RoboCop | The 1988 Arcade Game Debut | Arcade Archive

Robocop was one of the biggest movies of the '80s, but it was also a huge video game, both in the arcade and on home computers and consoles. We're very lucky to have a dedicated Robocop arcade cabinet from 1988 here at the Arcade Archive, so let's learn all about it.
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#robocop #robocopgameplay #robocopgame

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Please subscribe to Tony’s KZbin channel for more hints and tips and arcade walkthroughs youtube.com/@RetroRicc?si=viFxwvu9ch68pB8e

[@abovethecrates]

Good memories of this cab, i was born in 85 lived by the beach so we had the arcades there and my grandad would always walk us up and down the pier everyday when we was young and the noises of this particular cab was always mesmorising and scary. Then when i was only a little bit older me and my brother got my hands on our parents vhs copy and it was match made in heaven.

[@JayPase]

Thanks for making this video long form by showing us the cab, talking about the company history, going through the diff versions, and then having Tony play a strong session = Fantastic Arcadian content !

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thank you Jay I try my best to incorporate as much information as I can and game play.

[@magicknight8412]

I played this in a local chip shop in Kingston, I managed to complete it with a good few quids worth of continues! Very satisfying game to play

[@btr3k]

Really fun to watch. I remember back in probably 1989, someone from school was determined to complete the game. On the final level, he would last a few steps, die, insert coin to continue, repeat. He must have inserted hundreds of coins. But he did finish the game!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

And I bet thousands of other kids did exactly the same 😂 Great story 👍

[@ArmandQ.]

That's how most arcade games were designed LOL.....Quarter Suckers 😁

[@HappyCodingZX]

When I was in my first year at Surrey Uni, they had an arcade area in student bar with this one which I played to death until I could complete it with a single credit. Other highlgihts were Power Drift and 88 Games.

[@CouchCoop128]

The Gameboy version was surprising loyal to this ! nice vid,

[@sambagogo777]

Cool to see the mighty Speccy spanking the Amiga on the day my ZX Spectrum Next finally arrived!

[@rasberrycast]

Used to hang around this cab waiting for it to talk.

[@GeorgesChannel]

Great video! Love the collaboration with Neil and the gameplay demostration! Your friend IS Robocop! Thank you for the cooperation :)

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thank you

[@gn7740]

I agree. I've played a lot of machines in my youth at the Spanish city (Dire Straits) and have never seen this cabinet.

[@pin00ch]

My fave!!! Im 49 and this machine still lives in my memories. I want one of my own.

[@pin00ch]

This cab looks very different to the one I used to play back in the day...or maybe my memory is shafted.

[@pin00ch]

The game got tedious on level 2. I loved/love it but only ever play level one, even now lol

[@pin00ch]

The dude knows what he doing! Lose the tri-way gun early on level one!!!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

@@pin00chyou probably played it on a jamma cab like me bitd?

[@GASHPAN]

My local chip shop had this in their jamma cab. Robocop replaced SFII, having had a very long time in there. I always remember the very distinct attract sounds from the cab which was deliberately quite loud. I enjoyed playing this after seeing the movie multiple times on VHS. Good times 👍

[@TheArcadeArchive]

My experience was on VHS as well and it left quite an impression as it was Ultra violent film.

[@toadtoadhall]

I played this in tons of arcades when I was younger, it’s the first time I’ve seen an original cab

[@MatthewExplores]

spent loads playing this on holiday at butlins as a youngster, the movie is still my favourite

[@ArcadeAzrall]

Incredible video Alex, love the collaboration here, such a great idea and format. More of this please!

[@steffenjachnow8176]

> "More of this please!" Absolutely!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks Allan

[@thegreatjonzini]

Loved this game at the arcade loved the msx /spectrum port. Loved playing this again at the arcade archive 🥂

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks for coming to the museum 😎👍

[@arronfrost2872]

My local chippy had 2 jamma cabs one with this and one with bad dudes vs dragon ninja.10p a play loved going in there.

[@johnadlington5416]

That's a thing of beauty

[@joebristowtechnologicalbre2073]

when robocop first arrived in my local arcade it was a big hit, hard as nails, but the graphics and sound took you straight back the film.

[@sheppeyfishtales]

Bad Dudes vs Dragon Ninja! Loved that as a kid 🤩

[@MikkyTee]

One of my favorite arcade games from the day. Could hear the attract mode echoing across the floor. Never had the opportunity to play the dedicated cabinet, so this is really nice to see one here. What a great game all in.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Couldn't agree more!

[@chinering23]

Yeah she's vintage, it was awesome when it came out, one of the few arcades that I could still probably get away with 10-40p to complete it. Poor sods at home having to play Amstrad CPC ports at the time, the Amiga and Atari ST were pretty good ports though. All ports were playable aside from the Speccy version.

[@MikkyTee]

@@chinering23 agreed, loved the loading music on c64. I had an msx in those days and it’s version was a port of the spectrum which was not a bad version considering the machine.

[@lowfinger]

Great memories of this in a local video game shop, in Stockport off Hillgate. Golden Axe was another long term fixture there.

[@gustav1835]

Remember seeing this at my local leisure centre where I had swimming lessons, was probably about 8 or 9 years old, wondering what the game was about.

[@Chriva]

You know I must say it. Welcome back retro Tom Hardy! :)

[@TheArcadeArchive]

I’ll have to start saying some quotes from his films 😂

[@RichRap3D]

Great video Alex, Robocop holds a special place for me, both the Arcade and the Film.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thank you Richard

[@TheRetroShed]

I remember seeing this and R-Type at the same time in an arcade in Barry Island - would have been 1988. Two impressive cabs both side by side. That was me sorted for hours! (Or as long as my coins lasted) great times.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Fond memories Barry and magical times 👍

[@shanestatham]

Just stumbled on the channel and what a treat! Accurate history, high-level videography and wonderful, knowledgeable presenters. This is gaming heaven! Thank you guys.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thank you for your kind words it’s much appreciated, welcome to the channel 😎👍

[@SMlFFY85]

PEW PEW PEW PEW "You are under arrest!" PEW PEW PEW PEW

[@rayleonard7251]

Paid a visit today here and what an familiar nostalgic experience, playing RoboCop with 80s music playing in the background truly epic. Definitely worth a visit Thanks for the experience.

[@CorruptionDee]

Awesome video. Brings back childhood nostalgia. I miss the 80s and 90s.

[@jimmywhyte7181]

If you jump over the crates instead of destroying them, then walk forward until the crate is just off screen, its possible to duck and punch them infinitely thus getting giant high scores that could not be achieved otherwise. works in a few places. I like this machine and played the amiga version too back then.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks for the tips 😎👍

[@mancman-bu4kz]

Robocop 1 & 2 my fave arcade games ever

[@BottIsNotABot]

Love Robocop. Spectrum version is still my favourite (not that I am biased at all), and think it's probably one of the best pieces of music to ever grace the platform.

[@angelvids6024]

Ariston and ooon lol that brings back memories!

[@retroimportgamer513]

An awesome cab and a great masterclass play through. I've certainly never seen the arcade cab in the flesh, the Speccy version was the one I played👍

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks James

[@electricadventures]

One of the icons of the arcade scene, even if you never played it, it was one of the games that you heard in the arcade. I didn’t play it much back in the day, as my coins went to Xevious and Gyruss in the same small arcade that I saw it in down here (probably a JAMMA can as well). I have this horizontal multi that has the game on it, and I put it on in my mini-arcade when I am working on things purely for the background sound :) Great team up with Neil to show the home versions, played most of those.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks Tony The attract mode is definitely one worth having in the back ground for nostalgia.

[@jjermar1]

Great coverage and comparison of platforms! I like this format.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Glad you liked it! Thank you 🙏

[@TraitorVek]

I was always in the Arcades - Loved it!

[@VanDammage87]

Love the Collab with RMC. Perfect 👌

[@MIKandJEAN]

Was the guy upstairs a proper Alan Sugar fan boy or what? C64 title screen music rules and graphically was impressive for the time by C64 standards. Even the cassette loading screen and Ocean Loader 4 music are iconic and one of the most memorable moments for C64... These days your supposed to see the good in old games regardless of quality as you can bet someone out there is fond of it! 😉

[@RMCRetro]

The Amstrad music is the same as the Spectrum and Gameboy, so that's not really specific to the Amstrad. The Spectrum version was my favourite. The C64 just felt off to me, but the music was good. I think I like the music on the other micros because it transcends what that hardware should be capable of in a musical performance, whereas the C64 has the SID and should be singing in every game. Neil (the guy upstairs)

[@TN_AU]

Stage 4 Boss: TIP Another good tip for the ball and chain bulldozer boss is try to get to the right of the screen, turn left, while standing, get your gun pointed to the top left. When you set this position and let go of the joystick, Robocop will still have his gun pointed in the angle, then simply press down on the joystick to crouch, if you don't, the machine will hit you on the way back, you will notice the gun will still be in the same position, from here just keep shooting in the angle.

[@Retro_B8]

I knew when I saw the thumbnail I was gonna enjoy this video, but seriously this is all of the best you’ve done. Absolutely love Robocop on the arcade and have a great memories of never getting to the broken part of the Commodore 64 conversion. Awesome stuff

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thank you paul it’s much appreciated.

[@mogwaay]

Good tips there, would've really helped me as I sucked at this during my visit to the Archive - I'll need to pop back and at least get to level 2!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

I’ll have the full walkthrough on my second channel of that helps.

[@mogwaay]

@@TheArcadeArchive oh cool, will be very keen to check it out. I had the NES version as a kid and that spikey wall drove me nuts, I don't think I got passed it either!

[@IanCullen1975]

I didn't know about the ariston advert, that's wild!

[@TristanGreaves]

Great video. Love the variety of the cab tour, home computer editions and the 1337 gameplay strats!! Subscribed and looking forward to more in the future.

[@user-ho6yq3lq3y]

Love these videos, thankyou for keeping the dream alive

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thank you

[@kevinmccartney4906]

Great episode Alex! Loved the collabs. Fun to share your enthusiam and learn about games and systems I know little about. Keep up the good work! I started bulding a counter-top cabinet and am having a lot of fun!!!🕹🚀🔥😉

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Would like to see you pictures of your bar top your building Kevin

[@kevinmccartney4906]

@@TheArcadeArchive For sure Alex - I'll get some pics and post them for you!

[@Retro_Russ_]

Another great video- thanks Alex. Merry Christmas mate!

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks Russ 😎👍

[@sammuslu2992]

I still play this game on my emulator on mame(retro pie) i use xbox 360 street fighter 4 arcade sticks,i love it

[@internetjunkie5241]

This should have been included as an unlockable bonus in the current gen release of the game.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

That would be a fantastic Easter egg 👍

[@leonhantz6383]

I did not know that about the Ariston advert thanks!

[@earlbrown4398]

All your videos are great, but this is my new fave, as I can relate to it so much! I've never seen that cab before, and, like you only ever played it on a Jamma, I recall my cousin Sull was pretty good on it! I bought the game for the CPC464 while on holiday in Dumfries and played the hell out of it! Love your work guys, have a great weekend.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks for your kind words and support it’s much appreciated 😎👍

[@lifeisagame2023]

Peter who i do improv with sometimes made the amiga and St version on his own. Nice bloke

[@jasonglasper8109]

Great new section for the channel Alex u should do more of these definitely. All set to visit next month and looking forward to meeting you guys, fingers crossed no train strikes plz. 👍👊

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Oh fantastic look forward to seeing you too 😎👍

[@neil1637]

Love this game. So hard on the last couple of levels though. Iconic film for me too. Obviously there is only one movie..

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Yea I wasn’t so keen on the remake either. Thanks for watching Neil

[@craiggilchrist4223]

Just as I was writing about Ariston Ad you mentioned it.

[@faenethlorhalien]

Very fun game. Played it on a pirated cabinet, like 99% of what you'd get in the 80s and early 90s in Spain unless you went to a big amusement park or a big rec center in Barcelona or Madrid. Anywhere else, always the same black cabinets with the 2 or 3 large buttons. It made no difference, tbh.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

That’s right you didn’t care back then as a kid as we’re just happy to play the game

[@markspencer9165]

Thanks for the Robocop write up ! I remember this I loved the spectrum version , same programmer as renegade . It was at the top of the charts for eternity it seemed ! Atari St was good too (not as good as speccy tho) which I played after upgrading from my 8 bit. Robocop arcade could be completed on 1 credit great game and still is

[@Evercade_Effect]

Great video! I enjoyed the history and play through at through end. I remember enjoying the arcade version but NES not so much.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Cheers mate

[@ewstargamer]

Interesting look at the Robocop games the one I played the most bitd would have been on the gameboy, Tony is such a good game player and was a joy to see him get so far Great video Alex 👍

[@PeterR1chard]

Another great episode. Thanks for the Robocop tips, will try them out. I always sucked at this game.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

I’ll upload the full walkthrough with Tony on my 2nd channel 👍

[@XBOXTimeDevil]

Love this format! Can we have a New Zealand story one please!

[@Ed-eq5kd]

Great Video Alex. Loved the original movie, so many great lines. Like you, I only ever played this on a Jamma Cab back in the day. I definitely think the bigger dedicated cab would have encouraged me to deposit a few more 10ps. Good to see Tony getting to level 5, never got past level 4 myself.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Thanks Ed hopefully catch up with you over Christmas 👍

[@Ed-eq5kd]

Would love to Alex. Been looking at dates to come to AA but my son is always playing football. Take care mate

[@johnjames7332]

Loved this game, played it on the beach arcades in Durban. Could finish it with one 20c coin 🕹

[@IntriguingTech]

Theres loads of glitches in this game. Its what made it fun.

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Weirdly more interested in that pong cabinet, as I've never seen one in real life. That is the original "arcade" game (if only space was cabinet was available - thats more fun, but quite hard to see what's going on compared to the 60s mainframe version)

[@TheArcadeArchive]

We have two Pongs at the museum one of which is Britons first video game Ping Pong.

[@azzawhite2946]

I believe the Amiga version was ported from the Atari ST version, also I believe a new version is coming to the Amiga soon which is much closer to the arcade original

[@JustinCardiff]

I never get very far in this game, had it on the Spectrum, and played the arcade game recently.

[@TraitorVek]

Subbed!

[@willrobinson7599]

Great video on one of my fav games. Disappointed u didn't show what the big point bonus items where on the scrap yard level

[@TheArcadeArchive]

He didn’t get it unfortunately

[@jumpingeneral]

Hey Alex good to see you hope all is well 👍I’m currently restoring a robocop cabinet as well

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Oh that’s cool! I’d be interested to see your restoration photos

[@Rob.Coleman]

Never played this in the arcade but I certainly rinsed the fantastic Spectrum version BITD, think I paid more than a dollar for it though 😏.

[@goldenaxe1986]

Surprised Robocop wasn't completed or at least got further. Looked to me as if the system was set up on easy or maybe its just me. GREAT Vid Though. Enjoyed It All the Way Through. STill haven't visited Yet but hopefully MY Nostalgia Will hold out till the new Year.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Look forward to your visit 😎👍

[@stewsretroreviews]

Classic Robocop, I loved the arcade version back in the day👍 I've also just reviewed the classic Zx Spectrum version recently on my channel too if your interested? It's probably better I'm sure 😆 Great content and thanks for sharing mate 👍

[@faenethlorhalien]

Can't leave without singing: "HE IS A ROBOT ! HE IS A COP! HE IS A ROBOCOP! THEY DID HIS HEAD IN AND NOW HE'S DEAD IN NOW HE'S A ROBOCOP!" I blame Ashens.

[@dant5464]

12:20 Holmes vs Motiarty, Robocop vs mashy spike plate.

[@beaumotplage]

I never saw it in our local arcades, but it seemed to always be on the North Sea Ferries. It's a great game, very well calculated difficulty - it feels 1CC-able but I never did. We had a PC back in the day and there were 2 DOS versions. We bought the Ocean CGA version of the Spectrum game. It was ugly, slow and sounded horrible. The other version was an arcade port by Data East, but I don't think you could get it in the UK.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

I’ve heard a few people say they can 1cc the game but watching Tony the other day it looks extremely hard.

[@jumpingeneral]

My original robocop cabinet is gray. Interesting yours is blue

[@RetroReels]

Great game that I have enjoyed playing against and again throughout the years. Did you know that the Japanese version has an extra level at the beginning?

[@TheArcadeArchive]

No I did not know that really ?

[@RetroReels]

@@TheArcadeArchive Sorry, I got confused - just checked and it’s the Robocop 2 game that has an extra level, not the first. The extra level takes place in the OCP offices where you fight ED-209

[@tomdavies6368]

IIRC the home versions were not ports, but the original versions. The Arcade game was a 'port' of them, I think.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

The arcade version was made first by data east and the ports came after.

[@RyuHayabusa06]

The reason the Robocop arcade is pretty good is because Ocean didn't develop it. Ocean ruined so many licenses it's ridiculous.

[@OneSwitch]

Hunchback (on the C64) was better than the arcade version. Shame they couldn't keep that up. Impossible really.

[@Livewire-Mapping]

Anyone seen any plans or dimensions for these cabs? I`m building a replica (Midnight resistance) but only have only found ref pics for creating the cad model.

[@TheArcadeArchive]

I’ve haven’t but your welcome to measure the one at the museum.

[@Ori-Retro-Gamer]

Is it my imagination? or does Robo Cod 2 on the Amiga have its music inspired from Robocop ? I think so

[@benjokazzooie]

Anyone know where I can buy new clamshell cases for games like Hypersports & Yie Ar Kung Fu?

[@sw1000xg]

SEALED ROBO GAME WOW

[@aaldrich1982]

When it comes to imported cabs, do you just need to change the PSU to something 240V friendly? I assume there's no need to change the monitor because this isn't a PAL/SECAM issue it's 15khz right?

[@TheArcadeArchive]

You can change them over internally but for most we have step down transformers.

[@aaldrich1982]

@@TheArcadeArchive so none of the rest of the hardware needs to be changed?

[@spartanx8846]

@Arcade Archive 07:50 so much unfair , you have to adapt your skills to how much Robocop is able to hit enemies , then you can perfectly destroy those motorbikes and survive the entire game, but you have to transform into Robocop , that makes the game even more great , you cant say that about the arcade game......YOU MOVE CREEP !!!!!!

[@ezaulzillmer]

Would anyone have a plan for building a 1988 Robocot cabinet? I need to build an original one and I can't find it anywhere...

[@taniaschiller9823]

I've been subscribed to you other channel Arcade Archive Vault for some time now, but it always has "This channel doesn't have any content" and is completely blank. Am I missing something ?

[@TheArcadeArchive]

Not yet don’t worry we only set it up two weeks ago and content on it so far is unlisted Patron videos. I’m planning on uploading things soon such as the long play version of Tony on Robocop. Just little extras and live shows now and again. The main content is still here on this channel

[@henryscat0]

What happened to posting stuff on the new channel ? 😂

[@TheArcadeArchive]

😛 Main videos on the main channel, fun extras on the 2nd channel. They are unlisted so far over there as they have been patron vids 👍

[@madgebishop5409]

i remember playing the Amiga version of this and even then as kid i thought it was such a lazy , crap version!

[@Jamal_Tyrone]

Had the C64 version back in the day, cheat code: disappointed