Dynamite Duke (Japanese: ダイナマイトデューク, Hepburn: Dainamaito Dūku) is a 1989 action arcade game developed by Seibu Kaihatsu. It was later ported to the Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis and X68000. Being a Cabal-based shooter, it can be considered a follow-up to Seibu’s Empire City: 1931 and Dead Angle.
Dynamite Duke
It is a version with simultaneous 2 player support. In addition, there are other changes:
- Life gauges are shown with visible bars, where Duke and bosses all have 11 bars of life.
- In the English version, it is no longer possible to refill the life bar by adding credits after completing Mission 1.
- With the exception of Mission 9, there are more enemies on screen, including boss battles.
- In the high score entry screen, a countdown timer is shown.
Story – Dynamite Duke
A top scientist decides to utilise a secret formula to develop his very own army of evil mutant warriors, so he can become the ruler of the world. It is up to Dynamite Duke: a man who is armed with a cybernetic arm along with a machine gun to foil his evil plan.
Gameplay – Dynamite Duke
The Arcade version has 9 stages, while the Genesis version only has 6 stages.
In Japan, Game Machine listed Dynamite Duke on their October 1, 1989 issue as being the fourteenth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.[7]
Reception – Dynamite Duke
Mean Machines gave the Mega Drive/Genesis version a 79%, commenting that it was only visually better than the Master System version and that it “lacks lasting appeal”.[4] Levi Buchanan of IGN rated the Genesis game a 5.0 (Meh) for a dismal value, 30 minutes of play value.[8] MegaTech magazine gave an overall score of 73 out of 100 commenting the game “provides plenty of blasting fun and frolics” and criticizes its lack of challenge.[9]
Console XS gave the Genesis an overall score of 77/100 praising the behind the shoulder gameplay perspective and the well drawn enemies although criticizing the gameplay being too easy.[10] They also reviewed the Master system version and gave a score of 72/100 and felt the game was similar to Operation Wolf but with far superior graphics.[11]
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