Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja

Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja is a 1988 arcade beat ’em up from Data East, designed by Makoto Kikuchi. It was one of the top-earning arcade games in North America that year and was ported to the NES and many home computers, where Ocean’s Imagine label released it in Europe.

Gameplay

“The President has been kidnapped by ninjas. Are you a bad enough dude to rescue Ronnie?” With that legendary opening line, two street brawlers set out across the city to rescue the President from the DragonNinja clan.

• Two-player co-op: Fight together in the arcade and NES versions.
• Two levels: Many stages have an upper and lower level to move between.
• Charge attack: Hold the button for a powerful special punch.
• Power-ups: Collect weapons such as knives and nunchaku.
• Bosses: Each stage ends with a memorable boss.
• Varied stages: Streets, a moving truck, a train, sewers and a forest.

The arcade version’s large sprites and catchy music were impressive. The home computer ports vary widely in quality, and the gameplay is simple and repetitive.

Verdict

Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja is a fun, cheesy beat ’em up best known for its legendary intro. It’s simple and repetitive, but it’s a great nostalgic two-player romp. Sinclair User named it Beat ‘Em Up of 1988.