The Warriors: Street Brawl

In a day where games and films are seeming to walk hand in hand more and more, it’s no doubt that yet another expansion of a film franchise paves its way onto a console. Forget your gadgets Batman, and leave your Lego by the wayside to pick up your baseball bats for The Warriors: Street Brawl.

The Warriors is a movie considered a cult classic by many of my generation, with its action packed tale of New York gang culture and the fight of a clan of youths to get home while chased down by some of the cities nastiest and most fearsome hoodlums. Considering the film is now 30 years old, the fact that it’s still relevant enough to consider creating a game for speaks volumes about its popularity and impact. As with any game made from a cinema hit, it’s always going to be hard to please your audience but with a film such as The Warriors, a beat-em up arcade title should feel like home!

One of the most impressive things about this title is its attention to detail. Amongst the 7 missions available in story and arcade mode, the feel and look of the film is captured in immaculate detail. Scenes from the film are recreated with beautiful looking artwork, almost comic like in look but with every ounce of style from the film, and the levels will feel very familiar with their subway or urban street settings. Players are given the option to play as four of the Warrior gang members – Swan, Cochise, Vermin and Rembrandt, with a further two unlockable characters available. The action also features the appearance of some of the films most iconic gangs including The Baseball Furies, The Lizzies and, of course, The Rogues.

To help you in this battle to Coney Island and the turf war of New York you have an arsenal of pick up weapons such as bottles, baseball bats, knives and even pool cues. Much like any beat-em up game there are special attacks available and completion relies on swift combos, blocks and uncovering health pick ups and bonuses. Unfortunately the very nature of an arcade game and especially with this particular genre is in most cases to be a short(er) and sweet game in a nifty bundle with a high replay value. Never the one to dismiss good value I have to say you undoubtedly get a lot for your 800 Microsoft Points, unfortunately it took at least two hours to complete, even in 3 way co-op, and by the end I found myself pleading for the showdown with little desire to go through it again as a result. Too much of a good thing can be, well, less good, and there is only so much beating, pummeling and bottling you can take in one go. Although the game is of course very good for what it is, even fans of the film or similar games will find themselves feeling over played to complete it every time.

The arcade mode then offers even more of the same but with limited credits and tougher enemies to yet again pummel. There are also modes for Boss battles, which in a stupidly hard round pits a solo player against the story mode bosses (I failed to get passed the first, even after numerous attempts!), and also a versus mode allowing you to pit your street ‘skillz’ against friends. Without wishing to sound too negative for a game which has obviously had a great deal of time, effort and detail put into it, unfortunately a beat-em up isn’t the best platform for a game that carries so much.


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One response to “The Warriors: Street Brawl”

  1. Jake avatar

    I had my arse handed to me in solo play… but I was pleasantly surprised by this week’s XBLA stuff – a nice mix of playable gamery!

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