Urban Champion

"Sets a new standard for shallow gameplay.............."

First, the story: you're a guy, and you like to fight other guys who are identical to you but wear different color clothes. That's about it. The object is to knock your opponent through three screens of streets. When you do this, a manhole appears at the end of the next screen. Punch him down that, and you win. Then it's on to the next opponent and the exact same thing. Your arsenal consists of punches and...... that's it: head punches and stomach punches. You can also lunge backwards to avoid a blow or use your hands to block high or low punches. You have a stamina meter; you lose several stamina points for a punch you recieve, and you lose one for every punch you throw. Lose them all and you lose. Occassionally a woman will drop a potted plant from her window above, and if that hits you stamina points will be taken. Also from time to time, a police car will come. If you're throwing a punch, or if time has run out, he'll take you away and you'll lose. This game is for one or two players.

Graphics: 3/10

As I said, you look just like your opponent, only your hair and clothes are a different color. The rest of the visuals are unimpressive and plain. All the buildings look the same except for a different sign.

Sound: 2/10

Bad music (and hardly any music anyway), and the sound effects could not be more dull.

Gameplay: 2/10

As I said, this game sets new records for lack of depth. Every opponent looks the same and fights the same. Your arsenal is limited to punches. Nothing ever happens that you don't expect. There are two strenghts of punches: light punches take less time to pull off but don't do as much damage; hard punches take more time to do but knock your opponent into a backwards somersault. Two players can play, but it's just as boring as the one player game.

Replay: 1/10

Simply put, this game may have the worst replay value ever. I need not explain.

Overall: 2/10

A choice of fighters would have been nice, maybe a bigger aresnal of moves, maybe SOME variety in some aspect of the game. Don't bother to rent this one. In less than five minutes, you'll have seen everything the game has to offer.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 08/07/01