Forgotten Games: Undercover Cops - SNESdrunk

[@starlightwitch12]

The developers of this game (and In The Hunt) would later go on to develop the Metal Slug series. HIYA-UNIT did the music for this game. I remember playing the Arcade version on MAME years ago - which also has an Alpha Renewal version. This game and In The Hunt run on the Irem M92 arcade board.

[@nimaiiikun]

I was thinking.. the art style looks a bit like Metal Slug (especially the background styles, and the shading). then I saw your comment!

[@PrinceofFreshia]

What is an alpha renewal version ?

[@vasilas432]

@@PrinceofFreshia A super rare arcade PCB version. It has all moves and nude from Japanese arcade but with English translation.

[@blaster5800]

A true hidden gem. Even the arcade version was almost impossible to find, at its time.

[@mjbeltran9429]

Have I ever told you SNES drunk is on my top 5 of favorite KZbin channels? If I haven't said it yet we'll thanks for your channel.

[@fores7ght]

yes lmao

[@RenPenov]

I've beaten this game a couple times. It wasn't the most smooth arcade transition IMO... something about the damage values and hit priority (especially vs. bosses) constantly remind me that this was a game made to drain quarters out of our pockets. Enemies like the baseball bat guys are pretty tedious to fight because the only safe move to use on them is also the slowest. It's a decent game, though. I like the art style and the touches you mentioned. Great review, man!

[@LeonardoTiburcio]

One thing you forgot to mention is the special moves, you have to jump and input a certain combination to execute a really devastating attack. Each character has its own move.

[@robertwildschwein7207]

The first boss is a terminator. Him getting crushed by the garbage press is a reference to the movie.

[@Aztyph]

Great review. Glad that you finally got to mentioning this hidden gem. Something that you neglected to mention is that in addition to each character's normal "get off me!" move, they have a special Desperation Move that drains *a lot* more health, but deals a crazy amount of damage. Each of them is performed in the air, and requires a special input a la _Street Fighter II_ or _Final Fight 3._

[@SNESdrunk]

I really hope one day that someone out there decides to start translating instruction manuals, that would've helped in this case.

[@Aztyph]

@@SNESdrunk Yeah, it really would. The only reason I know about them at all is because I was watching a speedrun, and saw the player breaking out some crazy moves I never saw before.

[@doggfite]

4:20 video with undercover cop in the title? Seems like a setup

[@soupalex]

how do u do fellow teens, my name is brad… cooldude… and im definitely not a cop! what say you we grab a chocolate malt and then smoke some "dank nuggets"!?

[@PandaXs1]

@@soupalex nah man kids these days are about those electric cigarettes, y'know "vaking"

[@slowbro13215]

Don't forget the character named "Dooby" at 3:17

[@Roronoa79]

I'm a simple man. I see new SNES drunk at 7 am, I watch it.

[@drmarcosmelo]

Because you want to have a great rest of your day hehehe

[@reagandow850]

It always makes my day too!

[@billystars]

There’s nothing wrong with simple when it’s so damn cool.

[@Skellotronix]

You're a meme. Grow up.

[@bashthefash420]

Best retro reviewer along with GGGMan.

[@The7ifra]

This game is a Blast!! Didn't know about the English patch

[@HybridAngelZero]

Wait, you can hit people with a fish?! Well, this just leaped up my must-play list

[@retro_boy_advance]

Wow this game looks great! Thanks for highlighting this. I'm gonna go check it out.

[@NESADDICT]

Like SNES version of streets of rage.

[@Aegis._]

I love your channel, boy. SNES lover from Chile

[@Larry]

Special moves that cost you health in scrolling beat em ups are called "desperation moves".

[@nightsong81]

I also hear them called "super joy" for some reason. Not sure where the term comes from.

[@PandaXs1]

@@nightsong81 'cause using them makes you feel super happy, duh

[@hdofu]

Hello You.

[@GregHuffman1987]

larry bundy spotting. haha

[@jmaguadog]

This is getting an officially licensed US release by Retro-Bit next year! I can’t wait to pickup a physical copy.

[@playafly316]

Is this still happening? When did they talk about it.

[@BALBOATOR]

Hi SnesDrunk, first time commenting in your videos. You pointed out everything that made this game great. Just to let you and everyone know, this game was so popular in Japan that it got it's own manga adaptation in 1993 at Gamest Comics in Shinseisha. I would have loved to read it.

[@thomasthetrain3942]

SNES Content for Breakfast!!! All I play is The SNES and retro inspired games for the current Gen Consoles...Games like Shovel Knight, Völgarr the Viking and Super Hydorah. Keep up the Good Work!

[@8thLife]

The single shot kill on the 1st boss was great; wish more games had cool outlets like that for you to discover to take out bosses.

[@josephjoestar5444]

Metroid

[@8thLife]

@@josephjoestar5444 Metroid is on my to play list for sure. I played SOTN a couple of years ago for the first time and it made me realize how much I enjoy the Metroid-Vania sub-genre. Been playing tons of different games in that style ever since. I don't have any Nintendo systems after the N64 so I might have to buy it for the SNES to be able to play it...or I might wait until I eventually get a Switch.

[@KTJohnsonkidThunder]

An international release of this game was scrapped probably because Irem's American division closed shop. Plus, developers of this game went on and did Gunforce 2, In the Hunt, and Metal Slug.

[@jinpei05]

How funny that this is coming out in 2021 from Limited Run Games

[@Daniel-it1dp]

Cool 😎 , just the video I was looking for. Nice that you updated your description with the LRG sale 👍

[@samurizzy]

How the heck may one become an, "Ex-Katate Master"? Does he have amnesia?

[@t-wrecksthenerdasaur7468]

I guess he's retired from the business of "Karate Mastery" and now he's just a Karate Enthusiast ;)

[@orinanime]

Oh man! This game looks like it's right up my alley! So much fun. And I love games that add extra attention to small details.

[@thenostalgiafactor5023]

I play the original arcade version on my MAME cabinet all the time.

[@timmer919hep]

You had me at flying butt move

[@av4010]

it's also incredibly expensive if you want a physical copy!

[@nateblack8669]

That's why I got a wireless controller for my phone. It's turned my phone into a freaking NES/SNES/Famicom/Super Famicom/GB/GBA/NDS/PS1 powerhouse. I'd go full retro if I could afford it. I'm also obsessed with collecting rare VHS, so I understand the importance of owning physical copies, but for the expensive as shit cartridges, a wireless phone controller works *wonders!* It's like having a retro Switch, and you don't have to deprive yourself of any ridiculously overpriced hidden gems like Earthbound or Hagane or anything that didn't make it overseas that you can now play in English! It's something I'd recommend to anybody who watches SNESDrunk 👍🏼

[@flywheels]

There are repros with the English patch you can buy for around $30

[@adrenalinex4]

Jules Ballard which wireless control are you using?

[@nateblack8669]

@@adrenalinex4 Mine is simply called an M1 Wireless Controller, and it's really worked wonders for me. I'm in the middle of Final Fantasy 7, a game I never thought I'd play again because I'm just that broke and will be for awhile considering my living situation, but thanks to this wireless controller (which was actually a gift from a friend, in case your wondering how I could afford one) I'm half way through the first disc, and that's not to mention the thousands of dollars worth of SNES games I'm revisiting from my childhood. Again, my controller was a gift from a friend, but if you have money like a normal person (unlike myself), you can get one for $30-$40 👍🏼

[@adrenalinex4]

Jules Ballard it doesnt have any input lag?

[@goatbone]

Great soundtrack and I love the character designs.

[@rodrigof.r.desouza3587]

I remember playing the Arcade version on MAME more than a decade ago. Great game, indeed!

[@reagandow850]

I’m so happy! My favorite days are any day there’s a new snesdrunk!

[@alphadad2225]

I remember seeing that preview in Nintendo Power and thinking how cool it looked, and then nothing for 20+ years 😂 still looks awesome though

[@DanDoesGame]

I've NEVER found a beat em up better than "Spiderman Maximum Carnige" for the SNES...... This game looks fun though, Ill have to check it out

[@zerocal76]

Huge Metal Slug fan here and this game is from those developers (well some). I found this by going into like a 2 hour rabbit hole-of retro game collecting. Happy that you did a review on it, thank you! 😁

[@youremakingprogress144]

The first boss turns out to be a Terminator-style robot, and you can crush him in an industrial press. That's a pretty great reference - especially because the between-levels screen called itself Assessment Day. I love games with a sense of humor.

[@kwizzeh]

Just a heads up update on this title, Retro-Bit and Irem collaborated for an limited English release for US and EU featuring a brand new translation (from an unrevealed but reputable translator) and lots of other delicious goodies included. Some places are also offering just a regular edition repo cart if the limited edition isn't available anymore.

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

I like how you used the actual gameplay audio (music and sound fx) in the background for this video. I think think that's better than just using one looping song like in some other vids. It gives us a better feel for the game hearing the sound fx and different level music.

[@novelkars835]

One more thing: the super jump moves which aren't as vulnerable as regular ones, they require a bit of runup distance. Unless those were unavailable in the recent English release version (because that is what happened in the older us version that I can find online).

[@manichispanic999]

There's a band named Power Glove that sampled music from this game

[@tollban]

Great graphs & action! But, wait a moment... You are no more undercover when you' re smashing every crook on your way!😂👊👊

[@sandroconrado7417]

Great video, like all videos on this channel

[@Gojiro7]

Fantastic review Snes Drunk :3 you covered everything that makes this game great (though you left out the odd things you eat as health pick ups) and thats what makes a great KZbin reviewer ^_^ keep staying down to earth (and minimal on personal nit picks) and ill definitely keep subscribed :D

[@kevinkeene474]

Retrobit is doing a physical release and Limited Run Games is doing the releases. 3/12/21 is the last day to get it, So hope you can snag it. GO GO GO!

[@cliffjumper1984]

I got a new idea for a 16 bit brawler that MAYBE no one has thought of. Now get this...there is 4 playable characters. And no one is a ninja/ karate master/student and no one is a ex football player/ex wrestler

[@nightsong81]

So, it's a brawler where nobody knows how to fight?

[@cliffjumper1984]

@@nightsong81 didnt know football stars and wrestlers could fight?

[@nightsong81]

@@cliffjumper1984 Depends on if you mean pro wrestlers or the MMA kind. Football players, meh. Though to be frank, I think this is the first brawler I saw a football player in. I've seen skateboarders, rollerbladers and baseball players, but football player doesn't strike me as a brawler cliche like the ubiquitous ninja/martial artist/grappler trio. Hockey player I'd think would be the next logical choice, but I haven't come across one of those, either. I'm more curious what you want to replace the fighting game tropes with.

[@cliffjumper1984]

@@nightsong81 not saying they have to be a "fighter guy" I guess I never said I just dont want to see a stereotype. But i thought about it.....the alien vs. Predator arcade game beats my thought :p

[@nightsong81]

@@cliffjumper1984 True, and AVP is awesome. The Simpsons, too, which is quintessentially "a brawler where nobody knows how to fight." And AVP was pretty unique in its day, though aliens and robots are also something you see in brawlers from time to time. It was nice to see some guns mixed into the action, like AVP and another arcade favorite of mine, The Punisher, did. But do that too much and you risk a genre shift. I guess my major caveat would be that I'd rather see soldiers, martial artists and ninja than the truly zany stuff (sentient kangaroos and other zoo animals being the primary example that comes to mind) in brawlers, which have become their own kind of cliche in the attempt to break that mold.

[@ZForceFFC]

This is a pretty solid beat em up, but the second level boss is the stuff nightmares are made of.

[@Caliberraged]

NBA Jam suggested retail price was 74.95. No wonder I only rented games as a kid

[@DSan-kl2yc]

I never saw games that high

[@8wealthyone8]

Good one. Please make more. Your great!

[@GoondocksCastle]

Someone convince a smart person to create a 2player romhack of this.

[@corrado]

Fisticles just play the arcade rom. It’s 2 players coop. Just take my advice and play the Japanese arcade which gives each characters more special moves.

[@jessematherly5617]

@@corrado where is a good place to find this?

[@whitestriderable]

Iron Commando is not only brutally difficult, but almost totally broken...

[@stinkypinkeee5085]

This game didn't port to the U.S. most likely because the people who bought those had moved on to fighting games...by late 1993/1994 the Super Nintendo top sales were almost all fighters...American Gamers had been inundated with beat 'em ups dating back to Double Dragon, heck, Kung-Fu Heroes of you wanna get technical (Though I'm sure someone will cite an earlier example.)...I was ready to move on, personally, and only played stuff like Final Fight 2 or TMMT when I had company over and they didn't wanna get Ryu'd by me in SF2...I dunno, we missed out on a lot of cool stuff over here...

[@TMS9918A]

You may have wanted to mention that the Gameboy Spin-off is a frickin Video Board Game! Not what you'd expect at all.

[@wrena79]

One day I will find and purchase the Japanese pcb of this. Top quality beat-em-up fun

[@emfs9522]

Amazon two hundred dollars lol. I thought imports are cheaper!!

[@vasilas432]

Good luck finding it and if you find it prepare 700-800

[@wrena79]

vasilas432 yeah well aware of that. Own quite a few already and only getting more expensive year on year 😩

[@TheVileOne]

I love learning about games like this

[@KnarfBlack]

How undercover can they be if they're constantly beating criminals up?

[@ObsoleteVodka]

Because they're beating them to a pulp and probably killing them, not arresting them. Also, no uniforms or badges.

[@Ramjet164]

If I punch u hard enough, u won’t remember my face

[@zakazany1945]

@@Ramjet164 That's the best explanation

[@ralfvanbogaert3451]

2P option sacrifice aside, this is actually a great port. I always wondered what the motivation was behind the decision to make the gameplay *much* worse in the Western arcade release, halving the character's moveset and removing the special moves altogether.

[@Red_Sutter]

@Ralf Van Bogaert Bad western releases of arcade games were sometimes used as a way to discourage reverse importing, since it was usually cheaper to import a game from a western distributor than it was to order the game directly from the publisher

[@Gl0wsquid]

The western release was literally just the Alpha build of the game. One of the designer of the game was asked about it in a French interview a few years back: he had no idea the game was released in that state in the west and speculated they used the Alpha instead of waiting for the finished game because Irem USA was badly hurting for cash (they would go bankrupt not too long after releasing the game)

[@jasonz7788]

Great work Sir thank you

[@johnnymoreira192]

It took me a long time to find out this game title,I use to play It once in a while...Thanks!

[@corrado]

Played the arcade game for years. Japanese version has additional power moves that the U.S. version cut. Another great beat em up of that era is Night Stalkers (uncensored Japanese version) And another HUGE beat em up people missed out on is “Sengoku 3”

[@vasilas432]

Night Slashers was a Resident Evil beat em up before PS1. Then again has common with Splatterhouse

[@tiagocosmos]

oh wow thank you yet again for bringing yet another game to my attention.

[@Bada4ever]

Thank you so much!

[@onetwo6039]

Glad I saw this video. Almost bought a repro on ebay thinking it was legit.

[@jeremyhall2727]

I have to play this one again. It's been a long time. It reminds me of fist of the north star

[@bronysimpson3250]

it really sucks that this game never came out in America. I remember reading about that game in Nintendo Power back in 2007.

[@playafly316]

they were still talking about this game in 2007? do you remember which issue mentioned it?

[@bronysimpson3250]

@@playafly316 no, they weren't. I was reading about it in an old issue of NP from the 1990's.

[@davemarx7856]

Flying Posterior STRIKE

[@ggbetz]

Only got that out of cammy (Street Fighter II), and Aska (TMNT TF) otherwise!

[@jbparish7656]

my phone cc'd "nice truck" for the intro lol

[@TheBeird]

Hey I recognise some of the background music from this game; Power Glove sampled it, along with Streets of Rage 2, for their song Streets of 2043!

[@farleysmoke5130]

Nice just ordered this cart 👍🏼 cheers Snes man

[@LordSephleon]

Huh... I remember having played this game a lot, likely in the arcades. Zen's and Rosa's overall designs and those oddball female enemies that balance on one leg while hopping around like grasshoppers look way too familiar. Kinda wish it had been sent over to the US back then. I would have totally included it in my game collection and played it to death even despite the lack of 2 player coop. Thanks for the vid as always, Drunk! Gonna have to see if I can hunt down the English patched version now... :)

[@blinxerizer5426]

It's now getting an official NA release from retrobit.

[@MrKichtopher]

Great content love this channel

[@youdontneedtoseehisidentif4939]

I'm definitely getting a Masamune Shirow vibe from the art-style of the characters…

[@ignignxkt]

Looks good. Will have to try on my super famicom.

[@chinogeekseveryday3761]

Good thing Unlimited Run Games is doing Preorder RN 😎🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@raphsav4009]

It seems really satisfying to bash enemies with that huge pilar

[@corrado]

Raph Sav steel beams as well. Fun game

[@VorpalDerringer]

This whole game looks pretty different and weird, which is good, if the mechanics are kinda of derivative. Big ups on the Terminator boss crushing mechanic and the removable concrete pillar that degrades over time, those are pretty dang cool!

[@exodous02]

Had to watch this to see if I wanted the Reto-bit reprint of it. I'm still on the fence, I got their MM Wiley Wars and it should get here this month. This is probably one if I do get it I won't go all out, just the box and game, not into the vinyl big headed dolls and the other extras are for those that have a nostalgic connection to the game.

[@MAYOFORCE]

Shouldn't the pillar work the opposite where because the stronger character is swinging with more force, it would break down with less hits?

[@mariogamefreak1]

Sounds like some reality show

[@jmbenetti]

I believed this game was the sane as Vendetta, but I was wrong. I watched the video waiting for mentions of the perverts guys and dogs, but it's another game.

[@josho.4694]

Sold! Looks like a winner.

[@Kos4Evr]

Sounds more like streets of rage than final fight, but that's not a bad thing

[@ethanyoder9953]

So close to 100K subscribers!

[@Randhrick]

Oh, that looks like a nice game to **check eBay prices** have on my Mini SNES !

[@Atari_Dude]

This looks great. Also I have to mention it....Chrono playthrough continuation!

[@losttribe3001]

3:08. Wait...what the hell was that?!?

[@LakituAl]

Probably the reason it was cancelled in the us lol

[@realhumanbean46]

hmm looking at this because Limited Run has a last day order today for this game with a full English translation.

[@HsienKoMeiLingFormerYANG]

Remind me another JP beat em up, Vendetta and incredible Metal Slug. Former Irem developers seem big fan of all Hokuto no Ken and Guyver vibe.

[@ClevertonHeusner]

Nice graphics and sound.

[@jaydubb2092]

There is a remake of this game happening

[@christiandornan1308]

I was going to buy Undercover Cops in 2006 for £60 mint but a week later the price went up about £120. The shop found out it was becoming rare I guess.

[@jeremylovesretro]

I have an English brew of this, but you can only play as Zahn. Is it always one player only or is that just my copy? If my understanding is correct, part of your assessment at the end of each level involves how diverse your move usage was. For instance, if you spam the same move throughout the level, the chances of you scoring higher - and getting that extra life - diminish. Edit: I did a little digging and found a walkthrough that said the most important metric in your assessment is the number of "Finess Moves," and to kill enemies slowly and avoid throwing them down pits for higher assessments.

[@eppskevin]

I hear the rhythm of the night inspiration

[@SharifSourour]

It's a Neo Geo arcade port.

[@XAzzuroX]

Im so gonna play this

[@natejoe9924]

I love beat them UPS

[@TheGryf0xxx]

I hope you have a great rest of YOUR day.

[@backinthedaygamer]

It has a diff graphic style which reminds me a bit of Bayou Billy

[@knowledgeseeker4116]

Snnnnnnnmmn nes drunk! 😂 just loving it!

[@GregHuffman1987]

I love this game, along with Violent Storm and Cadillacs & Dinosaurs its one of my fave unknown beat em ups. i had a problem with the screen freezing up when it should scroll and id have to restart the game. ugh

[@boorhaave5880]

Enjoy the rest of your day.

[@cesarcazares6728]

Nice review