Criminally Overlooked Games #22: Dead Connection

This is a rock-em sock-em adventure game. James is the fastest shooting critter in post Prohibition era "Big City", and you have to help him rescue his city from the evil mob boss, Nerozzia.

Presumably inspired by the Untouchables movie released some 4 years before this game, Dead Connection follows the exploits of Kevin Costner and his rag-tag band of vigilantes as they fight the abstract concept of evil, by shooting the living shit out of everything possible.

It's a bit disappointing that this game doesn't support 4 players but that doesn't hamper it's fun. The control is adequate with its 8-direction capable pseudo aim assist fire button and it's intriguing context sensitive button which allows a number of things ranging from tackling people unconscious, rolling out of the way of danger, lying prone, crouching, pulling switches, or just good old kicking. It has excellent animation for such tiny sprites, something Taito is pretty well known for, and crisp clear sound effects that add considerable impact to the carnage.

This game never fails to get a couple of good laughs out of me, whether Taito intended it that way or not.

Thanks to Dethmetldon for being player 2 during the war on crime.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• big
• bang
• blitz
• criminally
• overlooked
• games
• cogs
• taito
• mob
• untouachables
• kevin
• costner
• al
• pacino
• god
• father
• shoot
• pow
• arcade
• tommy
• gun
• shot
• return
• them
• alive
• regret
• in
• hell

[marsgreekgod]

Hmm... I really like the music.

[BigBangBlitz]

Zuntata is seriously one of the greatest bands ever.

[IndygoEEI]

@BigBangBlitz

There is a 4 player version of this. I got to play it.

[BigBangBlitz]

I will definetly look into that.

[TheKingOfRuckus]

Was there a sequel? Dead Connection 2: Return to Paradise or something else generic like that?

[BigBangBlitz]

Not that I know of. Maybe a pirate hack or somesuch?

[Magitek1112]

I loved the Nick Arcade reference in the description.

And I've played this game before, and it is indeed awesome. My only real complaint is that the later levels kinda start to drag on.

[IndygoEEI]

@StarFoxAutobot

Also meets The Untouchables and Scarface.

[scikoolaid]

This game looks good even if it was released today imo.. great sprites are timeless. I wish I could play this!

[Afr0Blu3]

Destructible scenery? Nice touch

[motherplayer]

Shame this never got put on any of the Taito Legends collections. Looks pretty fun.

[BigAlUpdates]

Gotta love the stock Lupin the 3rd gunshot sound they use in every arcade game.

[StarFoxAutobot]

This game is The Godfather meets Smash TV.

[themainideais]

Goddamn, this looks delicious.

[southcoocrecords]

Great vid Blitz. This game looks awesome, kind of reminds me of Sunset Riders a little bit.