You could also just run away, before running up a wall, jumping off and dropkicking someone in the face. Failing that, you’ve got a range of special moves that can help deal with a crowd.ĭefensively, you’re given just as many tools to deal with would-be assailants, including a dodge and reversal mechanic that can be used to escape pretty much any normal attack, along with a counter that, if timed correctly, could do some serious damage. Being able to run up two guys and boot them in the head like it ain’t no thing will never get old. A quick press of the grapple button between two enemies would unleash some fantastic looking attacks with relative ease. Players could even deal with multiple opponents with ease. Better still, you could dash during the move for running powerbomb, and hitting the move against a wall would result in higher damage. Brad’s air grapple was particularly satisfying, as he plucked enemies from the sky and powerbombed them into the ground. Most basic combos ended with a launcher that could be followed up with a juggle combo or an air grapple. The more damage you do to a certain area, the more damage and stun they’ll take from each subsequent hit, allowing you to gain a huge advantage.ĭespite its simplicity, the combat is surprisingly versatile and still holds up to this day. Pressing a direction during an attack or grapple would change which limb you’d target, with up attacking the head, left and right targeting the arms and down taking out the legs. Urban Reign is one of those rare cases of style and substance. For a 3D beat ‘em up, those are your bread and butter attacks, but if you started to poke around with the systems, there was enough depth there to allow you to easily dispatch multiple opponents and look good doing it. The combat was simplistic at a base level, with circle to attack, triangle to grapple, square for reversals and X to dash. The real highlight is the gameplay itself. Honestly, it’s just a bit of fluff designed to get you from fight to fight. The plot quickly turns into conspiracy and corruption as the gangs have to band together to take on a new invading force, followed by another invading force after that.
URBAN REIGN GAME PROFESSIONAL
The Alien vs Predator or The Punisher beat ‘em ups developed by Capcom are good shouts, along with Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara (also developed by Capcom), but allow me to present an alternative: Urban Reign.ĭeveloped by Namco and released on PS2 in 2005/06 (it took a few months for it to come to Europe), you control big strong boy Brad Hawk, a professional asskicker brought into the city to prevent a turf war ignited by the disappearance of a rival gang member. Most will say either Final Fight or Streets of Rage, though occasionally you’ll hear a few dark horse picks. This is a universal truth that unites us. Pretty much every gamer has their preferred beat ‘em up.
URBAN REIGN GAME ARCHIVE
If you want to see what the series is all about, check out our archive right here. Don’t expect any kind of regularity to these articles, but just know they’re back because the content grind is real. Like a phoenix rising from the flames, the Awesome Forgotten Noughties Games series is being resurrected, because there’s still so many games to get through.