Dead Angle and Dick Tracy Similarities?

[ShinobiMan]

Anyone ever notice the similarities between these two Sega titles? Dead Angle was an arcade game way before it was on the Master System, but when Sega made Dick Tracy for the Genesis, they most certainly borrowed some of the gameplay aspects from Dead Angle.

Dead Angle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj4xtmkMW28

Dick Tracy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zZ2xXUvn6w

They share a lot in common. Check out Dick firing into the background to kill those goons. From style and character design, to just plain murdering everyone in sight, the two games feel related somehow.

I'd like to ad that I enjoy both games immensely. Simple but addictive gameplay.

[Graham Mitchell]

Dead Angle has even more in common with Dynamite Duke, as they were developed by the same people:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLb1Hup_pVs

The Punisher on the NES, which really is one of the better games that LJN published, also borrows from the formula:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMWCU-mcgN0&feature=PlayList&p=CED5673B16FB6D88&index=0

[ShinobiMan]

Dead Angle has even more in common with Dynamite Duke, as they were developed by the same people:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLb1Hup_pVs

The Punisher on the NES, which really is one of the better games that LJN published, also borrows from the formula:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMWCU-mcgN0&feature=PlayList&p=CED5673B16FB6D88&index=0

You know, after all these years, I never played Dynamite Duke. Thanks for sharing that link.

I see the similarities for sure... but I think it's the 1940's gangsters from both Dead Angle and Dick Tracy that seal the deal for me. The sprites are drawn similar, as are their animations.

[Ed Oscuro]

Dead Angle, without even playing it, has even more in common with Empire City: 1931 (aka Street Fight...just "Street Fight"). Youtube video confirms it's very close.

The granddaddy of this type of game may well be Data East's arcade title "Shoot Out," from 1985. I saw a PCB being offered for sale on an Asian site recently so I checked it out in MAME - not really playable without the right control setup I'm afraid.

I will say that the actual foreground gameplay in Dick Tracy looks sad, but the sweeping machine-gun fire aspect is pretty interesting. I'll definitely check it out. Thanks!


I see the similarities for sure... but I think it's the 1940's gangsters from both Dead Angle and Dick Tracy that seal the deal for me. The sprites are drawn similar, as are their animations.
You mean '20s and '30s :)

I'd laugh so much if Moon Maid shows up in the Dick Tracy game (of course she wouldn't; by 1990 they'd fully retreated and I wouldn't be surprised if the only futuristic thing left was the television radio watch) - Chester Gould really took that strip all over the place.

Edit: Hey, there's a coincidence. Some rumblings in the Dick Tracysphere (http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=12657). Apparently Tribune Media Services wants the rights to television and movie outings for the character, versus Warren Beatty.