Running Battle

From Sega Retro

n/a

RunningBattle title.png

Running Battle
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)
Genre: Action[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
EU
7037
Sega Master System
BX
Sega Master System
UK
£29.9929.99[4][5] 7037
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
MX
Sega Master System
BR

Running Battle is a beat-'em-up game released for the Sega Master System. It was released only in Europe and Brazil. The game received mixed to negative reviews due to the repetitive gameplay, backgrounds, and soundtrack.

The instruction manual is unique in that it contains several comic book-style story segments, which is unusual for a manual of an overseas Master System release.

Story

The mysterious "M" and his "Soldiers of Darkness" operate in a shadowy part of the city called the "Dark Zone." Sgt. Brody of the police force decided to put an end to their wanton killing, but he was killed by M. His partner, Detective Sgt. Gray, ventures into the Dark Zone with the intent of taking down M and avenging his partner.

Gameplay

This game is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up where a police officer named Detective Sgt. Gray attempts to infiltrate the "Dark Zone," a place in the city so dangerous even police are reluctant to enter, and bring the killers of his partner Brody to justice. Stages are divided into multiple sections, with a boss at the end.

Gray moves with Left and Right, crouches with Down, and jumps with 2. He attacks with 1. He can attack with a jumping kick with 1 while in the air, a crouching punch with Down+1, or a high kick with Up+1. Gray can find special weapons that replace his standing attack (but not his crouching or jumping attacks). Weapons have limited ammunition. At the end of a section, Gray can enter the doors to the next section with Up when all of the enemies on the screen have been defeated.

Gray has a health meter consisting of 20 segments. He loses health segments when he is attacked by enemies and loses a life (depicted as a heart) when he loses his last segment. Health is not restored between stages but can be recovered by collecting health items. He can lose a life by falling into bottomless pits between platforms as well. Enemies also have health meters. When Gray loses a life, one of his extra life hearts drops down and transforms into him, letting him continue the stage. The game ends if the player runs out of lives, but it can be continued from the beginning of the current stage up to five times.

Items

Only one power-up effect can be active at a time (which includes possessing firearms), so collecting one replaces any other effect that may be active.

Running Battle SMS, Items.png
G
Arms Gray with a pistol with 30 shots. The pistol shoots fast bullets that hit a single enemy.
Running Battle SMS, Items.png
R
Arms Gray with a rifle with 10 cartridges. The rifle shoots slow rounds that can penetrate through multiple enemies.
Running Battle SMS, Items.png
Life
Restores all of Gray's lost health.
Running Battle SMS, Items.png
SS
Increases Gray's attack power by four times and his defense by two times for a duration.
Running Battle SMS, Items.png
SR
Makes Gray invincible and grants him increased speed and agility for a duration. He can run forward with super speed after collecting this item, defeating enemies he touches and running over gaps in platforms and past obstacles. The player receives 2,000 bonus points for each enemy defeated while in this state.
Running Battle SMS, Items.png
1 Up
Awards an extra life.

Stages

Running Battle SMS, Stage 1-1.png

Dark Zone
Map: 1️⃣ 

Running Battle SMS, Stage 1-2.png

Running Battle SMS, Stage 1 Boss.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 1-2.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 1 Boss.png

Parson Hangout 1
Map: 1️⃣ 
Boss:
Captain Brass

Running Battle SMS, Stage 2.png

Running Battle SMS, Stage 2 Boss.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 2.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 2 Boss.png

Parson Hangout 2
Map: 1️⃣ 
Boss:
Killer the Kid

Running Battle SMS, Stage 3.png

Running Battle SMS, Stage 3 Boss.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 3.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 3 Boss.png

Parson Hangout 3
Map: 1️⃣ 
Boss:
Samrai Man
If the player gets a game over and continues on this stage or after, Gray restarts at this stage.

Running Battle SMS, Stage 4-1.png

Running Battle SMS, Stage 4-2.png

Running Battle SMS, Stage 4 Boss.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 4-1.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 4-2.png

  • Running Battle SMS, Stage 4 Boss.png

ESP Training Room
Map: 1️⃣ 
Boss:
Milacle Man
Hitting the switch leads to a different room where someone named Mary is being held captive before heading into the boss room, which changes the ending.

Running Battle SMS, Final Boss.png

Mr. M Last Boss
Boss:
Mr. M

Production credits

Source:
Uncredited


Magazine articles

Main article: Running Battle/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #120: "November 1991" (1991-10-15)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
63
[8]
Consoles + (FR) PAL
70
[9]
Console XS (UK) PAL
79
[10]
Joystick (FR) PAL
73
[11]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
50
[12]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
54
[13]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
54
[14]
Player One (FR) PAL
78
[15]
Play Time (DE)
26
[16]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
23
[5]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
66
[17]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
44
[18]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
69
[19]
Sega Master System
58
Based on
13 reviews

Running Battle

Master System, EU
RunningBattle SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
RunningBattle SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BX
RunningBattle SMS BX Box front.jpg
Cover
RunningBattle SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Notavailable.svg
Manual
Master System, CZ/SK (ITO CS)
RunningBattle SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
RunningBattle SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
RunningBattle SMS CZ Manual.png
Manual
Master System, AU
RunningBattle SMS AU cover.jpg
Cover
RunningBattle SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
RunningBattle SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Master System, MX
RunningBattle SMS MX Box.jpg
Cover
RunningBattle SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
Expand
256kB Cartridge (EU)

References


CollapseRunning Battle

RunningBattle title.png

Main page | Maps | Hidden content | Development | Magazine articles | Reception


No results