About The Combatribes
The Combatribes is a side-scrolling beat ’em up set in a dystopian future where players control one of three street fighters. The game features intense combat, various combos, and special moves to defeat a variety of enemies in a world full of crime and corruption.
Developer & Publisher:
The Combatribes was developed by Technos Japan, a company known for its work in the arcade beat 'em up genre. It was published by Jaleco in some regions and Technos Japan in others. The development team, led by Yuji Ishihara, aimed to deliver an action-packed, side-scrolling beat 'em up experience with a unique combat system. The game drew from the success of earlier arcade beat 'em ups like Final Fight and Double Dragon, while adding a distinctive visual style and varied gameplay mechanics.
Levels:
The Combatribes follows the beat 'em up formula where players progress through various stages, defeating waves of enemies and taking on powerful bosses. The game features a total of 7 stages, with each one offering unique environments and enemy types. Stage 1 - The Streets: The game begins in a typical city street setting, where the player fights off gang members and thugs. The environment is urban, with obstacles like cars and trash cans. Stage 2 - The Warehouse: This stage introduces more industrial-themed environments, where the player faces tougher enemies, including larger thugs and armed foes. Stage 3 - The Docks: Set near the water, players must fight through gang members in a dockside setting with more open spaces and crates to throw. Stage 4 - The Factory: In this stage, players face enemies in a factory setting, navigating through tight areas and dealing with various hazards. Stage 5 - The Sewers: A darker environment, where players navigate through underground tunnels while fighting off mutant-like enemies and traps. Stage 6 - The Casino: In this level, players battle through a luxurious casino, filled with enemies dressed in suits and armed with various weapons. Stage 7 - The Boss’ Lair: The final level leads to the lair of the main antagonist, where players must face off against the gang leader and a series of powerful enemies in a climactic showdown. The game has several special moves and combat mechanics, allowing for combo attacks, powerful throws, and multi-hit moves that can clear out groups of enemies.
High Scores:
The Combatribes uses a traditional arcade scoring system where players accumulate points by defeating enemies, performing combos, and completing stages. The game rewards players with higher scores for skillful combat, such as using throws and special moves efficiently, and for defeating bosses quickly. High scores were tracked, with the highest-scoring players often appearing on the game's leaderboard. The competitive nature of high-score chasing, combined with the cooperative multiplayer mode, led to many players returning to the arcade to try to improve their score, either solo or with friends.
Legacy:
The Combatribes didn't achieve the same level of mainstream success as other beat 'em ups like Final Fight or Streets of Rage, but it holds a special place in the hearts of fans of the genre. The game's distinct style, including its exaggerated character designs and over-the-top moves, gave it a unique identity among its peers. While it was part of the wave of arcade beat 'em ups that dominated the late '80s and early '90s, The Combatribes has since become a cult classic. Its gameplay mechanics were praised for being fast and fun, but it didn't have the long-lasting cultural impact that some of its contemporaries enjoyed. The Combatribes is considered one of Technos Japan's lesser-known titles, but it still stands out as an example of the creativity and variety the beat 'em up genre offered during that era. Today, it’s remembered fondly by retro gaming enthusiasts and is sometimes featured in retro gaming collections or arcade emulations. The game also helped further solidify Technos Japan's reputation for creating dynamic and entertaining beat 'em up experiences, following the success of Double Dragon and its influence on later action games.