Crack Down

Sega

Industry	Video games
Founded	1960 in Japan
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Video games, arcade games, consoles

Crack Down is an arcade run and gun title created and launched by Sega in 1989. It was subsequently adapted for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis platform, arriving in Japan in 1990 and reaching North America and Europe in 1991 through Sega and Sage's Creation, respectively. Additionally, U.S. Gold produced versions for multiple home computer systems.

The Mega Drive iteration was made available again on the Wii Virtual Console in 2007 for Japan and PAL territories, followed by a release on Steam in 2010.

Gameplay

Featuring a top-down viewpoint reminiscent of Gauntlet, players assume the roles of agents Ben or Andy with the mission to thwart the plans of the deranged scientist Mr. X (renamed Mr.K in the Mega Drive edition). The gameplay involves progressing through levels under time constraints while planting explosives and combating cyborg foes using switchable armaments such as a "machine gun" and "cannon," alongside smart bombs that clear all adversaries on screen. Success depends on deploying all bombs and escaping before the countdown ends.

Reception

In May 1989, Game Machine listed Crack Down as the third most popular arcade game within Japan. The Genesis version earned an 82% rating from Console XS, which commended its detailed visuals, captivating gameplay, and inclusion of a two-player mode, considering it a valuable title. MegaTech offered a more tempered score of 65%, acknowledging the multiplayer feature but criticizing its limited difficulty. Overall, reviews were mixed yet leaned positive, particularly praising its cooperative gameplay and classic arcade-style action.

External links

• Official Virtual Console website