Dirty Larry: Renegade Cop (Lynx) Playthrough
4Playthrough of Dirty Larry: Renegade Cop, Atari's 1992 beat 'em up for the Atari Lynx.
Dirty Larry: Renegade Cop, released in 1992 for the Atari Lynx, is a side-scrolling beat ’em up that casts the player as Larry, a tough cop who refuses to follow the rules. Tasked with dismantling a powerful crime syndicate, Larry must battle his way on foot through city streets, subways, and seedy hideouts after wrecking too many police cars. The journey ultimately leads to a showdown with a corrupt judge, providing a straightforward yet thematically fitting plot for the action.
Visually, the game makes a strong impression for a Lynx title. Backgrounds are richly drawn, cut-scenes add personality to the story, and the overall look can resemble larger console titles of its era. On a handheld system, the level of detail and the variety of settings offer a sense of scope and atmosphere that enhances the presentation.
The gameplay, however, struggles to match the promise of its visuals. Larry alternates between punching enemies at close range and shooting with limited ammunition. When firearms run out, players are forced to rely on melee combat that feels sluggish and lacks impact. Controls can be unresponsive, making it difficult to react quickly during encounters, and hit detection does not always register as expected. These issues create a combat system that often feels unfair.
Progression unfolds across seven stages connected by a metro system, each ending with a boss encounter. Despite this structure, the action can become repetitive, as the same enemy types and backgrounds are frequently reused. Limited variety in both foes and level design undermines the sense of progression, and the game allows only a single life with no practical checkpoints. This results in a difficulty curve that feels harsh and discouraging rather than rewarding.
Dirty Larry: Renegade Cop stands as an ambitious but flawed effort on the Lynx. Its visuals demonstrate what the hardware was capable of, and its narrative premise offers a gritty hook. Yet the core mechanics and balance issues prevent it from achieving the engaging, polished experience that its appearance suggests. For collectors or those curious about the Lynx library, it remains an interesting artifact, though not one that delivers lasting playability.