NARC

"Just Say No...OR DIE!"

Don't tell Max Powers or Hit Man that we're losing the war on drugs.

There is no other game in NES history that could pull off so much violence and gore and still make it to the family friendly Nintendo console. NARC is a transferred arcade classic to the NES that was originally developed by Eugene Jarvis, the master of other classic titles such as Robotron, Smash TV, Defender, and the Cruisn' racing series. So how did an arcade hit filled with graphic and unjustified violence and laced with more drug references than your best hippy friend's brownies make it to the NES? I don't know if that question could ever be answered, but we do know that the NES version was toned down a bit with the removal of all drug references (K.R.A.K. Street renamed K.W.A.K. street) and text on buildings were taken off. However, the arbitrary killing of drug dealers stayed on and make this a graphic and fun 2D side scroller of non-stop slaughter.

I never played NARC on the arcade and I don't ever remember seeing the arcade game at any local arcades I went to. NARC for Nintendo came out in 1990 and it was the first game I ever beat on the NES so it is a special game that I will always have a bias towards. Now how a 5-6 year old kid got a hold of this game in 1990 or 1991 I don't know. Did my parents want me to learn about the dangers of drug abuse? All I remember was killing Mr. Big for the first time and then going outside to play on the swingset. I never realized what was actually in this game until I played it years and years later and was able to understand the references and violence. Compared to today when you can be cussed out by a five year old over an online game of Halo 3 NARC is child's play when it comes scarring our children for life.

There are some critical reviews of this game that say NARC is utterly unplayable and this is not true. I highly doubt that such reviewers were even born when NARC came to Nintendo.


Story 5

In transferring to the NES, NARC lost some valuable story plot to help concerned parents understand why their child was gleefully blasting away at drug dealers. The arcade version explains what kind of mission you are on and it turns out all these guys you're blasting are working for a major drug lord terrorist named Mr. Big. However, the NES version starts you off with a short briefing that you might miss if you don't pay attention. This game wastes absolutely no time in getting right to the ass kicking and even goes so far as to have your badass character eject himself from the red hot convertible he drives to start the mission. In keeping with the basics you play as Max Powers (sounds like an energy drink) or if you have a second player, Hit Man, and you go through various levels of street cleaning and I don't mean litter pick-ups either.

Gameplay 10

The control of NARC is basic, very fun, and somewhat challenging. NARC is actually one of those games you can beat pretty easily. I was able to do it by myself when I was 5 or 6 and if you play as a single player you can use the other player to get more lives when playing through. NARC is not one of those games all you will ever remember is the first mission of the game because you couldn't ever get past the first level. NARC is difficult and takes awhile to master, but you will get pretty far the first time you play it.

The controls are simple if not basic. Since this is a side scroller involving a dude with guns you won't worry about being gang banged by a bunch of thugs as in Double Dragon or Bad Dudes. NARC makes very well sure you don't have that problem. Instead of punch/kick, you have SMG/Grenade Launcher. These mothers mean business and intend on making a lasting impression on the bad guys. The drug dealers will come after you with everything they have ranging from stray dogs to throwing hypodermic needles. And these aren't clean needles either. NARC doesn't take a totally "violence solves everything" attitude though. In fact you will be rewarded more points for making a bust on a junkie. This is easily accomplished by having your guy move over the bad guy and he'll fly away with a bust sign over him. True story. I can't explain it any other way. So even if these bad guys try to gang up on you, they risk being arrested and sent flying out of the screen.

You won't be able to arrest Joe Rockhead though. The only dude in the game that does not attack you with any weapons is one of the few guys that can't be arrested so you will have to end up blasting him with the rocket launcher. Apparently he deserves it because you will encounter this sprite on what appears to be the Golden Gate bridge which has been blockaded with dumpsters, mini attack helicopters, and land mines.

The levels are also very different and you will go through and destroy secret labs, and even get a chance to take a joy ride in the red hot convertible and run some bad boys over in it. Your character has a very funky walk to him and he will make you wonder what kind of funky music he has on in his cassette Walkman.

Graphics/Sound 9

NARC's graphics in color are absolutely astounding and weren't beat until the introduction of Mortal Kombat II. Using the same design as MK II, the color graphics are very solid although a lot of the environment from the arcade version was cleaned out for the NES version. There is a lot of color in NARC which really sets this game apart. Each mission will feature a new bad guy you have to take down and of course this guy will have ten thousand clones that you will have to shoot through, but hey, when Next Gen consoles are still using clones you can't hold that against this game. Mr. Big will definitely freak out, as he will surprise you by staying alive and turning into this giant head and then becoming a giant skull. I can't really defend that other than say cocaine is a hell of a drug.

The sound is what is really great about this game. The gun sounds are unique and make the guns fun to keep shooting. A lot of stuff is in the game to blow up and the red hot convertible will squeal its wheels everytime you take off or stop. The music is also very memorable. So memorable in fact that there is one awesome remix of the NARC theme that the Pixies made. Like the Double Dragon, Contra, Bad Dudes, and P.O.W. themes, you will like the NARC theme as well although NARC doesn't have any other music to play in this game beyond this same song.

Replayability 8

While there are not any side items to do on NARC, this is a game that isn't so challenging that it will discourage people from going back and playing it again. For a kid back in the day I could sit and play this game over and over and never get bored with it. It's not too difficult like a lot of games of the time that had that problem and it is not too easy to get bored with it quickly.

Final Recommendation 8/10

NARC is a classic NES game with a lot going for it. From two hardcore main characters to dodging hypodermic needles this game is everything that the war on drugs should be. I'm pretty sure that NARC didn't convince anybody to avoid drugs, but it does give the gamer a very enjoyable experience. The difficulty is not too hard and not too easy and offers a load of variety in graphics and gameplay. NARC is definitely a classic that you should play. Now here comes the other question: Where can one find this game? If you are unfortunate like me and sold your NES at a yard sale years ago then the only way to find the NES version of this game is online or you can watch the playthrough on Youtube. However, in 2005 a recut of this game was produced for the Xbox and Playstation 2 under the same title. That NARC is a load of trash to play through and deserving of a scathing review some other time, but it does feature the original arcade version of NARC if you unlock it. The arcade version is also under one of the re-release titles of the Midway Arcade Hits games that came out for these consoles.

But the main purpose for this review is to serve to the reader that this game is a very playable and very enjoyable game for the NES and was well worth the buy in 1990.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/05/08

Game Release: NARC (US, August 1990)