NARC (video game)

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NARC
Logo of NARC
Developer(s) Williams
Publisher(s) Williams
Designer(s) Eugene Jarvis
Release date(s) 1988
Genre(s) Run and gun
Mode(s) Up to 2 players simultaneously
Platform(s) Arcade, Nintendo Entertainment System, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Input Joystick; 4 buttons
Arcade cabinet Upright
Arcade system(s) Williams Z-Unit
CPU: TI TMS34010 (@ 6 MHz)
Sound CPU: (2x) M6809 (@ 2 MHz)
Sound chips: Yamaha YM2151 FM, (2x) DAC, Harris HC55536 CVSD
Arcade display Raster Medium Resolution (Horizontal) CRT: Color

NARC is a 1988 arcade game designed by Eugene Jarvis for Williams Electronics. It was one of the first ultra-violent video games and a frequent target of parental criticism of the arcade game industry. The object is to arrest and kill drug offenders, confiscate their money and drugs, and defeat Mr. Big. It was ported, not long after, to the NES and several home computer systems in 1990. In 2005, it was also updated into a brand new game for the Xbox and PS2.

Contents

[edit] The arcade game

Released in 1988, this was the first game in the newly restarted Williams Electronics coin op division, and features their notable use of digitized graphics (later made famous in games such as Mortal Kombat). In fact the quality of the graphics in terms of number of colors would not be surpassed until the game Mortal Kombat II (released in 1993). The game also features what in arcade terminology is termed a medium resolution monitor - higher resolution than televisions and normal arcade monitors, although often in a smaller physical size.

Narc has what can be considered a pretty basic storyline. The two characters, Max Force and Hit Man, have received a memo from Spencer Williams, Narcotics Opposition Chairman in Washington, DC dispatching them on Project NARC. Their mission is to apprehend Mr. Big, head of an underground drug trafficking and terrorist organization.

William's 1988 version.
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William's 1988 version.

The player controls either Max Force or Hit Man, who are hunting down junkies, drug dealers and organized crime kingpins. Max and Hit are equipped with an automatic weapon and missile launcher. When an enemy is dispatched using the latter, they explode in a torrent of bloody body appendages. Some enemies surrender by being arrested and then float away with "BUSTED" over them, this is then added to your tally at the end of the level along with drugs and money confiscated from other enemies that they dropped when killed. The game's objective is to reach and destroy various drug dealing ringleaders.

Project NARC encompasses an illegal narcotics laboratory, a cannabis greenhouse, and several other places of villainy. The levels are:

  • The Junkyard
  • K.R.A.K. Street (later changed to K.W.A.K. for the NES release)
  • The Bridge
  • Sunset Strip
  • Skyhigh's Nursery
  • Downtown
  • Red Level 1
  • Blue Level 2
  • Mr. Big's Office
  • Inner Sanctum
  • Jackpot!

[edit] Ports and other releases

Note: information on the other ports of this game are much needed

[edit] ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC

The ZX Spectrum version of NARC
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The ZX Spectrum version of NARC

Programmed by David Leitch at Sales Curve Interactive and published by Ocean Software, NARC came at a time when the aging ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC were being pushed to their limit and accurately captures the gameplay of the arcade original with roughly the same quantities and sizes of enemy sprites and animations, albeit at a lower pixel and colour resolution.

The game received generally positive reviews, including 9/10 from CRASH, 8/10 from Sinclair User and 72% from Your Sinclair - a review in which Matt Bielby neatly summarised the feelings of most critics of the game [1]:

I don't think it's really Ocean's fault (it's more down to the original Williams arcade machine) but this is one of the most objectionable Speccy games I've seen in ages. It's very (very) violent, it's pretty repetitive, and the plot is utter nonsense

[edit] Nintendo Entertainment System

The NES version of NARC.
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The NES version of NARC.

This 1990 version of NARC, published by Acclaim Entertainment and developed by Rare.Ltd. was billed as "the first video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) with a strong anti-drug message"[2]. Despite the NES's system limitations, the game retained most of its violence and gore.

The gameplay was significantly handicapped because of the NES controller's limited number of buttons (only two buttons on the NES whereas the arcade version has four).

Despite the game's strong anti-drug message, Nintendo forced all drug references to be removed from the actual gameplay.

In 1990, Acclaim released NARC as a handheld LCD game as well.

[edit] Midway Arcade Treasures 2

In 2004, the Midway Arcade Treasures 2 compilation featured a re-release of the arcade version of Narc. The game was an emulation rather than a port of the arcade game, so it was practically a carbon copy of the original. But due to some problems in emulating the game, the sound is prone to cutting out during gameplay.

[edit] 2005 update

The 2005 home console update of the 1988 arcade hit of the same title was also developed and published by Midway Games for the Xbox and PS2. A planned GameCube version was later cancelled. Although the update was slated to be a straight remake of the story from the arcade game, the version that was eventually released featured a totally new story. This made the game so different from the arcade version of NARC that it could be considered a completely different game with no relation to the original. The update casts the player as narcotics officer Jack Forzenski & DEA agent Marcus Hill, former partners reunited who are instructed to investigate a new drug on the streets called liquid soul.

Drugs available in NARC include Speed, Marijuana, Ecstasy, Quaaludes, Acid, and Crack. One of the most controversial aspects of the game is that after arresting dealers and confiscating their stock, the player can either take the confiscated items to the evidence room, or keep them for future use. This confers benefits such as improved weapons accuracy.

  • After smoking crack cocaine Forzenski/Hill will have a one shot kill (two uses for addiction)
  • After using speed Forzenski/Hill will walk, run, or sprint quicker then usual
  • After smoking Marijuana The game will slow down but Forzenski/Hill will still be able to aim at the same speed, resulting in faster and more accurate shots then usual (fifteen uses for addiction)
  • After using ecstasy Forzenski/Hill will not be attacked unless they attack an Non-player character (cannot become addictied)
  • After using quaaludes Forzenski/Hill will be able to zoom in through their own eyes while the game is at a stand-still
  • After using LSD Forzenski/Hill will see enemies as regular NPC's with devil heads and non criminal NPC's as regular NPC's with jester heads (five uses for addiction)
  • After using liquid soul Forzenski/Hill will go into a violent rage in which every NPC turns into a criminal (one use for addiction)
  • After using Protodone Forzenski/Hill will no longer be addicted to drugs
MidWay's 2005 update features a realistic 3D environment.
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MidWay's 2005 update features a realistic 3D environment.

Dealing drugs for financial benefit is also possible. However, as in real life, drug use leads to consequences such as addiction, blackouts, and loss of health and reputation points. The integration of drug use by the protagonist is in complete contrast to the anti-drug message of the original arcade game. The game's source code dates back to the three-year-old State of Emergency[3].

Several well-known stars are involved with the voice acting in NARC, including Michael Madsen, Bill Bellamy, and Ron Perlman.

[edit] Controversy

A March 21, 2005 press release announced the game's shipment to retailers and emphasized that NARC was designed for an "older audience"[4]. Indeed, the game was given an M rating.

According to Chris Morris, "Its timing, though, couldn't be worse – and could have long-term ramifications on the industry"[5].

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said, "These kinds of games teach kids to do the very things that in real life, we put people in jail for. Just as we don't allow kids to buy pornography or alcohol or tobacco, we shouldn't allow them to buy these games."[6] NARC was banned from Australia before it was released.

Despite its pre-release controversy, the aftermath of NARC fell considerately short of the influence that other controversially influential games (a prime example being the Grand Theft Auto series) had. Some reviewers had also flagged NARC as a GTA clone, despite the fact that NARC didn't have any carjacking in its gameplay - which was a prominent factor of Grand Theft Auto.

[edit] Offsetting the controversy

In order to miminalize the negative influences that are present in the 2005 version of NARC, players can always try the Perfect Reputation Challenge. In this challenge, missions must be completed and criminals arrested in the manner of an orthodox police officer; illegal drugs must be placed in the evidence bin instead of being used; and a perfect badge rating of 100 must be maintained throughout the entire game.

[edit] Soundtrack

Some of the songs featured in NARC:

  • Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman
  • Curtis Mayfield - Freddie's Dead
  • Cypress Hill - Hits From the Bong
  • DMX - The Professional
  • Gil Scott Heron - The Bottle
  • Grandmaster Flash - White Lines (Don't Do It)
  • Happy Mondays - Step On
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd - That Smell
  • The Stranglers - Golden Brown
  • Toyes - Smoke Two Joints

[edit] Notes

  • The back of the Xbox version of the game box checks off "Custom Soundtracks" but this feature wasn't implemented.

[edit] Cultural influence

Legendary rock group Pixies recorded a cover of the theme song from the original arcade game, and released it as a B-Side to their 1991 single, "Planet of Sound". They entitled the cover "Theme From NARC", and it consisted of frontman Frank Black singing the title repeatedly, while the band played the theme music.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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