The Punisher (Arcade) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Capcom's 1993 license-based arcade beat 'em up, The Punisher.
Played through on the default difficulty level.
The Punisher, based on the bad-ass Marvel character, marks the very first time that Capcom and Marvel partnered up, predating the beginnings of the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise by a good few years. It was also one of the few games that ran on Capcom's CPS Dash hardware, which was something of a half-step between the CPS1 and CPS2 platforms.
Alhough the game is (at least in my opinion) far, far too easy - especially for an arcade game - The Punisher is another of my favorite Capcom beat 'em ups. There's a solid variety of easy-to-pull-off moves that are nicely supported by a veritable truckload of weapons for you to maim and murder with, and thanks to the upgraded hardware, you will regularly get swarmed by huge groups of enemies without any sign of slowdown.
The graphics look amazing - there is a ton of variety to be found in the (massive) sprites and backgrounds, and a fair number of items and scenery bits can be destroyed in each stage. The music and the sound effects are also really good, even though I have no idea what those digitized voices are supposed to be saying.
If you've only played the Genesis port, get ready to be surprised. The difference is absolute night and day. The Genesis port wasn't a particularly bad game, but it was a piss poor imitation of the arcade original. This version right here is what you want to play - unless you like your games excruciatingly difficult, watered down, and heavily censored, that is.
If you'd like to see that version, though, you can find my playthrough of it here: • The Punisher (Genesis)...
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
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[@LPetal86]

I consider this one of the best arcade games ever made. The way he shoots criminals to death was always stylish. Capcom at their best.

[@markomarkovic5729]

Punisher, Final Fight and Cadillacs and Dinosaurs were the best arcade games ever.

[@FallouFitness_NattyEdition]

Early Capcom was just on another level.

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

​@@markomarkovic5729 this is just behind Cadillacs and Dinosaurs as the best of the Capcom beat em ups IMO. Which basically means that those two games are the best ever arcade beat em ups

[@mostverticalproductions4808]

​@@joeyjo-joshabadu9636 Shadow Over Mystara is in the running too. Not to mention Armored Warriors and Battle Circuit. Capcom was on another plane in the 90s.

[@R.L._Stine_88]

​@markomarkovic5729 Yo buddy, just a heads up, you can get a legit emulator handheld thing off Temu of all places, looks like a Super NES controller with a screen in the middle. For $15-$20 w/free shipping. N it comes pre loaded with all the games you called out in your comment. Just beat Punisher, about to play Cadillacs and Dinosaurs right now, thanks for the recommendation!!

[@NintendoComplete]

Capcom yet again knocks it out of the park with another incredible beat 'em up based on a comic license.

[@Invidente7]

90's cornball dialogue aside, this is the most accesible punisher game ever. ... Them kids will wonder why nick fury is white

[@NYCJoeBlack]

NintendoComplete - This game, CRIME FIGHTERS, & many other great Arcade games have never seen a home console port! That is a HUGE crime!

[@NintendoComplete]

@@NYCJoeBlack There were a lot of great games that never got a home port for sure. This one did though. It was put on the Genesis.

[@vgaoct91]

@@NYCJoeBlack And extending what NintendoComplete has to say, the Genesis port was surprisingly BELOW subpar!

[@NintendoComplete]

@@vgaoct91 Yeah, I wasn't really a fan. Of course, wtf were they thinking trying to put it on the Genesis to begin with?

[@SoulStreak64]

"If you're guilty, you're dead."

[@TheEman590]

Now THIS is an arcade game with high replay value and well worth the quarters. The attention to detail, the blood and getting different dialogue depending on if you play as Punisher, Nick Fury or both in two player mode, make this one a winner.

[@moviemetalhead]

Everything that was awesome about 90s Punisher wrapped up in a great Capcom game.

[@estebancebreros5432]

Mad props to CAPCOM for nailing the style and character of The Punisher in this game. It's a total blast from start to finish. Granted, I first played the Genesis/Mega Drive port. However, it simply doesn't match the original on many levels. This is the true version.

[@ivanorozco9673]

fun fact the music of this game was composed by yoko shimumra which brought her singniture orchestral style sound full force here for the very first time that paved the way for her orchestral game soundtracks for square games such as live a live for the super famicom,front mission 1 for the super famicom,super mario rpg,legend of mana for the ps1,parasite eve 1 for the ps1 the kingdom hearts series and if you will final fantasy XV and even nintendo's mario and luigi series just to name a few lol

[@estebancebreros5432]

Yoko is an absolute legend of the industry. That is all.

[@symphomaniac]

First stage immediately sounds like KH

[@KameWeeb]

This is Capcom at their FINEST with beat-em-ups. This is EASILY one of the best beat-em-ups you'll ever play.

[@daimiondark1458]

Games like these need to make a return to mainstream gaming

[@mushra50]

Well good news my brother this game is about to be included in a collection coming out pretty soon at the end of this year called the marvel versus Capcom fighting collection classics

[@louiskeiflin5858]

Fun fact: The one that composed the music is also the one who made the kingdom hearts soundtrack.

[@turricanrocks1552]

Mind blowing dude, MIND. BLOWING.

[@joseguevara8321]

@@turricanrocks1552 Yoko Shimomura who also is the Responsible of the Street Fighter II Soundtrack.

[@turricanrocks1552]

@@joseguevara8321 Also mind blowing, I love the SFII soundtrack!

[@mushra50]

She did an amazing job with this music I can kind of hear the Kingdom hearts a little bit in the first stage and she also composed the music for super Mario RPG as well

[@gopats85]

Capcom really had some good soundtracks to there games back then.

[@grumblekin]

When I first played this, I swore the Punisher yelled "WHACKIN' OFF" whenever he did his special...and I have not changed my mind in 30 years.

[@alexl2475]

I completed this back in the day. I think it's a bit of a sleeper hit, overlooked at the time, but now regarded as a classic.

[@MrSuperspeedsonic]

A game of a man buffed as death while punishing the criminals from the world. Yeah, I love this.

[@Shadowninja2099]

Who's back here after Marvel Vs Capcom Collection was announced with The Punisher included?!?!

[@gustavochavarria8161]

Me baby!! (imitates King of Skill's monkey noises) 🦧

[@Tenchi3]

👍🏿

[@thefireysoul]

Yup

[@jefferyquick3280]

You betcha!

[@MajinKaine]

I have to admit. I played this on the emulator and it was great.

[@thatoverweightguywitharms.7961]

I'm right there beside you, I even played it as a 5-7 year-old. Hell, I'm playing this again after years of not doing so.

[@Morningstar91939]

Same here!

[@CloudStrifeZX]

I always wondered what the hell does Frank Yell at the character select screen and while doing his Special move? it sounds like "WARIOOOOOOOOOOOO"

[@HrvojeGrahovac]

That Akiman POWER on the design :)

[@ChipWhitingtonIII]

If only the console port had looked like this.

[@pixelgoat7317]

"WAAAAHEEEYYYYUUUUHH!"

[@ancientone5903]

Seeing The Punisher team up with Nick Fury is a screen to behold in just the video game version alone. Now if only we could see that on the silver screen.

[@samuelcarrasquillo4590]

Teaming up with Nick Fury? Don't Tell Me S.H.I.E.L.D Gotten Tangled a lot of Red Tape!!

[@roberto2k1]

The combat style here was just ahead of its time

[@theoddronin1]

So... Who is here after the announcement?

[@montecristosmith2343]

Me 😂 Very excited to see this one get a rerelease after so long

[@Jackattack359]

Seeing this and MVC 2 in one collection definitely made my day

[@gustavochavarria8161]

(imitates King of Skill's monkey noises) 🦧

[@sharpester7277]

You better believe I am.

[@SixGunRebel]

Hell yeah, son. Don’t have to bust out the Genesis to play the cartridge now.

[@CrucialConflict.]

This is the real Punisher I want to see in the movies, cold and ruthless!

[@samuelcarrasquillo4590]

Cold And Ruthless? You're Not Talking About That Controversial Garth Ennis Run! Aren't You?

[@Moose2498]

Here in 2024 after the announcement!!!

[@davidriley3782]

One of the baddies looks like Ryu from street fighter

[@starkiller1248]

This is bringing back memories of my childhood. I remember playing this in arcades

[@nightrider2002]

I love all your playthroughs and this is awesome as hell game, really nice job capcom did. You also have mass skills in every game you play. I subscribed, keep up the great work!

[@NintendoComplete]

Thanks! Much appreciated :)

[@asbrozek64]

2:29 "Guys the Punisher is right behind me! Someone get Yan Lee, the Karate gangster!"

[@lmcmill5964]

Bruuhhh!! The arcade version is 10x better than the console. The blood, gameplay, certain moves, etc. Even the intro is better. The console version cuts out the family being murdered part. I can understand why. That would’ve messed me up as a kid 🤦🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️....Needless to say, Capcom is the greatest. The greatest arcade game next to Wrestlefest and THE SIMPSONS

[@FreddyFernandoGonzalez1987]

I love this game and the Marvel comic

[@Wesley_C]

This game is a 90's twist.

[@christianhornos6047]

I had never paid attention to the names of the enemies, except the bosses, but in this game you also fight with one of their most terrible enemies: Jigsaw. 34:55

[@RangoTheMercenary]

This game looks like an absolute banger.

[@mcnalga]

I remember as a kid loving you could pick up pretty much everything and toss it and tried picking up the dog in the first level lol

[@bboyhanvzla]

Me: honey, I invited Frank castle for dinner tonight My wife: nice! When is he coming? Me being hit by glass from a broken window: just about...now

[@michaelwerkov3438]

I love how 90s Capcom is just street fighter or street fighter with moving background. Miss is so much

[@whalahiguy]

0:39 BRUTAL

[@zsiles]

Great game, I have got the Megadrive port and is fantastic

[@TenkabitoShien]

The audio in this game is great

[@Drawboy66]

Who's here after the announcement that this game is coming to the Switch along with Marvel VS Capcom?

[@gustavochavarria8161]

Me baby!! (imitates King of Skill's monkey noises) 🦧

[@thefireysoul]

Preordered both switch and ps4 physical copies.

[@unseenphantomamvsytp2186]

Strange how capcom made this but never included him in Marvel vs Capcom.

[@Pichustrikesback]

Licensing mumbo jumbo surely

[@ronsan89]

Omg i remember this game playing at the arcade ahhh so good

[@TCFan25]

Letting the trapped women in the King Pin's castle hug you increases your health.

[@michaelbridges8029]

This is Beat em up game The punisher arcade.

[@aunidade6189]

Classic Arcade Game.

[@luciebureau6815]

It’s 1 year younger than me and it didn’t aged at all. The Punisher is not my favorite character but this game looks good. Well done Capcom😊. PS : i saw your gameplay of Mario teaches typing 2.You did well. I don’t know what else to say because Mario’s head disturbed me a little.

[@vgaoct91]

Need to play this again... And hopefully get the skills necessary for a 1CC, or better yet, no-death run! Chalk this up to the following... The third Punisher game in which the Kingpin's the final boss. (the others being the NES game by LJN/Beam and for the Amiga and DOS PCs by Paragon/Microprose) The first Punisher game to have Bushwacker as a boss. (The other being the 2005 game by Ubisoft and Volition) Jigsaw being a normal enemy as opposed to a major boss (the Punisher NES game by LJN/Beam) or the final boss (The Ultimate Payback for Gameboy and the 2005 game).

[@jamesmoss3424]

The arcade version of the punisher is better than the Sega genesis version. 😀👍🎮

[@aaronjones3504]

That was impressive... Stage 2👍

[@willschweitzer9784]

The music sounds like the soundtrack of an SNES title...

[@miroslavtomic7038]

Unlike regular enemies, who are mostly original characters to the game series, almost all of the bosses, with sole exception of two Guardroids, are actually creations of Marvel and have all been longtime enemies of The Punisher. Especially his arch-enemy Kingpin.

[@Pichustrikesback]

The Guardroid does appear in the comics, it is in Doctor Doom's castle in one of the stories. Also I'm pretty sure some of the designs of regular enemies are based on thugs appearing in some stories as well.

[@ejelecflametails6657]

Guys, its back

[@anonymousgamer5771]

I could swear Nick Fury looks like he's voiced by David Hayter.

[@DemonicAkumi]

Why does this sprite reminds me so much about Cable?

[@dcfanproductions]

why wasn't this in the Capcom Beat Em Up bundle

[@КулакТролля]

*Harewuuraa*

[@leghunter9201]

Played this game hundreds of times alone or with a friend in 1993 until 1998. But what does he say @1:40 and 1:45? We could never understand.

[@nx2917]

I wish we got an animated series of punisher like the X men 98 one

[@megatron8461]

Punisher kicks ass, biggie time!

[@silverflight01]

Welcome back, Punisher

[@GareBearGamingGround]

3:03 You try hitting the dog?? Lmao

[@evankimori]

Maaaaaaaan, I spent SO MANY coins in the arcade and never even saw the end of the game! Thanks for this really well done playthrough! Sucks that you had some deaths but this was great memories to watch. Never knew how to throw enemies though...would've saved me a lotta coins. XD

[@AstroBot8]

3:01 enemy screams like yaaaaaaaaaahhh!

[@Darkchao_berserko22]

So any one heard the news?

[@BazejKrajewski]

Hi anyone knows how to throw escape (when fighting with kingpin, or bonebreaker)?? Plz help

[@danielsantana540]

Great game this is

[@DarKKnightt07]

This is one of the best Beat 'em ups ever made.

[@CloudStrifeZX]

i would love this game on Switch but it seems Capcom lost the rights to do anything with this game along with Alien vs predator

[@KarlSturmgewher]

I would love it on Switch. Capcom just needs to call up Disney for the Marvel-Capcom games though.

[@JRJrsx85]

You guys got your wish

[@NicholasLee-f5x]

This reminds me of streets of rage 1 ,2 ,3 & 4.... but this came out way before I even started playing video games.

[@cankarakaya7594]

You are super player man. Amazing perfomance . 👍💪

[@MrMastaPlanna]

I spent tons of quarters to keep Frank from seeing Microchip playing this back in the day

[@Johnlindsey289]

I was 11 when it came out and dug it

[@dariog36th]

Capcom already had the sprite for the Punisher, I wonder why they never put him in MvC.

[@orlanzo2621]

Yea this was literally their first game they made in collaboration with Marvel. You would have thought they would have for sure put him in some of the VS series games.

[@adnanasif9538]

Punisher's sprites along with his voice samples are quite lacking compared to the rest of the Marvel at the time. Also his sprites' look is quite different in terms of aesthetic.

[@dariog36th]

@@adnanasif9538 they could’ve just used Cable’s sprites. They pretty much would’ve had the same move sets.

[@gurumania1982]

You did not use cheat codes. Bravo .. Very good 👍👍👍

[@sakinkoylu4151]

9:13 te ki adamı öldürmeden oyun koluyla hızlıca sağ-sol yapınca ölümsüzlük kazanılıyordu bir müddet.

[@dswiet1]

This is the best retro arcade beat em up game. What do you play it at?

[@eweiser20]

What's RYU doing in the Punisher arcade game?

[@gochem3013]

So, this is the first Marvel Comics game that was made by Capcom?

[@vildachaya6462]

X-men

[@Franco-Santilario]

The Punisher is the creme de la creme

[@GPWT-video]

But I played a completely different Punisher, which was on the NES.

[@adnanasif9538]

You mean that on rails shooter from LJN? That is a completely different game. This one was made by Capcom.

[@jamesl.anderson1384]

Frank Castle/The Punisher: Come on god, answer me. for years I'm asking why, why are the innocent dead and the guilty alive? Where is justice? Where is punishment? Or have you already answered, have you already said to the world here is justice, here is punishment, here, in me. [Last line] I still talk to God sometimes. I ask him whether what I'm doing is right or wrong. I'm still waiting for an answer. Until I get one, I'll be out there, waiting and watching. Until I get one, the guilty will be punished.

[@Schracid]

So many memories....

[@keimahnee]

Nostalgic asf 💯

[@bigbeauf_____3167]

I always found it impressive when players get top scores on Arcade machines. Do you get any other awards for being a good Arcade player?

[@YukaTakeuchiFan]

Well, in this game's case, the credit sequence is different if you clear the game without continuing.

[@алексейМихаленков]

Passed with one life on slot machines, a super game

[@kyliethelittlespider-mangirl94]

I played the hell outta this game at Comic Con, but one guy stopped me at my high score cuz my stepdad needed me outside.

[@shg45]

2:33 what the dog doin? 🐕

[@casanovaaa93]

Frank possesed by iron fist ,almost no guns.

[@songoku9348]

Never thought I’d see the day Frank kicking the shit out of female ninjas.

[@adnanasif9538]

This is by far the best beat em up arcade game I have ever played. Too bad this game can't see a re-release due to licensing drama.

[@davidriley3782]

It runs off the final fight engine

[@Muppio]

I could NEVER get MAME to work, pisses me off so much!

[@marcelomoura6685]

The Punisher arcade version: 10. Sega Genesis, Punisher version: 8,5.

[@HomeOh-lg8sh]

you are an insane home oh

[@gorilli09]

Punisher and Nick Fury should have been in Marvel vs. Capcom

[@Darkchao_berserko22]

I always found it odd they never made appearances especially in any other games since without this game, marvel vs Capcom wouldn’t of been a thing

[@HomeOh-lg8sh]

@@Darkchao_berserko22 you both are twats

[@britneyspearsvillarosa]

It's a damn shame that The Punisher never got a release on the Mighty SNES just the lowly Sega Genesis got this legendary Beat Em' Up

[@cesar_8336]

12:30 The worst part of being that tank guy would be having no sexual organ. I bet he had a death wish.

[@noahwillis8806]

New York A Jungle

[@Gurkenkasper]

98 % Bratwurst und 2 % Sauerkraut 😃

[@thornuhh]

Greetings you fabulous Earthlings and Happy Saturday!!! 👋👽I bring thin crust pizza to all you friendly Earthlings 🍕Don't mind me, just cruising by:::::::::::::::::🛸

[@nick1428]

Cannot wait to play this on my miyoo mini

[@aaronjones3504]

This looks like a gamepro magazine