Sega Genesis Look - Crack Down

It's the 21st century. Doctor K. has seized control of Artificial Life Systems. It's a frightening technology capable of an endless supply of Replicants. Not content with his super soldier army, the maniacal scientist intends to bring about a new age, one that would require the creation of a God. An artificial deity whose construction is being led by a Baphomet-worshipper probably won't have mankind's best interests in mind. Out of options, the federal government sends their two special service agents. Take control of saboteurs Ben & Andy, sneak through Replicant-infested facilities, and bomb everything to Hell. 

As you know, during the Mega Drive's early days, Sega programmed many of the third-party games that appeared on the platform. It seems they were so busy with other company's works that Crack Down's home release had to be handed off to Hot-B. The results are... pretty exceptional. Both the arcade original and its port are tactical espionage action games. Place them side-by-side and you'll see innumerable similarities. The instant you start playing them; however, you'll realize that they couldn't be further apart.

In the arcades, Crack Down is a mechanically rich game that demands constant adaptation. Through each of the 16 stages, your task is to get from one side of the area to the other, planting bombs while avoiding or blasting everyone who gets in your way. The replicants that stalk the halls are not to be underestimated. Yes, you have both the agency to get the drop on them, as well as the advantage of being able to attack them from a diagonal position, but all they need is to strike you once. While you have tools for stealthily evading detection (and bullets), they can't be relied on overmuch. If a replicant notices you sidling against a wall, they'll use their left hand to fire a gun instead of their right, guaranteeing the demise of anyone who didn't catch this subtle yet essential detail. Naturally, this doesn't apply to replicants who are using a weapon that requires both hands, but if that weapon is a flame-thrower, then you'd better just stay well out of their way. 

If you're the type of player who relies on quick-thinking and quick-reflexes to get out of a bad situation, then you'll find a lot to like here. Friendly fire is enabled, which means several headaches can be avoided by just allowing replicants to shoot each other. The map helpfully points out every adversary, so you've got ample opportunity to prepare for whatever's ahead. Also, even if it's a fairly rare occurrence, you can score a lot of bonus points by destroying multiple enemies with a single rocket. Oh, and hey, bring a friend if you have one. Cooperative play is encouraged and damn awesome. 

Instead of trying - and most likely failing - to deliver a straight port, Hot-B created what's essentially an Arrange mode. The biggest distinction is the emphasis on can't in replicant. Artificial soldiers can't switch which hand is firing their side arms. You'll have a much easier time avoiding their bullets, especially when pressed against walls. Those huge guys that carry flamethrowers can't fire diagonally, giving you additional methods for taking them down. 

One of the other big differences is the resources available to the player. In the arcades, lives were as rare and precious as your own. This was changed dramatically. Now, depending on the difficulty, you can bring the fight to Doctor K's establishment with as few as 4 or as many as 10 lives. Additional lives are doled out at a very generous rate. It's also not particularly difficult to stock up on screen-clearing super bombs. Hang onto them for long enough and those satellites with their annoying lasers won't be any trouble whatsoever. However, I must avail upon you to refrain from throwing body after body away. When the mission is successfully completed, any spare lives and ammunition are added to the score. Even if it's "just points", it's a real incentive to play just as skillfully and strategically as you would back when extra lives were improbable to come by. 

If you're seeking an additional challenge, or just want to have an extra enjoyable time, then go to the option menu and set the starting ammunition to zero. Crack Down's home port hands players 10,000 points whenever they finish a stage without firing a weapon. Relying almost entirely on quick-thinking and martial arts to survive is... actually kind of astonishing. This is what makes Arrange mode such a treat to play. Instead of merely getting into position to take enemies out from afar, you can devote all your maneuverability to squiggling between them and their bullets. Sliding on and off of walls to evade detection or destruction is really satisfying. 

I'm not 100% sure what killed me here, but I don't like it.

The 16 stages are all pretty unique, and their routes can change depending on what difficulty you're playing on. Some also feature cool mechanics like replicant-shattering doors. The few instances of moving platforms though... I would've been quite all right without them. Pits tend to be slightly too large, rather annoying in such an intricate and finesse-driven game. Megamera, as well as any other flying enemy, can also be really obnoxious. Getting sniped by their laser while riding a conveyor belt is some nonsense. I advise breaking the "no-shooting" rule to keep them out of the air. Other than those nuisances, each stage tends to be really inventive and replayable. 

All in all, Crack Down is damn good. There's some less-than-perfect finickiness, particularly when it involves pits or using melee on enemies that are too close, but it doesn't take that long to adjust. Hot-B's decision to give the console port its own identity was a brilliant one. The changes to enemy behavior and scoring make for a more accessible game. You've got plenty of room to make mistakes, as well as plenty of incentives to aim higher.