Arch Rivals

n/a

Mega Drive Game Gear
Arch Rivals
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Flying Edge
Developer: Arc Developments
Licensor: Midway Manufacturing
Peripherals supported: Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Sports
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1992-05 $49.9549.95 T-81056 EU 1992 T-81056-50 UK 1992 £39.9939.99 T-81056-50 AU 199x US 1992-12 $39.9539.95 T-81118
Non-Sega versions Arcade Nintendo Entertainment System

Arch Rivals, labeled as Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game on the packaging, is an arcade basketball game which was ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear.

Gameplay

Cheerleader

Arch Rivals marks the beginning of Midway's line of arcade basketball games, and it immediately preceded its most successful entry, NBA Jam. The game features fast-paced 2-on-2 player matches and omits many of the rules of the game, such as fouls, though there is a 24-second shot clock. Unlike other basketball games, it is possible to punch opponents to steal the ball. The referee will only calls shot clock violations.

Games generally follow standard basketball rules; a full game consists of four quarters, with four minutes each. Players are moved around the court with the D-pad. Each game starts with a tip-off, where a player from each team leaps for possession of the ball. Each team has two players, and the objective of the game is to outscore the opponent until the final buzzer sounds. If the game results in a tie after four quarters, sudden death overtime periods are added, in which case whoever scores the next basket wins the game. Every overtime period is one minute.

Every successful shot is followed by a picture of a person reacting, such as a cheerleader, the referee, or a team manager.

The game supports two-player competitive play. Both players always play on opposing teams with an AI-controlled teammate.

Before each game, players choose a character, which have different individual strengths. In two-player games, each player must choose a different character.

	Defense
	When the player's team does not have possession of the ball, the player can try to block the opposing team's shots with . When near an opposing player, the player can shove the opponent with or dive on the opponent with . Either can cause the other player to drop the ball or move another player out of the way to clear a shot for a teammate.
	Offense
	When the player's team has possession of the ball, the player can shoot the ball by holding . The ball is released when the button is released; releasing the button at the apex of the leap leads to a more accurate shot but increases the risk of a defender blocking or stealing the ball. The player can perform a dunk by pressing while running toward the basket. The player can pass the ball with . If the AI teammate has the ball, pressing forces the AI to pass the ball. Opponents can intercept the ball as it is being passed.

Players

	Tyrone
	Vinnie
	Hammer
	Moose
	Lewis
	Blade
	Mohawk
	Reggie

History

Development

A Sega Master System version, reportedly identical to the Game Gear port, was once set to be released at the same time as the Mega Drive version in June 1992, but was scrapped at the last minute. Some publications received review copies, however.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

• Music composer (uncredited): Dan Forden
• Music arranger (uncredited): Mark Cooksey

Game Gear version

Arch Rivals® ©1992 Acclaim Entertainment Inc

Arch Rivals® © 1989 1992 All Rights Reserved

Licensed from and Trademark of Midway Manufacturing Company

• Programmed by: Arc Developments
• Licensed by: Sega

• Programmed by: Byron Nilsson
• Graphics by: Gary Tonge
• Programming Support: Julian Scott

Source:

In-game credits (intro demo)

• Music composer (uncredited): Dan Forden
• Music arranger (uncredited): Mark Cooksey

Magazine articles

Main article: Arch Rivals/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Mega Drive print advert in Sega Visions (US) #8: "May/June 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #36: "July 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
• GamePro (US) #36: "July 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
• GamePro (US) #37: "August 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
• Sega Visions (US) #9: "August/September 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #7: "Noviembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Hobby Consolas (ES) #14: "Noviembre 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 Cool Gamer (RU) 40 Entsiklopediya igr Sega. 100000 sekrety, kody, paroli (RU) 70 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 30 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 40 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 75 Gamer (GR) 53 Game Zone (UK) 39 Hobby Consolas (ES) 87 Joypad (FR) 83 Joystick (FR) NTSC-U 70 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 69 Mega Force (FR) 75 MegaTech (UK) PAL 45 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 40 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 40 OK Consolas (ES) 81 Player One (FR) 50 Play Time (DE) 52 Power Up! (UK) 64 Power Play (DE) 64 Sega Power (UK) PAL 60 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 80 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 76 Sega Force (SE) 84 Sega Force (UK) PAL 86 Supergame (BR) NTSC-U 75 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 57 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U 50 Video Games (DE) PAL 65

	62
Based on 30 reviews

Arch Rivals

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, GR
<div style="margin:auto; max-width:px"> 320x120px Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, AU

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 60 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 73

	66
Based on 2 reviews

Arch Rivals

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Mega Force (FR) PAL 60 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 83 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 83

	75
Based on 3 reviews

Arch Rivals

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
✔	CRC32 e389d7e7 MD5 d97ddf989c558f01a1da1f23e728f935 SHA-1 2bfbe4698f13ade720dbfe10cebf02fe51e5e6ef	512kB	1992-03	Cartridge (US/EU)
?	CRC32 f0204191 MD5 6ae0a492cc0427d4097a7b4336caedd2 SHA-1 9a2260a9cb9564a18f50edc8149a9e1e517bf649	256kB		Cartridge (US)