Reviewed by: Funkadelic
Rated: 
Posted on: 02/24/00
When Dynamite Cop was first released on the Sega Dreamcast, many criticized the game for its lack of replay value. Critics and gamers alike ripped the game apart for carrying such a high retail price ($49.99) with too little gameplay to back it up. Well, Dynamite Cop may have finally found its audience, because the twenty-dollar price cut actually makes the game worth purchasing, especially since the other beat-'em-ups available for the system aren't particularly standout titles.
Dynamite Cop has a pretty interesting story line: A gang of modern-day pirates have hijacked the world famous Bermuda cruise ship, which just so happens to be filled with some very important people. They have also taken the President's daughter hostage, and it is your mission to rescue her. The pirates are armed to the teeth with all sorts of deadly weapons, so it will take one heck of a cop to make it through the entire ship to save her. There are interesting twists in the story line along the way, mostly dependent on which of the three characters and/or missions you choose.
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| You always meet up with this chef, but his appearance varies, depending on the mission you select. |
Dynamite Cop's gameplay needs no explanation; if you have played Final Fight or its countless number of clones, you should have a good idea of what to expect. The twist comes in the form of bizarre weapons, variety of unique enemies (ranging from odd-looking pirates to a giant squid), and huge number of interactive objects that litter the game. Arguably the most entertaining aspect of the game comes from clobbering the enemies with "weapons" like a loaf of bread, giant tuna, boxes of sushi, a can of hair spray (which you can combine with a lighter to ignite a nasty flame), pepper shakers, and even the bodies of other enemies. Of course, there are many more deadly weapons (rocket launcher, handgun, machine gun, etc.), but the aforementioned ones are definitely the most interesting of the bunch. Also, at key points in the game, there will be a Dragon's Lair–type sequence where you are prompted to make a move. If you fail to make the correct move (jump, kick, punch, etc.), you will usually have to fight some additional baddies.
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| A good ol' machine gun always does the trick! |
Where Dynamite Cop stumbles is in the replay department. Granted, there are three different characters and missions from which to choose, but each game only lasts about 15-20 minutes. Now this is fine for an arcade game, which Dynamite Cop originated as, but for a console game, this is woefully short. There are some additional modes, extras, and goodies hidden within the game (including the classic Sega arcade game Tranquilizer Gun), but they amount to little more than filler in the end.
However, if you have a VMU and online access, you can download the Detonator Pack to unlock a hidden character, some additional artwork, an extra weapon, and more. If you can't access the Internet with your Dreamcast, all hope is not lost, as you can try to find the November '99 demo disc of the Official Sega Dreamcast Magazine, which contains the Detonator Pack within the demo of the game. You will still need to have a VMU, though (how else do you expect to transfer the file?).
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| This chick doesn't mess around! |
The interesting thing about Dynamite Cop is the fact that, even though it contains very little replay value, it still stacks up pretty well against the other beat-'em-ups on the system. The other three beat-'em-ups — Soul Fighter, Fighting Force 2, and Zombie Revenge — may look better than Dynamite Cop (remember, this was originally a Model 2 game that could have easily been ported to the Saturn without any problems), but they contain their own flaws. For instance, Soul Fighter lacks a two-player mode, something that is unorthodox for the genre, and Zombie Revenge relies too much on long-distance weapons to really capture the feel of a true beat-'em-up. As for Fighting Force 2...well, let's just skip that one for now; it was a huge disappointment, to say the least.
Still, most every beat-'em-up lacks replay value, which is something all these titles are guilty of, not just Dynamite Cop. If you have thirty bucks to burn, I highly recommend Dynamite Cop. Otherwise, skip all of these and wait for something better to come along, namely, the blood-filled Sword of the Berserk.
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