Game:

The Combatribes (1990)

Duration: 10:30

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Originally released in Arcades in 1990, "The Combatribes", one of Technos Japan's more obscure releases, is a rare example of an Arena-style three player Beat-em-up and versus fighter that was met with generally mediocre reviews. The game attempted to branch out from the likes of Double Dragon and the Kunio titles by eliminating the ability to grab distinct weapons (though you could toss certain objects), turn traversable stages into arenas marginally larger than the screens' width, give the games' playable characters distinct parameter differences and more unique attacks, and dish out a more versus-fighter approach. Featuring vibrant graphics and that distinct upbeat Technos soundtrack, the game seemed like it would be another hit. However, this sadly was not the case; while the game did seperate itself from the latter, it also removed features that made those games more accessible like more mobile characters, and more enemies move faster than the player and have greater range and faster attacks (meaning if they, especially a boss, knocked you down which was very likely, you were usually trapped indefinitely till death), raising the cheapness level to a point that caused many to ridicule the game.

The game was later ported to SNES/SFC in late '92 and early '93 and released in North America for the Wii Virtual Console in 2009. A respectable port of the Arcade game, a number of changes were made such as removing the third player option, removing the ability to lift objects, having a modified plot, various things were censored, and a few enemies and moves were removed. However, it made up for this by improving the game's story with more dialogue and applying a unique Versus Mode where you can fight against the games' characters (whom can be unlocked with passwords earned during the main game). With all characters unlocked, the game features sixteen fighters, something virtually unprecedented during the time of release featuring about double the roster of the average Capcom or SNK Versus fighter as well as featuring an additional plane of action as characters can move around the field and not merely left or right, making it comparable to Technos' NES port of "Double Dragon" and more loosely comparable to titles like SNK's "Street Smart". This extra attention to detail allows the SNES version of "The Combatribes" to excel in some ways over its Arcade counterpart and rise above mediocrity, though its prominent flaws are still present.

In the game, a group of strongmen (cyborgs in the SNES game) known as "The Combatribes" have come to New York city (the center of all evil in the United States hilariously enough) who are out to defeat all the deadliest street gangs around New York, who are controlled by the mysterious crime organization "Ground Zero" (further censored to "Guilty Zero" in the VC release). These men, Berzerker, Bullova, and Blitz respectively, fight their way past each gang while collecting information on the whereabouts of the Ground Zero leader. Comprised of six "Acts", you'll punch, kick and smash your way to the leader (whose purpose was altered in the console port).

Characters have moves and traits which allow them to overcome most enemy mobs efficiently like jumping knee attacks, punch/kick combinations, giant swings, pavement kisses, and other attacks. The game controls well and looks great when compared with its Arcade counterpart; the player characters are large and tower over the average gang members, things remain colorful, and locales are detailed with neon lights and various background animations. The music doesn't really take advantage of the hardware, but remains inline with many of Technos' other musical scores and they have seldom strayed off the beaten path. It is nice to listen to, but isn't really memorable in any way when compared to other Technos classics. Overall, "The Combatribes" is a game that most beat-em-up fans will get some entertainment value from, but those looking for a great title to introduce them to the genre should look elsewhere or start with Technos' earlier efforts.

This is a video showing the game in action and includes a segment of the Versus Mode action. Enjoy.