Скачать или смотреть Bad Dudes (NES) Playthrough

Playthrough of Bad Dudes, Data East's 1990 beat 'em up for the NES.

Bad Dudes for the NES, released in 1990 as a port of Data East’s 1988 arcade title Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja, is remembered today as much for its outrageous premise and campy presentation as for its gameplay. Its opening line, “The President has been kidnapped by ninjas. Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the President?” has become one of the most iconic pieces of 1980s video game dialogue. While the NES version doesn’t fully capture the depth or polish of the arcade original, it still delivers a fun slice of over-the-top action that embodies the era’s fascination with ninjas, muscles, and attitude.

Players take on the role of Blade or Striker in a side-scrolling brawler that sends them through a gauntlet of ninjas, dogs, and colorful bosses on their way to save the President. The move set is fairly broad for an NES beat ’em up, featuring punches, kicks, spin attacks, and a chargeable power punch, along with temporary weapons like daggers and nunchucks. Though the power punch tends to overshadow the rest of the arsenal, the variety of moves still gives the player options and a sense of toughness that fits the game’s larger-than-life theme.

Enemy variety is limited, with palette-swapped ninjas making up most of the opposition, but the game’s fast pace and the sheer number of adversaries keep players engaged. Boss encounters, including appearances by Karnov and other memorable characters, may not be especially complex, but they add personality to the adventure and give the game some memorable highlights. The famous victory cry of “I’M BAD!” after a boss battle might be grating to some, but for many it is one of the most unforgettable—and oddly endearing—details of the game.

From a technical perspective, the NES port makes some compromises compared to the arcade version, but it remains visually recognizable. Levels use a limited palette, yet the characters stand out clearly, and the game captures the arcade’s macho aesthetic in a scaled-down form. The soundtrack is particularly strong, with energetic tunes that complement the action and stand as one of the game’s most appealing features.

The difficulty is challenging, as expected from an arcade-style brawler, but perseverance is rewarded with satisfying victories and a sense of accomplishment. The occasional cheap hits and limited health pickups can frustrate, but players willing to master the mechanics—or use the famous extra lives cheat—will find a game that offers both challenge and nostalgia in equal measure.

In the end, Bad Dudes is less about precision gameplay and more about atmosphere. It’s an unapologetically 80s experience that embraces its cheesiness, from the muscle-bound heroes to the endless ninjas and campy dialogue. While it may not rival Double Dragon II or River City Ransom in depth or design, it still has a unique charm that makes it worth revisiting. For players looking to relive the over-the-top action of late-80s arcades in 8-bit form, Bad Dudes remains a fun, if imperfect, ride.