Cabal (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Milton Bradley's 1990 NES game, Cabal.
For the full review, including soundtrack and screenshot gallery, be sure to check out my write-up at www.nintendocom...
Cabal (not pronounced 'cable', if you are unfamiliar with the word 'cabal') is a game that I got totally hyped up over by the TV commercials - anyone else remember it? (I can't believe someone uploaded it! See it here: • Video ). That flaming skull had me at first look!
Anyways, it's a shooter that resembles light-gun games like Operation Wolf, Mechanized Attack, and Freedom Force, but you have direct control over your character and your crosshairs. It was pretty unique when it was new, and was an inspiration for many games in the years after it's arcade 1988 release (just check out the Konami GI Joe arcade game or Dynamite Duke to see the obvious resemblence). The arcade version used a trackball to aim, so clearly the controls had to be adapted to the NES controller. They're pretty responsive, but it definitely takes awhile to get a feel for the coordination to control both your physical character and your crosshairs at the same time with the same buttons.
Once you get it down, though, it's a fun, though easy, shooter than really feels close to the arcade version. Rare does it again!
____
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@thistime1483]

I remember my older brother and his friend always renting this game and watching them play it all night. Great memories.

[@mariusamber3237]

The guy you're playing as seems so jovial... he's like "Hooray, I've just committed the greatest mass killing in history! Time to jiggle a bit and move on to the next slaughtering ground." I have fond memories of this game, it's pretty cool. :D

[@bigduke5902]

That item collection sound effect makes it seem like a round of Anticipation is about to begin.

[@NintendoComplete]

Rare scores yet again! Cabal is an adaptation of an arcade game that really had no business being ported to the NES, but despite the hardware's constraints, it's pulled off shockingly well!

[@danalong1237]

This game was ported by Rare's Manchester division, headed by John and Ste Pickford, with music and sounds done by the legendary David Wise.

[@drakonolus7922]

I don't know man. Once when i was a child i got this CABAL cart ( not anymore ) and i enjoyed as ever. And now, thanks to the emulation curse, is wonderfull. Great game even to this day.

[@AnthonyBall]

I coded the game whilst at Zippo ( "Rare north" ). :)

[@BombsOverIran]

I played this religiously as a kid. My local Pizza Hut had a Cabal cabinet. The track ball felt so smooth and accurate. Couldn’t imagine playing this with a d-pad. Edit: I remember one time an employee came out of the back and we got to the sub before getting demolished and running out of quarters. Good times.

[@Jac2Mac]

You REALLY have to wonder why Taito didn't have RARE do the NES port of Toki as it would have been MUCH better of being developed by RARE instead of by Taito themselves

[@drakonolus7922]

Still better than Call Of Duty.

[@ethanreaper]

This is the first game I remember playing as a kid. I remember one day me and my cousin (who was babysitting me at the time) made it all the way to the submarine level before the school bus came to pick us up.

[@califinn]

Man, one of the most fun shoot 'em up games of all time, I played the hell out of this back in the day with the arcade roller ball, it was so much fun!

[@susanfit47]

Based on the coin-up quarter muncher, Milton Bradley's Cabal cartridge for the NES surprisingly captures most of the activity from the arcade original.

[@misscuterthanyouable]

I remember buying this game from woolworth. Had no clue what it was but loved the artwork. Ended being a good buy. Played the crap out of this game with my dad. Fun times.

[@AdamAlmony]

Used to stay up ALL NIGHT playing this with my friend back in the day

[@antonidas3812]

Used to be really obsessed with conserving those hand grenades.

[@matthew7371]

CABAL had the best commercial EVER

[@stephenmanuel9860]

Thought I read somewhere recently that this game was more or less programmed from scratch using the arcade version as a reference - Rare never had access to the source code! (If that was in your article, all the better.)

[@wordman3624]

1:06 War. It's fantastic!

[@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883]

That goofy ass walk after finishing a level, lmao.

[@louiskeiflin5858]

Ikr? Most awkward way to celebrate a victory.

[@marhansgamingchannel4732]

The arcade version more funnier. 😂😂😂

[@emilja.4205]

Love this style of game 💯 It started in 90s arcades with Neo Geo Nam 1975 and ended with SNES Wild Guns

[@rowdyrager-9403]

I remember renting this game. Hehe the level clear dance lol😂

[@davidczarco]

I remember playing this as a kid never knowing that rolling game you s of invincibility

[@AngryCalvin]

t's a nice looking port. Used to play it on a trackball at the arcade. I enjoyed the arcade version so much I almost bought it for the NES when I saw it existed. I got Castlevania 3 instead. No regrets there since that became the NES game I played the most. The trackball was a huge part of the fun and what I remember about this game. Yeah I was critical of using the d-pad for the NES version. Was curious to see what I missed out on but I would have missed something much bigger had I bought this game instead.

[@robsonlaranjeiras3473]

Aluguei demais esse jogo, no começo dos anos 90. Levei um bom tempo para conseguir fazer final sem usar continue. Esse é um clássico do NES.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

That is nuts!

[@macdaddymario]

2:10 if you destroy the Keep Out doors, the grnade guys stop coming and you can focus on other stuff. Spent way too much time as a kid rolling and dive jump-roll-thinging over the enemy fire.

[@metalcoola]

Played it on C64, had no idea it was developed by Rare, such shame company lost its steam after Stamper brothers leave it.

[@solarflare9078]

The arcade game was by TAD Corp. The NES game was by RARE

[@tifforo1]

18:00 Killing all the enemies causes the church to collapse. Good... job?

[@NintendoComplete]

+tifforo1 LOL maybe it's a political statement against the idea of organized religion?

[@robertobatistabezerrabatis8204]

CABAL VERSION ARCADE

[@wesleyschulz1723]

Is there anywhere you can still play this game?

[@mrplague2292]

You earned a sub.

[@arielcordoba6603]

uuuuuf me acuerdo cuando lo jugue y llegue solamente hasta el boss del camion y nunca mas aun asi es un juegazo

[@HalifaxHercules]

I'm wondering why Capcom didn't make Cabal for the NES. Capcom made the arcade and computer versions of Cabal, but not the NES version.

[@mrplague2292]

I still have it on my computer

[@jasonbxt]

What is that yellow star for?

[@ezequielsanuy167]

Una de las pocas maravillas del nintendo 8 bits.

[@rodrigoaquino3590]

Comó una de las pocas maravillas del nes?me parese q estas herrado.

[@robertobatistabezerrabatis8204]

CABAL VERSION COMMODORE AMIGA

[@MrBossyful]

Quite a few crosses in this game. :D I guess some publishers could get away with more than others...

[@davidspyro]

Before Wild Guns there was Cabal.

[@ZatohRondohoon3227]

Goddess of Victory: NIKKE? ❌ My brother in Christ, Cabal is the way! 🎉

[@piotrskwierczynski9146]

Is it working on cha ?

[@jesusrivera7061]

Chingon lo jugue en las maquinitas

[@mrplague2292]

Damn

[@cristof87]

Este juego tiene mas nivel de destrucción que battlefield 2042 +

[@OswaldMiyake35]

Correcto? Cabal?

[@NintendoComplete]

The title? Hahaha it is correct in English. In Spanish it means totally different :P

[@OswaldMiyake35]

Well, I'm Honduran that explains all

[@tartuffethesprywonderdog5883]

I presume it's pronounced the same as Kabal from Mortal Kombat.