : 8 (two player simultaneous is really fun)
     Overall   : 7

Milton W. Kuo
milton@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu


