Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Target: Renegade offers a straightforward but satisfying arcade-style side-scrolling experience. You begin unarmed, relying on quick reflexes and timing as you throw punches and kicks to dispatch rival gang members. The simplicity of starting with only your fists sets the stage for a classic beat ’em up challenge, forcing you to master the core combat system before progressing to tougher foes.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

As you push through the city streets toward Big’s Pig Pen, the game peppers in weapon pickups like baseball bats, garbage cans, and even discarded bottles. Each weapon adds a temporary strategic twist—bats grant extra reach, while cans offer a slower but harder-hitting swing. This encourages players to think on their feet, juggling weapon use and conserving throws to clear dangerous groups of enemies.

Difficulty ramps up steadily across multiple urban environments, from dimly lit alleyways to neon-soaked backstreets. Enemy variety includes nimble knife-wielders, shield-bearing brutes, and occasional minibosses that demand pattern memorization. The single-player focus ensures a tight, personal struggle; without cooperative support, every hit you take feels much more consequential.

Graphics

The visual style of Target: Renegade leans into gritty, late-80s urban aesthetics. Character sprites are well-defined and sizable, making it easy to identify individual enemies at a glance. Backgrounds feature brick-wall textures, graffiti tags, and flickering street lamps that evoke the seedy underbelly of a crime-ridden city.

Animation frames are somewhat limited compared to more modern titles, but each punch, kick, and weapon swing is clearly communicated. The game uses a muted color palette punctuated by bursts of red blood splatter, reinforcing the harsh, no-holds-barred atmosphere of a street brawl. Parallax scrolling is minimal, but foreground and background elements occasionally shift to provide depth.

Weapon pickups are distinctly rendered, so you never have to guess if that object on the ground is a harmless barrel or a handy pipe. User interface elements, such as your health bar and remaining lives, are unobtrusive yet always visible, allowing you to focus on the action. While not groundbreaking, the graphics hold up well for fans of classic beat ’em ups.

Story

At its heart, Target: Renegade follows an archetypal revenge plot: your brother has been kidnapped by the nefarious Mr. Big and is being held hostage in Big’s Pig Pen on the upper side of town. The motivation is simple but effective, providing a constant sense of urgency as you battle rival gangs intent on stopping your rescue mission.

The narrative unfolds almost entirely through brief opening text and mid-stage intermissions, but it delivers just enough context to keep you invested. The absence of elaborate cutscenes or dialogue-heavy sequences keeps the pace brisk, allowing the action to remain front and center. Each level transition reinforces your goal, reminding you of the stakes without lengthy storytelling detours.

Secondary elements—such as graffiti messages about your reputation in the underworld and newspaper headlines you “read” between stages—add flavor without bogging down gameplay. Though the plot isn’t deeply nuanced, it succeeds in motivating players to press on, delivering that satisfying “one more try” compulsion typical of classic arcade titles.

Overall Experience

Target: Renegade taps into pure, unadulterated beat ’em up action. Its tight controls and progressive difficulty curve combine to create a compelling single-player adventure. This is a game that rewards memorization and skill, making each victory feel well-earned as you inch closer to Big’s Pig Pen.

The sound design, comprised of punch-crunch effects and a pulsing synth soundtrack, complements the visuals and enhances the tense atmosphere. Music loops can become repetitive over extended play sessions, but they effectively underscore the gritty urban setting and keep you focused on the fight.

While it may lack the cooperative multiplayer modes or narrative depth found in some contemporaries, the streamlined gameplay and evocative presentation make Target: Renegade a worthwhile pick for fans of retro side-scrolling action. It offers replay value through mastering levels, discovering optimal weapon usage, and chasing personal high-score records.

For anyone seeking a hardcore, old-school brawler that doesn’t overstay its welcome, Target: Renegade delivers. Its blend of simple story, engaging combat, and atmospheric graphics ensures it remains a standout title in the beat ’em up genre.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10