Urban Champion retrospective: Fun like a punch to the face | NES Works

Nintendo's very first entry into the brawler genre was in some respects a landmark work, but it doesn't hold up well at all more than 30 years later - especially in light of the fact that Nintendo released the NES version of Kung-Fu a few months prior in the U.S. Whoops!

[@Smokydoggg]

Back in 1990 a friend of mine acquired this at a garage sale for $10. We went to his house and would have a couple of matches every visit before moving on to deeper gaming experiences like Super Mario Bros. and Megaman. The one thing this game had that KungFu did not was 2 player VS, so to our 10 year old minds it made a nice distraction for a couple of matches. Also I would argue that this game sort of has the proto play mechanic of Super Smash Bros. of knocking your opponent off screen instead of having a health meter and knocking him out. Let's also not forget that Zelda 2 had a similar low/high attack/block mechanism. I'm not saying it's a good game but it's a nice time waster and has some mechanics that may have influenced later games.

[@rashidisw]

Proper comparison to Urban Champion should be MUSCLE and not "KungFu / Spartan X". Spartan X did however take a cue from Urban Champion's background settings, and end-up with urban area like environment for its successor 'Spartan X2' & 'Vigilante'.

[@timf7413]

Yeah, this is a pretty lackluster game, but I have fond memories of playing it with my cousins where it filled the same niche for us as a proper fighter would on later systems.

[@iwanttoseemrshow]

I'm still trying to evaluate whether or not you paid too much for this. Even back in 1990, $10 might've been about $5 too much. Renting it wouldn't be all that much cheaper, but at least you could give it back :)

[@HeadmasterAutobot]

I don't think this game is too terrible--it *is* overly thin, at least for single player. But it's among the earliest head-to-head fighting games. As a lightweight versus game, there's just enough going on to approach some semblance of strategy. A guarded punch puts you at enough disadvantage that you can't punch again without being interrupted (or trading, at best). You're essentially put into a High/Low guessing game. Tapping back produces a 'lean' that can be used as a prototypical parry. You can get an uncontested punch after a timely dodge, but they can delay their attack to bait you into dodging at the wrong time. This can be negated by holding it down instead, to backstep--but this loses you precious ground. Stamina can be seen as a primitive form of Street Fighter's Stun gauge, and also serves as a means to deter reckless punching. The cops can be interpreted as an early form of stage hazards in the genre. Knocking a player into a falling pot can also be seen as a very early combo.

[@unknownninja1]

Zakhara what a great and impressive analysis. I was thinking the same thing myself.

[@timf7413]

As I said in another comment, this game filled the niche that a proper one on one fighter would have had had one existed on the NES at the time. The game is simple, but it works for what it is and in its day, was a fine enough communal gaming experience.

[@billyb7119]

I remember renting Urban Champion once or twice as a kid and enjoying it. Not something that would hold my attention for very long, but, I was like, 5 years old, and seeing the large sprites punching each other as old ladies dropped flower pots on their heads was enough to keep me amused for a bit. It wasn't until much later that I realized how universally reviled this game is.

[@keimakoh]

Urban Champion was part of those long evenings and weekends as a kid. I still love the game, simple as it is.

[@akeminakajima449]

You are still Kid

[@DrCorndog1]

Jeremy, your uncle is Aqualung?!?

[@Curbjaw]

I loved this game back in the day... I remember wanting it FOREVER before I actually got it, probably had to wait for it to be a yard sale find, but I played the hell out of it

[@gf-zi5hr]

I am probably one of the few prople who actually enjoy urban champion ;p

[@LBDNytetrayn]

I love it, personally. The 3DS version was a nice little update.

[@Smokydoggg]

I liked this game, perfect for a couple of head to head matches with a friend. It's definitely not Street Fighter 2, which blew my mind a couple of years later, but the basic 1v1 head to head fighting is there and I loved it.

[@NORMALLYRETRO]

I hold a strong, nostalgic love for this game. Mostly because of it being one of the few titles available during the launch of the NES. Also probably because I was used to playing simplistic games on the 2600.

[@mobious01]

I love this game too! Specially when the cops take one of the fighters to the station. Great memories

[@magnus87]

me too!

[@Seafoamgaming]

I wonder what Jeremy's reaction would be if they rebooted Urban Champion as a super gritty open world sandbox game like GTA

[@JellobiafraM]

Love seeing the Aqualung dude as your representation of a creepy guy.

[@worldreformer1]

"Sitting on a park bench..."

[@kjoshuasmith]

That really cracked me up!

[@funkyweapon1981]

@@worldreformer1 Eying little girls with bad intent.

[@Desmaad]

Well, that album was inspired by all the homeless people around London.

[@boscopit]

Urban Champion is fun. My brother and I used to play this all the time.

[@ericspratling9252]

I still remember one of Jeremy's co-bloggers back on the old Toastyfrog site covering the release of this for the Wii VC. They included a picture of two fighters going at it with a Shinku Hadoken photoshopped in. Caption: "This never happens."

[@fireflocs]

A retro property very few people like but that Nintendo just won't let stay dead? Urban Champion for Smash confirmed.

[@GXEntertainment]

I remember reading an interview in which the _3D Classics: Urban Champion_ developers admitted that they chose it for recreation because they didn't have time to take on any large-scale projects and needed to produce something on the cheap. And if that was the attitude, I wonder why they even bothered.

[@kweller3117]

How have I never heard of this game? I would have loved this as a kid

[@unoclay]

It's goofy and simplistic, but i would be lying if i didnt admit that I like it a little bit, and ask friends to play it with me on occasion. Maybe i have a love for bad games, sure--but there's something charming about any of these early blackboxes. Really. I just like it, simple.

[@joshdobbin]

I loved URBAN CHAMPION! It was a simple game of boxing/tug/sumo of war, and when it came out, it was the most "That's a real looking guy I'm controlling." And it was head-to-head fun to pick up & play with a friend.

[@Skawo]

Man I'm SO glad this was turned into a 3D Classic. My life would not be complete without it. Also, I'm lying.

[@ShyGuyXXL]

I only know this game because it has a microgame in WarioWare. :P

[@ParmMannREBORN]

Damn, never realized just how much your audio set up has improved over the years

[@traewatkins931]

Hey I LOVED this game ... but I spent the first year with my NES only owning Gyromite and Duck Hunt. (Not Kidding)

[@anactualmotherbear]

I know Urban Champion is a bad and cheap game. It felt retro by 1984 (and certainly by 1986 in the US,) but I liked its aesthetics. The cartoony characters and animations made it an appealing game to look at.

[@gabrieleriva651]

Those two-player vs. Game & Watch are amazing.

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

Still better than the entire *Tekken* franchise.

[@Toad64]

Huh, the fighting mechanics of that Boxing Game and Watch look kinda like the fighting style from the Tabletop Game and Watch of Popeye, too. You and Bluto punch each other trying to knock each other off a dock.

[@Caun-88]

Literally the first video game I ever played.

[@underwaterlevelz1947]

Biggest complaint against Urban Champion is that there is no scoring. Black box NES titles like Wrecking Crew and Ice Climber are essentially "score chasing" video games, and the whole purpose to playing was to rack up the highest possible score. Even Duck Hunt had scoring.

[@tcbvgames]

3:05 Nintendo's Nidhogg? 2D tug-of-war dueling game based on going screen by screen.

[@njdevs1987]

Minor correction. Urban Champion isn't one of the unlockable games in GCN Animal Crossing.

[@bananonymouslastname5693]

I love Urban Champion, even if a lot of it comes from nostalgia. I remember reading about it in one of those Jeff Rovin "How to Win at Nintendo Games" books as a kid, and in my imagination ran wild with it. Later, in the '90s, I finally got a used copy and had a lot of fun with it. Yeah, it's slow and clunky, but it has a feel that I like. As black box games go, there are a lot less fun games to go back to than Urban Champion.

[@cocolanfofolan2508]

With that win/loss jingle... I can't even be mad if I loose xD

[@SolidStateGamerSSG]

I wouldn't call Urban Champion a terrible or even bad game. It's just a very simple game from a mechanical perspective. It isn't buggy or downright ugly. However, it's totally understandable why there's not a lot of love for it. If you didn't grow up with the NES during it's actual launch, chances are you'll be in this crowd. It's such a short burn that you'll get bored quick. It's 2 player mode is more engaging for a longer sitting but it's still a short burst of fun - very short. It's a basic game that would've worked better as a pack-in game or a budget title. Like a 10 to 20 dollar game of course in yesteryear's money. Selling it for full retail price, back then, did not make Urban Champion worth it. I like playing from time to time, but completely get why it gets a bad reputation.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

I was from that era and enjoy what they tried with this game.

[@caryslan5890]

I think Urban. Champion is a fun little game and never understood why so many people dislike it. It's not the deepest or best game on the NES, but I love to fire it up from time to time.

[@treismac]

Let me add my voice to the chorus: Urban Champion is and will always be a charming pick up and play game. The game play might only be fun for a stretch of only a few minutes, but that's okay. Enjoy the artifact for what it is and EMBRACE it every time Nintendo re-releases it, Jeremy, praying for the second coming of its much over due sequel.

[@JeremyParish]

Chorus? Or motley rabble? I ask you.

[@jonfurgeson5574]

They key is quick block to quick jab, then take the step forward. Do so all the way to CHAMPION at level 116 or so. Heavy hits don't work after just a few fights, so it is an exercise in tedium. But doable.

[@monteranceross8846]

I know this is an old video I have always loved Urban champion on the NES no matter who thinks it's a bad game and who doesn't like it in my opinion I love the game and always will

[@dcashley303]

Nidhogg's parent!?

[@FezTheSpaceBiker]

I'm starting to realize Nidhogg might be a spiritual successor to Urban Champion of sorts. If you want to see the gameplay concepts of Urban Champion executed much better in modern day with more variety, I'd check that game and it's sequel out. Urban Champion is fun for a minute or two, but I think it could be a fun game with some fine tuning and polish along with more variety.

[@ChrisGorski]

I am smitten by the the art found in black box games.

[@sundayad]

I have a confession to make. I absolutely love this game!

[@uljk5699]

Grandpa of Smash Bros.

[@ravikanodia]

galaxy brain: Urban Champion is why Smash Bros uses ring-outs instead of a health bar

[@samuelg7673]

Sitting on a park bench eyeing little gameboys with bad intents, snot dripping down his nose Greasy fingers shabby clothes Aquajeremy

[@Glasshouse828]

How exactly does Urban Champion call back to Nintendo’s pre-video game years in the 1970s? You never clarified.

[@videogameobsession]

Urban champion is definitely a game better appreciated in its day. My brother and I bought this back in 1986. We had some fun with it. Keep in mind that it was pretty much a new genre 'co-op VS fighting'. I'm not sure the comparison to Kung Fu (Master), is a fair one. Perhaps Jeremy was thinking of Karate Champ, by Data East. Which was also released for the NES in 1986. My brother and I played that one as well, as it was also a VS fighter. Don't get me wrong.. I also love Kung Fu!, but it offers no two player co-op mode.

[@JeremyParish]

Not Kung Fu, Yie Ar Kung Fu

[@videogameobsession]

@@JeremyParish Yes, Yie Ar Kung Fu (Konami) would be a better game to compare to UC, than Kung Fu (Irem). Though Urban Champion did come out before both of those, and maybe should be given a bit of a pass on its basic game play elements. I personally owned, and was a big fan of, Nintendo's Popeye Game & Watch Arcade. Urban Champion plays very similarly to that.

[@ThepurposeofTime]

0:57 I guess Capcom was watching this video while thinking of what to do with Ken

[@LorenHelgeson]

Nintendo's continued re-publishing of this game has always baffled me. Virtual Boy? Never happened. NEVER! HAPPENED! Urban Champion? What a classic, amirite? Let's remake it in 3D!

[@gtPacheko]

I played this a lot with my cousin when she had an NES, it's pretty fun!

[@miistercrayon]

The true prequel to Zelda 2

[@michaelsegal3558]

I like Urban Champion

[@NinjaxShadowXx]

Can't wait to buy it for the 5th time once it comes to Nintendo Switch Virtual Console! yay :D

[@aliffubuntu]

Well, seeing at the Urban Champion was supposed to be in Melee until he was replaced by the Ice Climbers, so..............

[@EdmacZ]

Nintendo's fondness for Americana shines through in this game.

[@BoboTheVulture]

I really enjoy this game now, and feel like it's worth a tiny virtual console price to be able to play, but I most likely would've been let down if this were something that I paid full retail for new, or if it were my only present one Christmas, say.

[@kamowa]

Urban Champion is a really fun game, my friends and I would always pretend the fighters are Irish and Scottish and a rousing round of drunkin Irish and haggis eating Scotts jokes accompany the fight. With the flower pot throwing residents to the cops driving by really drive home these are a couple of drunks duking it out.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

It's because one is green and one is blue isn't it?

[@pentelegomenon1175]

"Urban Champion" sounds like an intentional synonym for "Street Fighter" even though it isn't.

[@mackerelphones]

Nicely done.

[@bfish89ryuhayabusa]

I would argue that Urban Champion is a fighting game, whereas Kung Fu is a beat-em-up.

[@bfish89ryuhayabusa]

Also, the way you speak of this game here and in your other videos, you'd think it was a bad game. I mean, it's not particularly good, but it's also not bad. It controls well. It's under-ambitious, but in a way similar to the other arcade-y "same thing repeated ad nauseum" games that were still common back then. Plus, I imagine that 2-player versus is actually a bit more engaging than just fighting an early-to-mid 80s AI. I tried this game once, and it was fine, but not a game I'd want to play for more than 5-10 minutes solo. It's still near the bottom of the Black Box games, only really beating Donkey Kong Jr. Math and Stack-Up, but it's not straight garbage.

[@subzero8679]

@@bfish89ryuhayabusa yes it is straight garbage. Pure garbage. Absolute shit.

[@bfish89ryuhayabusa]

@@subzero8679 It does what it does fairly well. It just doesn't do much. The gameplay would be more at home on the previous console generation. It's nothing too interesting, and nothing I'd play longer than 5 minutes, but it's not bad. It's fun enough until you beat an opponent and realize that you have now seen everything the game has to offer in a handful of minutes. Then it's disappointing.

[@shortcat]

I liked this game as a kid, especially when playing with friend. It come as total surprise for me when I read on the interweb that this game is bad. And, well, for me Urban Champion surpasses Kung Fu in any way.

[@rashidisw]

Boxing and manhole, i wonder if this game that inspires Taioto's Kageki?

[@ianhilmer2673]

Well I have a bootlegged nes mini that actually does have this game😅

[@charliefox8587]

I bought a 500 in 1 knockoff nes classic and found this game urban champion at 2 am when my girl was sleeping, so I'm smoking a joint and and listening to music kickin this green dudes ass lol and a cop car passes by and the pretend like there just standing around lol I hand a good laugh off that one and despite its limitations I say it's worth a spot in my rotation.

[@gamesblog702]

Is Game Boy World dead now? Not really complaining (I enjoy these NES retrospectives too), just curious because it's been a while since your last Game Boy-video.

[@JeremyParish]

It's not dead. I'm just focusing on NES for a while.

[@Goldnfoxx]

_"It just isn't fun these days..."_ Got news for you: it wasn't fun then, either.

[@bluedistortions]

Ok. So Ive been watching retro video game content constantly for 15 years, and Ive never found this game, even when looking for it a few times. (It can be hard to find old games when you dont know their title). I only played it for a few minutes at a friend of a friend's house when I was maybe 7-9, some 30ish years ago. This search was out of pure curiousty, not any sign of its quality. Why nintendo seems to like it so much, maybe its more due to who worked on it. I say this not knowing who worked on it. But it's just a hunch.

[@jaredhull332]

Com'on, time the flower pot to fall on your opponent gives them a good stun for a free hit. This game is fun.

[@shane1489]

Having been a child with a fresh NES I’ll stick up for it. Yes it sucks but when playing two players it could be fun.

[@bulbo2023]

Vote now: is marshmallow a boy or girl.

[@retrospectrum]

Jeremy, I think Urban Champion is a hilarious game. No, there is not much to it but (in my opinion) it's Street Fighter before Street Fighter! Maybe that was too far.

[@retrospectrum]

It also reminds me of the fight scenes from Blades of Steel.

[@paulhat33]

I'm looking forward to Balloon Fight.

[@Noiselandco]

I'm here, the fan of this game. Sup.

[@rashidisw]

Because of this game existence, that Nintendo have to gives "Seal of Quality" status to MUSCLE to be consistent.

[@Felix_Macho]

this game was the one and only thing I ever used my eReader for

[@AyaneOfDeath]

A round here and there it is a good game

[@robintst]

Well, I'll be that guy. I like Urban Champion.

[@gustavochavarria8161]

It's finally on the Switch.

[@JeremyParish]

Well Switch had a good run while it lasted

[@SRC-lo2nc]

I like urban Champion.

[@pablofmc]

This game was fun to play for like 30 minutes. But yeah it's dated af and there wasn't anything else to do in it. It really does feel like a bonus mode for a larger game.

[@jones82176]

When will you do Nintendo Pro Wrestling? I loved that game ! A winner is you!

[@JeremyParish]

It's a while yet. That's a 1987 release.

[@exeacua]

I really like Urban Champion, btw why not do this series in international release order?

[@JeremyParish]

Because it's strictly about U.S. releases in U.S. release order.

[@exeacua]

Why dont do it like Game Boy Works? Really really great videos by the way.

[@Poever]

But tell us how you really feel, Jeremy sir.

[@cormano64]

I heavily disagree with your stance on this. Although it is a short experience, it has very well developed and precise fighting mechanics and a charming personality in the the scenery and character design, very well deserving of a place in Nintendo history and it would be a crime to forget about it just because you personally does not enjoy it.

[@bonytologna]

Not gonna lie, I think it’s fun

[@joeyvlo]

I actually like urban champion

[@timf7413]

Even though this is a terrible game by any objective standard, I do have fond memories of playing this game with my cousins as a kid. Essentially, it filled the void of not having a proper fighting game for the NES.

[@exactspace]

Come on, just because a game’s bad, doesn’t mean it should be forgotten.

[@JeremyParish]

Which game are we talking about here?

[@exactspace]

Urban Champion. You said it’s better left forgotten. =(

[@JeremyParish]

Urban what? Never heard of it.

[@bootmii98]

Oh, and it showed up on Switch Online. EDIT: I was mistaken, it didn't.

[@JeremyParish]

Yes, that's why I put it in the Nintendo Switch Online playlist.

[@bootmii98]

@@JeremyParish Wait I just checked, it didn't, it's not on there.

[@ianburkard]

Urban Champion single player is just a grind, and generally not fun. It's one of those things that was all about persisting, and achieving a high score in the arcade -- name at the top of a list. I hate games like this; I prefer to complete a story. Even other early games like Donkey Kong had the feeling of a story with an ending -- mission accomplished. With Urban Champion, knowing that there is no achievable ending and an intentional unplayable increase in difficulty, makes the game not worth starting. I will only play momentarily to recall the enjoyment of battling friends.

[@happydeathman]

I am here to tell you that you can buy an NES mini console thing from a Gamestop in Jakarta. But I don't want one, so I won't.

[@BanditTheCatRIP]

Another good video, even if you are super mean to poor little underrated Urban Champ.

[@Ur2ez4me81]

Haha added this on NES classic

[@JeremyParish]

History's worst monster, right here, folks.

[@LaurentLaSalle]

I have the deepest respect for your work, going back as far as ToastyFrog (from which I was a fan). Along the way, I lost track of your activities, but I'm glad to find you here with such interesting and detailed content. Seriously, keep up the good work! But I have to say that I am BAFFLED by how much you absolutely dislike Urban Champion, an absolute classic. I'm not saying that this game is a masterpiece, but 2 minutes in, and you are still downplaying its importance. I simply wasn't expecting it. Needless to say, I'm GLAD to see informative, or dare I say educational content about Nintendo not made by a fanboy. Once again, the last thing I was expecting is hearing someone complaining about Urban Champion. ;)

[@Hrizzzz]

As a kid it took me forever to save up for a game. I bought this and instantly regretted it. I hate this game. I felt so duped as a small kid. There was nothing to this game compared to SMB, Metroid, Zelda, etc.

[@FallicIdol]

And they brought it to the Switch

[@AdamRasmussenXP]

No, they didn't.

[@FallicIdol]

Its in Arcade Archives, not in their online service

[@treyslay753]

Yeah, this game always looked a bit outdated. Even way back in 86.

[@camscrappychannel2970]

I find all complaints on this game over the top. It's not a bad game. It's definitely not "One of the worst games ever made". We need to end the stigma on that. It's just a simple addicting fighter that was released at a time where games like it were common on the market. Urban Champion gets treated completely unfairly.

[@DeadxReckon]

I don't see why you're do down on the concept of this game, everyone loves Nidhogg.

[@JeremyParish]

Nidhogg is fun, this is a boring slog

[@soulsparx]

oh man it makes me sad that this game sucks. i really like how it looks visually its so cutes

[@ronjames4151]

This game was so bad I hated it as a kid. My uncle came over Christmas morning when I got my nes as a kid years ago and said he had a few games in his car I could have and this was one of them. It sucked so bad. He also gave me ghost and goblins which is one of my favorite series ever so I loved that one

[@okori_makuri]

It is a poorly aged game, but I had fond memories of it!

[@nate567987]

They did not

[@THEmuteKi]

Tolerable as a Pre-SF2 game. Bad afterwards. One question, though: what the hell is a "book store"?