Dynamite Cop

Dynamite Cop
Developer(s)AM1
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Makoto Uchida
Producer(s)Rikiya Nakagawa
Designer(s)Makoto Uchida
Composer(s)Howard Drossin
Platform(s)Arcade, Dreamcast
ReleaseArcade
Dreamcast
  • JP: May 27, 1999
  • EU: October 14, 1999
  • NA: November 2, 1999[2]
Genre(s)Beat 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega Model 2

Dynamite Cop, known in Japan as Dynamite Deka 2 (ダイナマイト刑事2, Dainamaito Deka Tsu), is a 1998 beat 'em up video game published by Sega and initially released in arcades on Sega Model 2 hardware. It is the sequel to the 1996 game Dynamite Deka, which was released outside Japan as Die Hard Arcade. The game was ported to the Dreamcast and released internationally in 1999, this time without the Die Hard license. A second sequel, Asian Dynamite, was released only in arcades. In 2002, an Xbox version was announced by Sega and Cool Net Entertainment under the joint brand name "CoolCool", but since then there has been no information and the project has been abandoned. CoolCool itself has not released anything other than Rent-a-Hero No. 1 and appears to have disappeared.[3]

Gameplay

See also: Gameplay in Die Hard Arcade

Dynamite Cop is a 3D beat 'em up for up to two players in which players play as either Bruno Delinger, Jean Ivy, or Eddie Brown and fight through levels on board a cruise ship and on a deserted island to save the President's daughter from a band of modern-day pirates led by Wolf "White Fang" Hongo, the main antagonist from the first game. The classic Sega arcade game Tranquilizer Gun (1980) is included as a bonus game on the Dreamcast version. Clearing all missions will enable you to play Tranquilizer Gun an unlimited number of times.

Appearances in other games

Its main character, Delinger, makes a cameo appearance in The House of the Dead 2 as a playable character via a special item obtainable in the original mode (present in home versions of The House of the Dead 2). Bruno Delinger also makes an appearance in Project X Zone as a solo unit character.

A chicken-leg from Golden Axe makes a cameo appearance on the Island stage.

Reception

The Dreamcast version received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] Jeff Chen of NextGen called the game's Japanese import "An entertaining, if somewhat last-generation-looking, game."[18] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.[10]

Also in Japan, Game Machine listed the arcade version in their August 1, 1998 issue as the fourth most-successful arcade game of the month.[20]

Scary Larry of GamePro said of the Dreamcast version in one review, "Unfortunately, all the heart-stopping action-movie chop-sockie comes to an abrupt end. The game is extremely short, and even a mediocre player can get through in less than an hour. Even with the multiple paths, the game has to rely on gimmicky diversions like an art gallery or bonus games to extend its life. A weekend rental? Perfect for you weekend warriors."[21][c] In another review, Larry "Major Mike" Hryb said, "If you're looking for an action game where brainpower takes a backseat to brute force, then walk the Dynamite Cop beat. Others will be satisfied with a rental."[22][d]

Notes

  1. ^ Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 3.5/10, 7/10, 6.5/10, and 4.5/10.
  2. ^ In GameFan's viewpoint of the Dreamcast version's Japanese import, three critics gave it each a score of 82, 81, and 79.
  3. ^ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 4.5/5 for graphics, two 4/5 scores for sound and fun factor, and a perfect 5 for control in one review.
  4. ^ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version three 4/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 3/5 for sound in another review.

References

  1. ^ Sega Arcade History. Famitsu DC (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 2002. p. 137.
  2. ^ "New Releases Today". Game Informer. FuncoLand. November 2, 1999. Archived from the original on January 22, 2000. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "共同ブランド"CoolCool（クールクール）"立ち上げのお知らせ". 2007-11-18. Archived from the original on 2007-11-18. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  4. ^ a b "Dynamite Cop! for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Williamson, Colin. "Dynamite Cop (ARC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  6. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Dynamite Cop! (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  7. ^ D'Aprile, Jason (December 20, 1999). "Dynamite Cop". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  8. ^ Edge staff (August 1999). "Dynamite Cop 2 [sic] (DC) [JP Import]" (PDF). Edge. No. 74. Future Publishing. p. 86. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Davison, John; Chou, Che; Hsu, Dan "Shoe"; Boyer, Crispin (November 1999). "Dynamite Cop" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 124. Ziff Davis. p. 233. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "ドリームキャスト - ダイナマイト刑事2". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 49.
  11. ^ Fitzloff, Jay; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (November 1999). "Dynamite Cop". Game Informer. No. 79. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on May 23, 2000. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  12. ^ Mylonas, Eric "ECM" (August 1999). "Dynamite Deka 2". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 8. Shinno Media. pp. 76–77. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  13. ^ Ngo, George "Eggo"; Chau, Anthony "Dangohead"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (August 1999). "Dynamite Deka 2". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 8. Shinno Media. p. 14. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  14. ^ Liu, Johnny (January 2000). "Dynamite Cop Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  15. ^ Stahl, Ben (June 4, 1999). "Dynamite Cop Review [JP Import]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 17, 2005. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  16. ^ Bowen, Kevin "Fragmaster" (November 10, 1999). "Dynamite Cop". PlanetDreamcast. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  17. ^ Justice, Brandon (November 2, 1999). "Dynamite Cop". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Chen, Jeff (September 1999). "Dynamite Deka 2". NextGen. No. 57. Imagine Media. p. 83. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  19. ^ Bottorff, James (1999). "Sega's new Dynamite Cop a dud". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on April 28, 2001. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  20. ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 569. Amusement Press, Inc. August 1, 1998. p. 25.
  21. ^ Scary Larry (November 7, 1999). "Dynamite Cop Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on October 29, 2004. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  22. ^ Hryb, Larry "Major Mike" (November 1999). "Dynamite Cop" (PDF). GamePro. No. 134. IDG. p. 136. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.