Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Undercover Cops delivers a classic side-scrolling beat ’em up experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly inventive. Players choose from three distinctive characters—Matt, Rosa, and Zan—each with their own move set and special attacks. Matt’s brute strength shines in straight-ahead brawls, Rosa’s agility allows for swift combos and evasions, and Zan’s martial-arts background brings fluid sweeps and counters. This diversity encourages replaying stages to see how different tactics fare against the same hordes of thugs and mechanical contraptions.

The five stages take you through the dystopian streets of New York, from neon-lit alleyways to the heights of Dr. Clayborn’s fortified tower. Each level introduces new enemy archetypes, environmental hazards, and interactive weapons. You can hurl fish or rocks plucked from trash piles, hoist I-beams fallen from wrecked signage, and even toss stunned foes into oncoming traffic. The inclusion of cars, dumpsters, and vending machines as improvised weapons adds a layer of chaotic fun and strategic choice, rewarding players who explore their surroundings rather than button-mash blindly.

Boss battles punctuate every stage, requiring more than just brute force. Learning attack patterns, timing parries, and conserving special-meter energy become vital as you face Dr. Clayborn’s elite lackeys. The difficulty curve is well-crafted: early encounters serve as training grounds, while later fights test your mastery of each character’s strengths and weaknesses. Cooperative play further enhances the experience, encouraging teamwork to juggle enemies and chain combined special moves.

Graphics

Visually, Undercover Cops stands out with detailed 2D sprite work and richly painted backgrounds. The character designs pop with vibrant colors and exaggerated features, evoking the sense of a comic book come to life. Matt’s imposing frame, Rosa’s sleek silhouette, and Zan’s poised stance are all distinct at a glance, helping players instantly recognize their hero amidst the chaos.

The game’s five stages use varied palettes to keep the eye engaged: grimy streets bathed in neon glow, industrial warehouses lit by flickering lanterns, and the stark, clinical interior of Dr. Clayborn’s lab. Background animations—steam vents hissing, flickering streetlamps, and flicks of neon signage—add atmosphere without ever distracting from the action. When you land a powerful blow, the impact frames and screen shakes feel weighty, reinforcing each hit’s significance.

Even on crowded screens with dozens of enemies, the frame rate remains smooth, ensuring responsive controls. Special effects for weapons and super moves—like Zan’s spinning kick or Rosa’s aerial dive—feature satisfying particle trails and flashes. The seamless blend of dynamic foreground sprites and parallax scrolling backgrounds further enhances the sense of depth in every brawl.

Story

Set in a dystopian 2043 New York, Undercover Cops introduces a straightforward yet compelling narrative. Dr. Clayborn’s tyrannical reign plunges the city into chaos, prompting Commissioner Gordon’s final call for aid. Enter our trio of City Sweepers: Matt, the hulking ex-football star; Rosa, the fierce ex-vigilante and beauty queen; and Zan, the philosophical ex-karate master. This unlikely alliance of muscle, agility, and martial artistry offers an immediately engaging premise.

While the story unfolds primarily through brief cutscenes before each stage, it succeeds in giving context to your mayhem. You aren’t just smashing random thugs—you’re dismantling Clayborn’s grip on society, stage by stage. The game’s dialogue is lean but memorable, peppered with quips that reinforce each character’s personality. Rosa’s confident retorts, Matt’s gruff encouragements, and Zan’s calm maxims add a touch of humor and humanize the fight.

Boss encounters often feature short exchanges that heighten the confrontation. Facing a giant, weaponized mech or a genetically-enhanced enforcer, you get the sense that every victory isn’t just another fight but a step toward liberating a captive metropolis. Though not the deepest narrative in gaming, Undercover Cops wields its premise effectively, balancing story beats with relentless action to keep you invested until the final showdown with Dr. Clayborn himself.

Overall Experience

Undercover Cops is a standout title for fans of arcade-style brawlers, offering addictive combat, inventive weapon use, and a compelling co-op mode. The game’s pacing is relentless yet fair, with enough breathing room between intense boss fights to explore and experiment with improvised weapons. Whether you prefer tackling the campaign solo or teaming up with friends, the challenges remain engaging throughout all five stages.

Audio design complements the visuals and gameplay perfectly. The driving electronic soundtrack keeps your adrenaline pumping, while sound effects—shattering glass, thudding punches, clanking steel—feel satisfying and impactful. Voice snippets for each character, though limited by the era’s hardware, add personality without overstaying their welcome. The mix strikes a fine balance between immersion and nostalgia.

In the crowded field of beat ’em ups, Undercover Cops distinguishes itself with its unique character trio, dynamic environments, and clever use of everyday objects as weapons. It captures the spirit of 80s- and 90s-era arcade gaming while introducing fresh twists that hold up even decades later. For anyone seeking a robust, cooperative side-scroller with style and substance, this game remains a top contender to hit “insert coin.”

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10