Crack Down

From Sega Retro

n/a

CrackDown Title.png

Crack Down
System(s): Sega System 24, Sega Mega Drive, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, ZX Spectrum, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega, U.S. Gold,
Sega Mega Drive
Sega (JP/EU), Sage's Creation (US)
Amiga
Amstrad CPC
Atari ST
Commodore 64
ZX Spectrum
U.S. Gold
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Crack Down (クラックダウン) is a top-down arcade shoot-'em-up title developed by Sega for their Sega System 24 arcade board. It has subsequently been ported to a variety of systems, including the Sega Mega Drive, Commodore Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS and ZX Spectrum. The Mega Drive version is a common choice for compilations, and has therefore seen several re-releases among other early Mega Drive titles. It has also been brought to the Wii's Virtual Console service. For whatever reason, Sega had Sage's Creation publish the Mega Drive port in North America (it may have had to do with HOT-B making the port).

The game features two heroes, Ben and Andy, who have to get through a series of levels as quickly as possible by placing bombs on marked X spots scattered around the levels. The levels are heavily defended, but the player has an array of weaponry including a cannon, machine gun, and superbombs at their disposal in order to stay alive.

Crack Down is unusual in that its System 24 roots mean that the screen is always split into two. As a result, one of the main complaints for weaker systems (with lower screen resolutions) is that the majority of the screen is not used when playing a one-player game.

There is a known glitch in the Amiga version of the game which causes the final level to crash. Recent fan hacks have fixed the problem, but it was never addressed during the production run.

Production Credits

Mega Drive Version

Planning: Kobupan
Screenplay: 2468Drive, Kanazawa
Programming: SA.160A, EC.NA.DF.OE, Ebuc, Soft MA
Graphic Design: Kanazawa, Nagasaki, Gunma
Music Composed by: Sega
Music Arranged by: Mecanoize
Sound Design: YMOIMO by MS
Special Thanks to: Hokkaido, Chiba, Kanagawa, Help 1, Help 2, Help 3
Director: SA.160A
Producer: 2468Drive

Promotional Material

Digital manuals

Physcial Scans

System 24 Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
Arcade
Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Arcade
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Crack Down

System 24, US
System 24, JP

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,
CrackDown MT cover.jpg
Cover

Mega Drive Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 №8
65
72 №5, p91
72 №23, p79
65 №1, p77[2]
84 №5, p66/67/68
82 №14, p118
83 №10, p37
78 №10, p51
60 №19, p12
80 №23, p53
88 №2, p19[3]
82 №18, p64
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
13 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[4]
Ação Games (BR)
75
[5]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
63
[6]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
83
[7]
Console XS (UK) PAL
82
[8]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
73
[9]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
58
[10]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
72
[11]
Games-X (UK) PAL
60
[12]
Génération 4 (FR)
71
[13]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[14]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
82
[15]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
72
[16]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
67
[17]
Mega (UK)
72
[18]
MegaTech (UK)
65
[19]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
70
[20]
Mean Machines (UK)
84
[21]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
65
[22]
Player One (FR)
83
[23]
Power Play (DE)
65
[24]
Raze (UK) PAL
78
[25]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
60
[26]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[27]
Sega Pro (UK)
88
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
82
[29]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
59
[30]
Tilt (FR)
75
[31]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
57
[32]
User (GR) PAL
86
[33]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)
50
[34]
Video Games (DE)
57
[35]
Sega Mega Drive
70
Based on
32 reviews

Crack Down

Mega Drive, US
CrackDown MD US Box.jpg
Cover
CrackDown MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
CrackDown MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
CrackDown MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
CrackDown MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
CrackDown MD JP CartTop.jpg
CrackDown MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Crackdown md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
CrackDown MD BR Box.jpg
Cover

Amiga Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
76 №6, p134
90 №60
Amiga
83
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
The Australian Commodore Review (AU)
80
[36]
Amiga Joker (DE)
68
[37]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
70
[38]
CU Amiga (UK)
85
[39]
Joystick (FR)
76
[40]
Power Play (DE)
67
[41]
User (GR)
80
[42]
Zzap!64 (UK)
90
[43]
Amiga
77
Based on
8 reviews

Crack Down

Amiga, UK

Amiga, UK (Kixx)
CrackDown Amiga EU Box Front Kixx.jpg
Cover

Amstrad CPC Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №6, p134
Amstrad CPC
80
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
57
[44]
CPC Attack! (UK)
72
[45]
Joystick (FR)
80
[40]
Zzap! (IT)
90
[46]
Amstrad CPC
75
Based on
4 reviews

Crack Down

Amstrad CPC, UK (Disk)

CrackDown CPC EU Disk Front.jpg
Disk (front)
CrackDown CPC EU Disk Back.jpg
Disk (back)
Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette)

Amstrad CPC, UK (Kixx)
CrackDown CPC UK Box Kixx.jpg
Cover
Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette)
CrackDown CPC ES Box Cassette Erbe.jpg
Cover
CrackDown CPC ES Cassette Erbe.jpg
Cassette

Atari ST Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 №29, p43
76 №4, p116
Atari ST
83
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
68
[44]
The Games Machine (UK)
90
[47]
Génération 4 (FR)
92
[48]
Joystick (FR)
76
[49]
Power Play (DE)
67
[41]
ST Action (UK)
74
[50]
Atari ST
78
Based on
6 reviews

Crack Down

Atari ST, UK

Commodore 64 Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
87 №30, p61
86 №75
88 №60, p10/11
90 №87, p44/45
Commodore 64
88
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
58
[44]
C-Lehti (FI)
79
[51]
Commodore Format (UK)
71
[52]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
91
[53]
The Games Machine (UK)
87
[54]
Power Play (DE)
54
[55]
Svet Kompjutera (YU)
60
[56]
Your Commodore (UK)
75
[57]
Zzap!64 (UK)
88
[43]
Zzap!64 (UK)
90
[58]
Zzap! (IT)
83
[46]
Commodore 64
76
Based on
11 reviews

Crack Down

Commodore 64, US
CrackDown C64 US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngCrackDown C64 US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Amiga, UK

Commodore 64, UK (Kixx)
CrackDown C64 UK Box Kixx.jpg
Cover
CrackDown C64 UK Cassette Kixx.jpg
Cassette
Commodore 64, ES

DOS Version

DOS, US
CrackDown DOS US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngCrackDown DOS US Box Front.jpg
Cover

ZX Spectrum Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
88 №30, p61
ZX Spectrum
88
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
The Games Machine (UK)
88
[54]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
60
[59]
Sinclair User (UK)
68
[60]
ZX Spectrum
72
Based on
3 reviews

Crack Down

ZX Spectrum, UK

ZX Spectrum, UK (Kixx)
CrackDown Spectrum EU Box Kixx.jpg
Cover
ZX Spectrum, ES
CrackDown Spectrum EU Erbe Box.jpg
Cover

External links

  • http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Interview:Kimihiro_Endou
  • File:Megatech UK 01.pdf, page 77
  • File:Segapro UK 02.pdf, page 21
  • 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 52
  • Ação Games, "Junho 1991" (BR; 1991-06-19), page 31
  • Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 35
  • The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 110
  • Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 128
  • Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 34
  • Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-1x-xx), page 1
  • GamePro, "May 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 38
  • Games-X, "14th-20th June 1991" (UK; 1991-06-14), page 20
  • Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 102
  • Hippon Super, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-04), page 42
  • Joystick, "Mars 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 118
  • Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91
  • Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99
  • Mega, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-21), page 79
  • MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 77
  • Micromanía (segunda época), "Agosto 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 37
  • Mean Machines, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-02-01), page 66
  • Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
  • Player One, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 37
  • Power Play, "4/91" (DE; 1991-03-15), page 135
  • Raze, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-06-27), page 51
  • Sega Power, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-02), page 12
  • Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
  • Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 21
  • Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  • Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  • Tilt, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 80
  • Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 11
  • User, "Ioúnios 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 66
  • VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "March 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 40
  • Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 79
  • The Australian Commodore Review, "Vol. 7 No. 9: September 1990" (AU; 1990-0x-xx), page 79
  • Amiga Joker, "Juni/Juli '90" (DE; 1990-05-25), page 52
  • Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1990" (DE; 1990-07-27), page 69
  • CU Amiga, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-26), page 33
  • 40.0 40.1 Joystick, "Juin 1990" (FR; 1990-05-xx), page 128
  • 41.0 41.1 Power Play, "5/90" (DE; 1990-04-12), page 40
  • User, "Ioúlios-Ávgoustos 1990" (GR; 1990-0x-xx), page 52
  • 43.0 43.1 Zzap!64, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-15), page 10
  • 44.0 44.1 44.2 Aktueller Software Markt, "Juni/Juli 1990" (DE; 1990-05-25), page 18
  • CPC Attack!, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-04), page 30
  • 46.0 46.1 Zzap!, "Giugno 1990" (IT; 1990-xx-xx), page 32
  • The Games Machine, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-15), page 43
  • Génération 4, "Avril 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 10
  • Joystick, "Avril 1990" (FR; 1990-03-20), page 116
  • ST Action, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-0x-xx), page 36
  • C-Lehti, "4/90" (FI; 1990-09-13), page 61
  • Commodore Format, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-18), page 48
  • Computer & Video Games, "March 1990" (UK; 1990-02-16), page 72
  • 54.0 54.1 The Games Machine, "May 1990" (UK; 1990-04-05), page 61
  • Power Play, "7/90" (DE; 1990-06-15), page 116
  • Svet Kompjutera, "Oktobar 1990" (YU; 1990-xx-xx), page 58
  • Your Commodore, "May 1990" (UK; 1990-04-06), page 17
  • Zzap!64, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-xx), page 44
  • Micromanía (segunda época), "Junio 1990" (ES; 1990-0x-xx), page 24
  • Sinclair User, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-18), page 42