Urban Champion - NES

Urban Champion was one of the first Beat' Em Ups to come out for the NES way back in 1984. It is an extremely simple fighting game but a very enjoyable one nonetheless. You assume the role of a street brawler who must fight others around the city to become Urban Champion. Hitting your opponent forces them backwards and eventually onto the next screen. The fight is over when one of the brawlers falls down a manhole. You must remember to watch the windows of the buildings where people will hang out and throw various objects such as plant pots and plates. If these items manage to make contact with your character, they will stun him. There is also a nice touch to the game, in which a police car drives by, and both fighters return very quickly to their starting positions trying their best to look innocent.

The game is very easy to pick up, with a simple control system that almost anybody could master. Your character has two punches (left and right) which can be directed towards the body or the head of an opponent. To block your opponent's punches, you must press up on the control pad.

When discussing the graphics, the year of release must be taken into consideration. Yes, they look a tad basic, but for the time, they were very good indeed. Urban Champion is very easy to get the hang of and should keep even the most ardent fighting fan amused. The two-player option is also good fun and adds to the overall longevity. The music and sound effects are quite poor, but again the era of the game again must be taken into account.

Urban Champion is certainly a good old fashioned Beat'Em Up and is definitely worth looking for.
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