The Namco Brawler No One Remembers | Urban Reign Personal Retrospective

Brad Hawk v. Captain Falcon crossover when?
Though 2005's Urban Reign was met with lukewarm reception at its release and fell into obscurity, there's at least one Seong who grew up with, and still remembers this stylish brawler to this day. Both (an attempt at) an all-encompassing review and a personal retrospective, these are the recollections of a mad mind, reminiscing in autistic detail on his childhood.
____________________________________________
UR renders sourced from and courtesy of the Tekken Fandom Wiki, btw!
tekken.fandom.com/wiki/Urban_...
They're the only other substantial source of info on this game (but I think this video might surpass them in autistic detail). Many thanks! 🎔
Music used (in relative order):
• "Lorekeeper" by Junichi Nakatsuru - SoulCalibur III Original Soundtrack
• "Happy-go-Lively" by Laurie Johnson
• "How to Play Theme" - Super Smash Bros. Melee
• "The Sorceress's Bad Mood" by Motoi Sakuraba - Tales of Vesperia Original Soundtrack
• "Kiosk" by Laugh & Peace - Vib-Ribbon
Any other music used is assorted Urban Reign gamerip tracks, composed by Yoshihito Yano, Rio Hamamoto, Junichi Nakatsuru, Akitaka Toyama, and Katsurō Tajima (no specific credits, unfortunately).
Endslate Music: "K-ENT." by Masafumi Takada - No More Heroes Original Soundtrack
________
Chapters:
0:00 In the beginning...
1:36 In a sea of Pac-Men
3:54 Urban Style
5:06 Fighting Flourish
6:51 Mechanical Breakdown
9:33 Unforeseen Issues
16:27 Trying to Find "It" (the Story)
22:07 Silver Literacy Linings
23:43 And the Cavalry Walks Into Town (We're still on the Story?!)
24:10 Golem or Golem?
24:32 Eff it, it's Golem.
26:02 Finding its Footing (2/3 into the game)
27:36 The Loredump
28:27 Musical Machinations
30:49 Speaking Up At The End
32:56 Freedom Fighters (Free Play)
36:14 Challenging Chores (Challenge)
38:18 Rose-Tinted Memories
39:03 Will The Hawk Fly Again?
40:56 The End

[@ThatOneSeong]

Xbox Port Whennnnnnn? Hi! This is the first (relatively) large-scale production I've made, and you have my eternal thanks for sticking around. This video was made under somewhat of a time constraint, so unfortunately I had to leave some things out for the sake of pacing. Clarifications: • I poke fun at (maybe a little too much) Eurogamer's scathing 3/10 review, but this does NOT mean I either promote harassing journalists NOR does this mean I dislike them as a source: today's Eurogamer is much different from back then, and I enjoy their output now. It's clear in retrospect (i.e. in the post-production after I'd recorded the VO) that it was indicative of a different time, and in the end any references made towards them are specific to this one review in isolation, and it's made in good fun. • The campaign has a stat leveling up thing after every map (from Missions 1-94), but the effects it has are so subtle that I legitimately forgot to even mention it. That's how much missed potential there is in that story mode. :sad: • If you're wondering why I refer to Tekken as some obscure sub-brand of Namco's towards the beginning; I was a stupid idiot kid at the time who didn't know anything about games that weren't explicitly marketed directly to them. That's why the demo disc plays such an important part in introducing me to UR. I really should do a smaller video on that sometime soon... Cutting Room Floor: • I had a section cut out of the story review segment which was essentially me speculating on why the campaign was so... "eh." TL;DR: If it was given a couple of extra months (or a next-gen bump up) Urban Reign could've been an open world brawler, in a similar-ish vein to Yakuza (though I'd never played those). I still wish that if this was to be given another chance, whoever takes a stab at the concept should try and see if that would work out. I think it could compliment the game well, but I'm no game designer if you couldn't tell. • The last character you see locked in the roster is Bordin; he's the reward for S-ranking all Free Play missions (as a joke???), and I originally went into this aiming for that unlock. But again, self-imposed time constraints put a spanner in that, and I eventually had to stop myself once I'd gotten the footage I'd needed. Unfortunately, unlockable Bordin does not have the gun at all - playable Bordin & Gun Bordin are two different characters (he's the only entity to have different icons between playable and boss versions), and there is no in-game cheat for the latter. Allegedly, there is some kind of Gameshark code or something to get the gun, but I have to assume it's as real as the Mew under the truck, because I couldn't find it even after an afternoon of searching. • I forgot to add a Genshin Impact battle pass or smth at the end when I mentioned it. But I couldn't stomach the thought of playing a BP game just to catch a screenie of it, and I think everyone knows what those are anyways. If you don't, just open up any modern AAA game and you'll know what I'm talking about. On an unrelated note: screw Comcast's slow af uploads.

[@xraptor94x]

I need a PC prt of this. Didn't knew the game and it looks and sounds great to me. (Specially sounds)

[@FR4M3Sharma]

​@@xraptor94x PCSx2 exists my friend, hope you found it.

[@xraptor94x]

@@FR4M3Sharma I do not use emulators. Has no direct reasons besides that i do not use controllers and due to me working more on my machine then gaming, i probably wont get one in the near future. (And Beat 'em Ups with keyboard are not really nice to play most of the time)

[@FR4M3Sharma]

@@xraptor94x Wait wait wait, why were you asking for a PC Port then?

[@xraptor94x]

@@FR4M3Sharma That is literally what i asked myself when i wrote the reply XD I think when i wrote my original comment, my brain went offline

[@smokejaguar986]

This game ruled, I'd love a remaster of it

[@Extrastellar]

We have made a mod you can try it. Look up danger X urban reign

[@kforkrish]

Urban Reign is a huge fanbase in India, I own a fat PS2 just for playing Urban Reign every kid from 2000s know urban reign.

[@angeljaime8548]

I want a brawler like this again. More people are starting to remember and notice this game. Hopefully, (a man can dream) we can be heard as time goes on. I dont care how long it takes, everybody, should keep talking about this game. Life is crazy, anything is possible.

[@stephenanthony5923]

Urban Reign was your first game purchase? That's really a unique title to kick off gaming as a kid. Great retro review!

[@ThatOneSeong]

That wasn't some bundled pack-in game or a gift? Yep! It was either this, or Sonic Rush... so long that I don't even remember anymore. (^^;

[@dvdbox360]

​@@ThatOneSeongdef jam fight, nfs most wanted and black was amongst my first experience with videogames and that's how great ea used to be

[@Kooljupiter]

this game is some what of a tekken vs Def Jam... and the idea of tekken vs Def jam being an actual thing would of been insane and amazing

[@imarock.7662]

Hold on, I actually think the music is phenomenal ngl. The heavy emphasis on rock, and metal is very welcome for me, and something I think a lot more games should do more of in their soundtracks. We need more metal.

[@FR4M3Sharma]

I'm actually in the middle of learning C, C++ and Assembly and after those reverse engineering. Because I plan to reverse engineer both Urban Reign and God Hand. Two of my beloved PS2 games. Though that'll take me quite some time especially because I'll be doing it all alone.

[@fabrix199]

That's cool, let me know if you would like an invite to a group of people I know are making that sort of thing

[@FR4M3Sharma]

@@fabrix199 Urban Reign 2?

[@fabrix199]

@@FR4M3Sharma I meant, a group of fans in Discord reverse engineering the game and making mods, ah

[@FR4M3Sharma]

@@fabrix199 Sure

[@fabrix199]

@@FR4M3Sharma I'm on Discord i use the same @ i can't send you the inv here

[@Cloroqx]

This was really well made and somehow it fell into the cracks of the KZbin algorithm. Thank you for taking the time to make this video, it was quite informative!

[@hawkbirdtree3660]

Thank you. I thought this game was a fever dream I had, and it turns out to be a real game. Loved it. In the era of Souls likes, and pvp, this game would fit in perfectly.

[@treLOUGETA]

It's wild that I've never heard of this game until today. They should definitely remake this title. What's kind of funny is that I've been thinking to myself, "What if I created my own fighting game called "Reign" with a Tekken-esque look/feel and an open-world style beat-em up story mode." Only difference would be blood, sweat, noticeable bruises, clothes and hair becoming tattered/dirty over the duration of the fight, broken ligaments that can no longer be used unless healed, and more.

[@Yuuki_12]

If you enjoyed this game check out the bouncer. I would bet money that you love it

[@miavelvet]

Omg i loved this game thanks for reminding it exists. Back then we were checking all the cheatcodes before playing so we played with my friend for a whole company together (camera was annoying tho). I wish more games in general had coop. One of my most favorite p2s games. The only flaw i remember is that the game had not enough female characters

[@dreaomine1008]

Recently emulating this game after playing it countless hours with my cousin back in the day, single player and 20 years later it still holds up so well. Such a fun, deep and challenging experience. We need AA character action games back This

[@jurtheorc8117]

The likes of Clash: Artifacts of Chaos, Immortal: And the Death that Follows, Soulstice, Kings of Hell, Yasuke: A Lost Descendant, Genokids, Enenra and Gori: Cuddly Carnage may be able to supply on that front.

[@lucianopollicino]

Great video

[@AlphaProto]

If you ask me it's more of a multiplayer arena fighter than a brawler.

[@okamihank1372]

If this game were to come out in the current/next gen consoles with a hd remake and 60 fps with possibly a online multiplayer im sold lol. They dont make games like this anymore (or beat em ups in general) hopefully SIFU can popularize the genre again

[@WIZARDMONEYBAGS]

Bro ryu ga gotoku???

[@okamihank1372]

@@WIZARDMONEYBAGS The Yakuza series is fire im still on 5 cause college and work been eating up my time but I would like to see this game if it ever does come to consoles lol

[@WIZARDMONEYBAGS]

@@okamihank1372 you should definitely play Kurohyou 1 and 2 I guess too

[@okamihank1372]

@@WIZARDMONEYBAGS ima defintently check that out when i finish yakuza 5, 6 and then yakuza ishin on the ps5 thats the psp version right?

[@WIZARDMONEYBAGS]

@@okamihank1372 yeah either psp or PPSSPP emulator

[@Extrastellar]

The game says Directional + Counter button counter the different grapples but in reality most of the grapples can be counter by just the Square button.

[@oricardoce]

💯🔥

[@bohdanherasymenko7569]

There's always a room for skill-based games. I think that most players usually plefer the RPG approach to difficulty, where they must raise some stats, get some items, buy a potion, but in FGs you cannot use magic, you have to actually put in the time and learn to win. Not sure if average gamer would be interested in putting the time in. Which is funny. Grinding for 100 hours for a better hat or a weapon skin - no problem. Labbing FG for a 100 hours to learn new skills - no, thank you

[@dimasever_twitch]

I thought the thumbnail is Death Grips' The Money Store cover reference lol or is it?

[@Beorneofmercia449]

Has no one here watched Tyrannicons playthrough and rage montages on urban reign they’re hilarious AF

[@all-for-none1412]

My favourite walkthrough of urban reign

[@buns9022]

I see this game more as Namco's idea of what a Yakuza game should be By the way, the 0 mentions of the yakuza franchise and its combat mechanics is C R I M I N A L. it's a modern beat-em-up classic in the combat.

[@ThatOneSeong]

I was aware of the Yakuza series' existence, but nothing more than that even to this day. But, fun fact! Of the many things on the cutting room floor (of this initial review), I had a ramble about the severely missed potential of UR's story mode and how it seemed like it should've had something like an open city format (because so many of the in-between missions feel like filler content you'd do between bigger story events, as well as off/on reliance on locked partners). Maybe if it was on next-gen hardware or had more of a budget, it could've been possible. ...Then I realized, "wait a minute, isn't that literally just Yakuza?" So, I left it out so I wouldn't sound like a complete idiot if someone else came and said exactly that (and I couldn't find a place in the script where it flowed well, at least in the time constraints I had making this). So, yeah! You're probably right, but I wouldn't know.

[@fabrix199]

great an urban reign video also could you not put so many freeze frame bonus texts

[@ThatOneSeong]

I still cringe a bit at the me from a year ago that thought those were a good idea. Thanks for reminding me, I guess! I've stopped abusing split-second popup captions like here since, if it makes you feel better.

[@fabrix199]

​@@ThatOneSeong it's okeh, mind that i'm pretty compulsive and end up rewinding often to read them properly so i'm beating myself up ☠other than that I love the video about how a game destroyed a whole generation's hope for a sequel

[@DanielStefan]

Shinkai was the most DIFFICULT MF BOSS for ME!

[@ryotakise9047]

dont forget golem

[@DanielStefan]

@@ryotakise9047 Golem part 2

[@khkl_23]

A game that has Urban Reign's combat mechanics (with more intuitive throw breaking) combined with Souls like level design and estus flask + bonfire progression system would be amazing.

[@jurtheorc8117]

Though not *exactly* like that, the game Clash: Artifacts of Chaos from 2023 has those Souls influences. Health flask, checkpoints from bonfires, connected world with loads of shortcuts. Combat is more like God Hand though and there's no grabs. But you can find and customize different Styles and Special Attacks, as well as build up a Special Meter that can put you in a first person mode until you've done enough damage to an enemy without getting knocked out, to perform a special finisher. All styles consist of - A combo string - Attack from a Jump - Attack from a Charge - Attack from a Run - Attack from a Forward, Sideways and Backwards dodge And if you perform a new attack the moment the player character's previous attack connects, the next attack comes out faster. As a variation on a Stamina Meter, there's a Shield Meter. It depletes with every attack performed and received and with running, but recharges on its own. As long as there's even a little bit of Shield Meter left, the player characters suffers half the damage of an attack and experiences less Stun. If the shield meter is depleted, you can still perform attacks just fine, but take more damage and stun. You can find effigies to burn at Figure Burners to upgrade individual Styles and Special Attacks too. It's not as complex or demanding as God Hand or Urban Reign, but nonetheless very solid and fun. *fantastic* colorful monster world, too.

[@khkl_23]

@@jurtheorc8117 I think it was Iron Pineapple who tried the early access build a couple of years ago, but I forgot about it afterwards. Thanks for the reminder. I'll check out Clash: Artifacts of Chaos.

[@jurtheorc8117]

@@khkl_23 It's a good one! From a stranger on the internet, i wish you a lot of fun exploring Zenozoik and all its strange monsters.

[@ChristMetalMayhem]

Nobody remembers this game hmmm?? How does this video have 3,300 views then? EXPLAIN YOURSELF 😂

[@jgn]

everyone please quit with the dark souls comparisons

[@0554882565]

bro this my favorite fighting game of all time can u please give me more games that feel like it.