Riot ZoneTG-16

Funny how "Hawk" was precisely how Axel Stone (from Streets of Rage) was gonna be called originally, it looks a lot like him.

By the way, for those who didn't notice, this game was made by the Wonder Boy guys... But I think I'll wait for Final Fight CD.

What do you mean bad?

Bad as in hardcore, or bad as in crap?

Most likely bad as in crap. I can't vouch for the TGCD version, but the arcade game it's based on (Riot City) is pretty bland. It's not terrible, but it's nothing compared to the Streets of Rage and Final Fight sequels. Judging from the video, the TGCD version plays quite similarly, just with fewer enemies onscreen at once and no 2 player support.

Looks like Double Dragon !

Looks more like Streets of Rage.

Yeah, bad as in crap. The only thing I remember good about this game was the soundtrack being cd, and not much else. It's very much like all of the other games like Double Dragon and Streets of Rage, but without the hype. This is one of the few TG-CD games I wish I had never gotten due to it not being worth the money. For 800 points however, it may appeal to some of you.

It's not only generic but it's easy as hell. Avoid it at all cost!

I wonder how long it'll take Capcom to release Final Fight 2 and 3? I'd download 3 as soon it gets released.

Let's see, a muscular blond guy in a sleeveless white T-shirt, blue jeans and red-and-white sneakers punching up thugs in a gritty inner-city environment with a funky club-music soundtrack. Yeah, this looks EXACTLY like Streets of Rage... an inferior version, at least. There's no way that this is better than Streets of Rage 2.

Come ON, Nintendo. Where are the GOOD GAMES? And "obscure" does not mean "good."

"Tony" and "Hawk"? Snicker.

The intro story alone makes my brain hurt.

hhahahaha ha hawk walks like he has a dart in his fart

I just played (and beat) this game on my Supergrafx/SCD setup. For an arcade game, it is remarkably easy (at least this port is). However, it wasn't so easy that I was able to 1cc it on the first try, although I feel that with a few more playthroughs that goal could easily be accomplished.

However, I feel that the above review and comments are overly critical of what is essentially a good game.

Riot Zone is a blatant rip off of Final Fight, and severly lacks bells and whistles. There are no destructable objects, the backgrounds are poorly drawn (although a few of them have a two-frame animation -- simplistic, but not something you typically see in "retro" beat 'em ups), and the game isn't two-player.

However, having said all of the above, I think this game is one of the better beat 'em ups I've played. All the above criticisms can nearly be excused by one reality: this is a PC-Engine game. Even though it is a Super CD-ROM2 game, there is still a black bar at the top of the screen; this game pushes the system nearly to its limits IMHO.

The control is perfect, the graphics and animation are excellent, and although the music is rather forgettable, it is still passable and rather enjoyable.

For a Final Fight clone that lacks co-operative play, it's one of the better beat 'em ups I've played. If you enjoyed Final Fight (beyond nostalgia), and can overlook a lack of bells and whistles, you might just get a kick out of this game.

Plenty of equally shoddy fighters on the Super Nintendo too.

@Damo: the PC engine was released a full year before the Mega Drive (in Japan) and almost three years before the Super Famicom. Even the Genesis and PCE are not really comparable (see the PCE port of Altered Beast/Juuouki).

The PCE version of SF2 is the worst of the three, btw.

My point was that the gameplay engine was solid (IMO) and the lack of bells and whistles could be attributed to under-powered hardware. Your review of Riot Zone is basically accurate, but overly critical. I think most fans of the genre will find something to like about Riot Zone.

I like the music in this game

Before you plop down the points on this mediocre game, play SoR 1-3 and Final Fight First. After that, avoid this, because you will be bored stiff after 10 minutes after playing those far superior games.

I don't think this game is as bad as everyone says it is. I mean sure it's a Double Dragon, Final Fight rip off, but so is Street Of Rage. if you like these kinds of beat'em up games it's okay. And It's got a great rocking soundtrack.

Tony's walking animation is hilarious. Other than that, stick to Final- aaah, what everyone else said. Only consider it if you haven't played other beat-em-ups or if they give you trouble, because you are rewarded with multiple powerups that seriously cuts down on the difficulty in this one. The only thing not bland about it is the rockin' soundtrack