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NARC (video game)
Encyclopedia
NARC is originally a 1988 arcade game
designed by Eugene Jarvis
for Williams Electronics and programmed by George Petro. 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 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 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 was also the very first arcade game to utilize the TI TMS34010, which is a 32-bit processor. The game was also notable for the numerous voice samples used during and between levels.
Narc was ported to the NES
and several home computer systems in 1990. In 2005, the franchise was re-launched with a brand new game for the Xbox
and PS2
.
drug trafficking and terrorist
organization.
The player controls either Max Force or Hit Man, who are mowing 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 scorched and bloody body appendages. Some enemies can be arrested after they surrender and then float away with "BUSTED" over them, this is then added to a tally at the end of the level along with drugs and money confiscated from other enemies that they dropped when killed (the game actually awards more points at the end of a round for arresting enemies without killing them). The game's objective is to reach and destroy various drug dealing ringleaders.
, the versions of the game for the ZX Spectrum
and Amstrad CPC
computers generally received positive reviews, including 9/10 from CRASH
, 8/10 from Sinclair User
and 72% from Your Sinclair
. Matt Bielby of Your Sinclair called it "one of the most objectionable Speccy games I've seen in ages", and called it "repetitive" and the plot "utter nonsense. ".
This 1990 Nintendo Entertainment System
(NES) version of NARC, published by Acclaim Entertainment
and developed by Rare was billed as "the first video game for the with a strong anti-drug message". However, Nintendo forced all drug references to be removed from the actual gameplay. 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 only had two buttons whereas the arcade version has four buttons. However, the ability to jump and fire missiles was preserved. In 1990, Acclaim released NARC as a handheld LCD game as well.
Most of the computer ports had their music ported by Tony Williams, credited as 'Sound Images' and David Wise ported the arcade music to the NES.
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.
The 2005 home console
update of the 1988 arcade hit of the same title was develop
ed by VIS Entertainment and published by Midway Games
for the Xbox, PC and PS2. A planned Nintendo GameCube
version was later canceled. 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. Several well-known stars are involved with the voice acting
in NARC, including Michael Madsen
, Bill Bellamy
, and Ron Perlman
. The game's soundtrack features artists such as Curtis Mayfield
, Cypress Hill
, Grandmaster Flash
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
, and indie artists such as Point Game and Camden. The update casts the player as narcotics officer Jack Forzenski and DEA agent Marcus Hill, former partners reunited who are instructed to investigate a new drug on the streets called Liquid Soul.
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. Dealing drugs for financial benefit is also possible. 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
(engine) dates back to the three-year-old State of Emergency
.
A March 21, 2005 press release announced the game's shipment to retailers and emphasized that NARC was designed for an "older audience" . 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". 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." NARC was banned from Australia
before it was released.
". They titled the cover "Theme From NARC", and it consisted of frontman Black Francis singing the song title several times, while the band played the theme music. The song is also included on their Complete 'B' Sides
compilation album.
A NARC arcade machine is being played by some of the youths in Shredder's compound in the movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
.
Max Force, Mr. Big, Spike, and Joe all appear on the animated series, The Power Team, which is part of the video game show, Video Power
.
1993 - "Mr. Big" a song about selling drugs by 8 Ball & MJG
on their Comin' Out Hard
album was inspired by NARCs Final Boss.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
designed by Eugene Jarvis
Eugene Jarvis
Eugene Peyton Jarvis is a game designer and programmer, known for producing pinball machines for Atari and video games for Williams Electronics. Most notable amongst his works are the seminal arcade video games Defender and Robotron: 2084 in the early 1980s, and the Cruis'n series of driving games...
for Williams Electronics and programmed by George Petro. 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 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
Mortal Kombat (video game)
Mortal Kombat is a 1992 fighting-game developed and published by Midway for arcades. In 1993, home versions were released by Acclaim Entertainment. Released in the Fall of 1994, the Microsoft Windows 3.1x version was released by Activision Interactive. It is the first title in the 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
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II is a competitive fighting game originally produced by Midway Games for the arcades in . It is the second game in the Mortal Kombat series. Like its predecessor, various home versions were produced...
(released in 1993). The game 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 was also the very first arcade game to utilize the TI TMS34010, which is a 32-bit processor. The game was also notable for the numerous voice samples used during and between levels.
Narc was ported to the NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and several home computer systems in 1990. In 2005, the franchise was re-launched with a brand new game for the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and PS2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
.
Gameplay
The game's main characters are Max Force and Hit Man, who 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 undergroundOrganized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
drug trafficking and terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
organization.
The player controls either Max Force or Hit Man, who are mowing 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 scorched and bloody body appendages. Some enemies can be arrested after they surrender and then float away with "BUSTED" over them, this is then added to a tally at the end of the level along with drugs and money confiscated from other enemies that they dropped when killed (the game actually awards more points at the end of a round for arresting enemies without killing them). The game's objective is to reach and destroy various drug dealing ringleaders.
Ports and other releases
Programmed by David Leitch at Sales Curve Interactive and published by Ocean SoftwareOcean Software
The British company Ocean Software was one of the biggest European video game developers/publishers of the 1980s and 90s...
, the versions of the game for the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
computers generally received positive reviews, including 9/10 from CRASH
CRASH (magazine)
Crash was a magazine dedicated to the ZX Spectrum home computer. It was published from 1984 to 1991 by Newsfield Publications Ltd until their liquidation, and then until 1992 by Europress.-Development:...
, 8/10 from Sinclair User
Sinclair User
Sinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
and 72% from Your Sinclair
Your Sinclair
Your Sinclair or YS as it was commonly abbreviated, was a British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum.-History:...
. Matt Bielby of Your Sinclair called it "one of the most objectionable Speccy games I've seen in ages", and called it "repetitive" and the plot "utter nonsense. ".
This 1990 Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
(NES) version of NARC, published by Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
and developed by Rare was billed as "the first video game for the with a strong anti-drug message". However, Nintendo forced all drug references to be removed from the actual gameplay. 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 only had two buttons whereas the arcade version has four buttons. However, the ability to jump and fire missiles was preserved. In 1990, Acclaim released NARC as a handheld LCD game as well.
Most of the computer ports had their music ported by Tony Williams, credited as 'Sound Images' and David Wise ported the arcade music to the NES.
In 2004, the Midway Arcade Treasures 2
Midway Arcade Treasures 2
Midway Arcade Treasures 2 is the second collection of classic arcade games published by Midway for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. This compilation includes 20 games that were not in the 2003 release of Midway Arcade Treasures or the 2005 release of Midway Arcade Treasures 3.The game plays...
compilation featured a re-release of the arcade version of Narc. The game was an emulation
Emulator
In computing, an emulator is hardware or software or both that duplicates the functions of a first computer system in a different second computer system, so that the behavior of the second system closely resembles the behavior of the first system...
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.
2005 game
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
update of the 1988 arcade hit of the same title was develop
Software developer
A software developer is a person concerned with facets of the software development process. Their work includes researching, designing, developing, and testing software. A software developer may take part in design, computer programming, or software project management...
ed by VIS Entertainment and published by Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
for the Xbox, PC and PS2. A planned Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
version was later canceled. 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. Several well-known stars are involved with the voice acting
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
in NARC, including Michael Madsen
Michael Madsen
Michael Søren Madsen is an American actor, poet, and photographer. He has appeared in more than 150 films, most of them small independent films, though he has starred in central roles in such films as Reservoir Dogs, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Kill Bill, in addition to a supporting role in Sin...
, Bill Bellamy
Bill Bellamy
William "Bill" Bellamy is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He currently resides in California. Bellamy first gained national notoriety on HBO's Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam, where he is credited for creating or uttering before a televised audience, the phrase "booty call", described as...
, and Ron Perlman
Ron Perlman
Ronald N. "Ron" Perlman is an American television, film and voice over actor. He is known for having played Vincent in the TV series Beauty and the Beast , a Deathstroke figure known as Slade in the animated series Teen Titans, Clarence "Clay" Morrow in Sons of Anarchy, the comic book character...
. The game's soundtrack features artists such as Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
, Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
, Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
, and indie artists such as Point Game and Camden. The update casts the player as narcotics officer Jack Forzenski and DEA agent Marcus Hill, former partners reunited who are instructed to investigate a new drug on the streets called Liquid Soul.
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. Dealing drugs for financial benefit is also possible. The integration of drug use by the protagonist is in complete contrast to the anti-drug
Just Say No
"Just Say No" was an advertising campaign, part of the U.S. "War on Drugs", prevalent during the 1980s and early 1990s, to discourage children from engaging in recreational drug use by offering various ways of saying no. Eventually, this also expanded the realm of "Just Say No" to violence and...
message of the original arcade game. The game's source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
(engine) dates back to the three-year-old State of Emergency
State of Emergency (video game)
State of Emergency is a controversial 2002 action-adventure video game released by Rockstar Games. It was developed by Scottish firm VIS Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows.- Reception :...
.
A March 21, 2005 press release announced the game's shipment to retailers and emphasized that NARC was designed for an "older audience" . 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". Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Governor Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
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
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
or alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
or tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, we shouldn't allow them to buy these games." NARC was banned from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
before it was released.
Cultural influence
Rock group Pixies recorded a cover of the theme song from the original arcade game, originally written by game music composer Brian L. Schmidt, and released it as a B-Side to their 1991 single, "Planet of SoundPlanet of Sound
"Planet of Sound" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pixies; the second track on their 1991 album Trompe le Monde. It was written and sung by frontman Black Francis and produced by Gil Norton during the album's recording sessions...
". They titled the cover "Theme From NARC", and it consisted of frontman Black Francis singing the song title several times, while the band played the theme music. The song is also included on their Complete 'B' Sides
Complete 'B' Sides
Complete 'B' Sides is a compilation record by the Pixies. It features the B-sides for all their six UK singles from the 1980s and 1990s and one U.S. single...
compilation album.
A NARC arcade machine is being played by some of the youths in Shredder's compound in the movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (film)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 1990 American live-action film adaptation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise directed by Steve Barron. The film was followed by three sequels: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze in 1991, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993, and...
.
Max Force, Mr. Big, Spike, and Joe all appear on the animated series, The Power Team, which is part of the video game show, Video Power
Video Power
Video Power is an American television series that aired in two different formats from 1990-1992 in syndication. Both formats revolved around video games, and actor Stivi Paskoski presided over both series playing video game master Johnny Arcade.Allen J...
.
1993 - "Mr. Big" a song about selling drugs by 8 Ball & MJG
8 Ball & MJG
8Ball & MJG is an American Rap and Crunk duo from Memphis, Tennessee. The two rappers met at in 1980.They first appeared on the rap scene with their 1992 underground album Listen To The Lyrics...
on their Comin' Out Hard
Comin' Out Hard
Comin' Out Hard is the 1993 debut album by Eightball & MJG.-Track listing:#"Intro" - 1:52#"9 Little Millimeta Boys" - 5:17#"The First Episode" - 5:10#"Armed Robbery" - 4:42#"Pimps" - 6:41#"Comin' Out Hard" - 4:30#"Mr...
album was inspired by NARCs Final Boss.