NEED HELP!! Can't remember name to old game...

[Maestrokneer]

I'm going WAY out on a limb here thinking that anyone will be able to glean something from my loose memories here. But if you could help me identify an old game I would much appreciate it.

I don't remember a whole lot other than I spent one summer (88' 89'?) dumping quarters into this game whenever I had a chance. I believe it was an adventure game simliar to Dragon's Lair (no not Space Ace). It had the cartoon graphics which at the time blew your mind and the multiple paths, but no direct control. It was a futuristic urban setting and one of the first scenes was you were put in jail and a buddy breaks you out (You could actually also choose to try and escape before you were put in the cell). Then a chase ensues. I remember zigging in and out of futuristic streets in futuristic cars while shooting (again no ACTUAL control, but slick graphics). I also remember something about a baseball game in it also...but that is pretty foggy.

Anyway, I know this isn't much to go on, but I"ve tried a bunch of internet searches to no avail. So does anyone else remember this "Dragon's Lair" type of game that wasn't Space Ace set in the future with a prison breakout in the beginning?

Thanks for the help!

[Kroogah]

This is what a KLOV search turned up, narrowed down to the futuristic games with car scenes:

Captain Zapp(?)
Cosmos Circuit
Road Blaster

[Veepa]

Well there was a sequel to Dragon's Lair, called Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp... I've never played it, so I don't know what it's like.. but it's story, as listed by imdb.com, is... "The evil wizard Mordroc has kidnapped princess Daphne to marry her. Dirk the Daring will have to use a magical time machine to free Daphne again."

[FurinkanianFrood]

Freedom Fighter.....

Sounds like Freedom Fighter.

It was futuristic (it used animation from Galaxy Express 999 BTW).
It was a laserdisc game.
It has at least one baseball scene.
It has car scenes.

That seems awfully close to be a coincidence.

There are screenshots at http://www.dragons-lair-project.com/

[Kroogah]

OK, yeah, it HAS to be Freedom Fighter. Damn, that didn't even show up when I searched KLOV for "laserdisc". KLOV is fired.

[GameGuru]

http://www.dragons-lair-project.com/games/pages/images/ffr/pic06.jpghttp://www.dragons-lair-project.com/games/pages/images/ffr/pic23.jpg
http://www.dragons-lair-project.com/games/pages/images/ffr/pic27.jpghttp://www.dragons-lair-project.com/games/pages/images/ffr/pic02.jpg

These are all of Freedom Fighter (http://www.dragons-lair-project.com/games/pages/ffr.asp), is this it or are you thinking of another game?

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmm...what was the game's name in Japan?

[FurinkanianFrood]

Hmm...what was the game's name in Japan?


I can't find any evidence of one. All sites seem to indicate that this was the only game that it's maker ever released, which might explain that.....

Of course, there may be a JP release that is even more obscure than any sites I'm aware of deal with.....

Perhaps a site in Japanese? I'll look at JP sites for it at some point. If I ever find anything I'll post it here.

There is a game that seems similar on CD-I (at very least it uses some of the same source animation) called Escape from Cyber City.

[Maestrokneer]

DAMN! You guys are good! I searched on KLOV too, and wasn't able to turn anything up.

Thanks a ton Furinkanian Frood. You've set a nostalgic gamers mind at ease. :-)

Loved that game. I thought the gameplay was better (or at least less frustrating) than Dragon's Lair. A lot more open ended, and less memorizing patterns.

Thanks again!

[frost69nyc]

What, you mean you didnt enjoy getting clocked by the first thing that attacked you in Dragon's Lair over and over and over again until you somehow got the .0087654 second reaction time figured out?

I officially nominate Dragon's Lair as the all-time greatest 'most fun to watch because you're definitely not wasting that many quarters on it' game in video-game history.

[puxley]

That game is available in a console port, "Escape from CyberCity" on the Philips CDi.

It has the exact same animation as above. However, "CyberCity" doesn't start with the jail cell sequence you mentioned, it starts on a city street with snipers.

Use the rollerball controller to move your gunsight around, no other controller can cut the mustard. It's a brutally hard and fast game. You can use the d-pad at certain spots in the game to choose your path. There is a flying skateboard sequence, too, that I found almost impossible.

One unique scene I liked though, is 3 armed robots coming at you in an alley. There's no way to shoot them all -- you have to hit the gasoline truck passing by outside to nail them with a big blast.

In the pictures above, when the old man gives the kid the gun, he says "This can shoot the lips off a cockroach, son."
Uh...great.

[Maestrokneer]

Yeah! I remember that "cockroach" line. It's delivered with a heavy Scottish accent if I recall. Always thought that was funny.

Well, now that I've figured out the game, time to see if I can find an emulator for the PC or something so I can get my fix. I have a feeling that's going to be tougher than remembering the name. Oh well....off on my hunt!