NARC (NES, 1990)

in #retrogaming7 years ago (edited)


Source: http://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2017/03/24/narc-nes/

Narc was first a 1988 arcade game and was the first to be released by Williams after being acquired by Midway. Several ports were made to various home systems in 1990 including to the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, and NES. The home computer versions were all done by Ocean software while the NES port was done by Rare and published by Acclaim.

Most of the home ports were pretty average. I think the reason NARC is remembered today is because it was a controversial game at the time. It was one of the first games with this level of violence. The goal of the game is to arrest or kill various junkies, drug dealers and king pins culminating with Mr. Big. In the manual for the NES version of the game it was described as the first video game with a strong anti-drug message. Ironically, all references to drugs were removed from the NES version.

Nintendo has always had seemingly odd censorship rules. In this particular game, references to drugs were removed but most or all of the violence was retained. However, the splash of blood on the cover was changed to be yellow so it didn't look like blood.

Midway Arcade Treasures 2 released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube had an emulated version of the arcade version of the game (with a few glitches) and in 2005 there was a remake of the game (also controversial) for the PS2, Xbox and PC.

The ad and screenshots above are all from the NES version.


Thanks for stopping by and check out some of my other recent retrogaming posts below!

Spaceward Ho! (1995)
https://steemit.com/retrocomputing/@darth-azrael/spaceward-ho-1995

Cybermorph (Atari Jaguar, 1993)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/cybermorph-atari-jaguar-1993

Super Game Boy
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/super-game-boy

The Jetsons' Ways With Words (Intellivision)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/the-jetsons-ways-with-words-intellivision

Missing in Action (Atari 7800)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/missing-in-action-atari-7800

Basketbrawl (Atari 7800)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/basketbrawl-atari-7800

The Atari 7800
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/the-atari-7800

Midnight Mutants (Atari 7800, 1990)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/midnight-mutants-atari-7800-1990

Robotron: 2084 (Atari 5200, 1983)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/robotron-2084-atari-5200-1983

Kirby's Adventure (NES, 1993)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/kirby-s-adventure-nes-1993

Rescue on Fractalus! (Atari XE) – Strategy
https://steemit.com/retrocomputing/@darth-azrael/rescue-on-fractalus-atari-xe-strategy

Atari 5200 Commercial
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/atari-5200-commercial

Game Player's Strategy Guide to Nintendo Games, Issue Number 3 (1988)
https://steemit.com/retrogames/@darth-azrael/game-player-s-strategy-guide-to-nintendo-games-issue-number-3-1988

Atari 5200 VCS Converter
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/atari-5200-vcs-converter

The Atari 5200 SuperSystem
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/the-atari-5200-supersystem

Snowboard Kids (Nintendo 64, 1998)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/snowboard-kids-nintendo-64-1998

Zaxxon (Atari 5200)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/zaxxon-atari-5200

Game Players (February 1995)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/game-players-february-1995

Toys (Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, 1993)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/toys-super-nintendo-sega-genesis-1993

Atari 5200 Pro-Line Trackball Controller (1983)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/atari-5200-pro-line-trackball-controller-1983

Nobody’s Hotter Than Atari This Summer TV Promo (Atari 5200, 1983)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/nobody-s-hotter-than-atari-this-summer-tv-promo-atari-5200-1983

Superman (Atari 2600, 1978)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/superman-atari-2600-1978

Krull (Atari 2600)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/krull-atari-2600

JoyStik (January 1983)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/joystik-january-1983

Super Huey (Atari 7800, 1989)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/super-huey-atari-7800-1989

Metal Gear Solid (PlayStation, 1998)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/metal-gear-solid-playstation-1998

Computer Gaming World (November/December 1982)
https://steemit.com/retrocomputing/@darth-azrael/computer-gaming-world-november-december-1982

Charlie Blast's Territory (Nintendo 64, 1999)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/charlie-blast-s-territory-nintendo-64-1999

Captain Commando (Capcom, 1991)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/captain-commando-capcom-1991

Game Players Nintendo Guide (March 1993)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/game-players-nintendo-guide-march-1993

Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition (PC/DOS 1996)
https://steemit.com/retrocomputing/@darth-azrael/duke-nukem-3d-atomic-edition-pc-dos-1996

Sally Mae (Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/sally-mae-leisure-suit-larry-magna-cum-laude

Ghost Manor (TurboGrafx-16, 1992)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/ghost-manor-turbografx-16-1992

Splatterhouse
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-cryptic/splatterhouse

Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu (TurboGrafx-16, 1991)
https://steemit.com/retrogaming/@darth-azrael/jackie-chan-s-action-kung-fu-turbografx-16-1991

Sort:  

Nice article. It makes me feel my age though, I remember this when it came out, along with all the controversy you mentioned. The controversy of things back then seems really tame by todays standards.

This game is still in my NES collection...it was also one of the first games I completed. memories....

Reminds me of Broforce to some extend.


Great topic !!

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.16
TRX 0.15
JST 0.029
BTC 56652.41
ETH 2407.11
USDT 1.00
SBD 2.33