Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Timecop’s core gameplay is a blend of side-scrolling action and basic beat-’em-up mechanics, with occasional vehicle and jetpack sequences sprinkled in for variety. You step into the boots of Jean Claude Van Damme as he punches, kicks, and shoots through fifteen distinct levels spanning different eras of history. Each level presents familiar platforming challenges—moving platforms, pitfalls, and environmental hazards—while also pitting you against waves of similarly digitized 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 👍)

The combat system is straightforward but limited to three primary moves: a standard punch, a roundhouse kick, and a crouching strike. You also have access to a sidearm with very scarce ammunition, which forces you to rely mostly on hand-to-hand combat. While the simplicity makes for an accessible learning curve, veterans of action-platformers may find the move set a bit restrictive. Jumping and crouching add some nuance, but there’s little room for combo creativity or advanced maneuvers beyond timing your attacks with precision.

One of the more memorable aspects is the inclusion of occasional vehicle levels—Motorcycles, jeeps, and even a climactic jetpack duel over Los Angeles. These segments break up the standard rhythm of foot-based combat and platforming but are hampered by stiff controls and hit detection quirks. The timing between input and on-screen response can feel off, resulting in missed jumps or delayed punches. Overall, the gameplay loop stays faithful to the film’s premise of a “duel across time,” but uneven responsiveness and limited move variety hold it back from reaching its full potential.

Graphics

Timecop’s most striking feature is its use of digitized sprites, a relatively rare technique on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Developers filmed actors against a bluescreen and extracted still images to represent the characters on-screen. This process delivers a level of realism uncommon for the era—Jean Claude Van Damme’s likeness is instantly recognizable, and the villains’ postures and moves carry a lifelike weight.

However, the same technology that adds authenticity also introduces rigidity. Enemies rarely react fluidly to being struck, often cycling through the same few “hit” frames without real sense of impact. Animations can appear stilted, and the timing between frames detracts from the illusion of combat. Backgrounds are colorful and evocative of each time period—Roman coliseums, Wild West towns, futuristic cityscapes—but can feel static compared to the digitized sprites in the foreground.

On a technical level, the SNES handles these digitized images admirably, maintaining color depth and clarity without significant slowdown. The occasional frame drop during frenetic on-screen action is a small price to pay for the novelty of seeing real actors in a 16-bit world. While graphics age differently than pixel art, there’s an undeniable charm in witnessing an early home-console experiment in digitization—even if it occasionally veers into uncanny valley territory.

Story

Timecop picks up right where the movie left off, thrusting players into a twisted future where the inventor of time travel has declared himself dictator of all timelines. Van Damme’s mission is simple: correct the inventor’s abuses of power by traveling to fifteen key historical junctures and restoring the natural order. The narrative is a basic but serviceable scaffold for the level progression, offering brief text introductions between stages rather than fully animated cutscenes.

Players encounter period-appropriate foes—from sword-wielding Roman guards to Wild West bandits—though story context remains thin beyond the essential “go here and punch the bad guy” directive. Occasionally, you’ll overhear the inventor’s taunts via digital voice samples, such as the recurring “FBI… get on it!” refrain that adds flavor to early levels. These moments help inject personality into what could be a stateless action romp.

The final confrontation—a jetpack duel over a pixelated Los Angeles skyline—serves as a fitting crescendo but feels somewhat disconnected from the plot-heavy sequences in earlier levels. There’s no meaningful character development or plot twists beyond the inventor’s quest for absolute control, and Van Damme himself remains a mostly silent avatar for player action. If you crave deep storytelling, this game won’t fulfill that need—but as an arcade-style sequel to the film, it delivers enough time-travel intrigue to keep fans engaged.

Overall Experience

Timecop is best approached as a nostalgic relic: an ambitious SNES title that pushed the console’s graphical capabilities with digitized actors, even if the gameplay and narrative lean on the simplistic side. Fans of the movie will appreciate recognizing familiar settings and hearing Van Damme’s catchphrases, while retro gamers may admire the technical boldness of early digitization.

That said, modern players accustomed to fluid animations and complex combos might find the stiff controls and repetitive enemy responses frustrating. The game’s difficulty is uneven—some platforming sections are punishingly precise, while boss encounters can feel gimmicky. Replay value hinges primarily on your fondness for ‘90s licensed action games rather than any deep mechanics or branching paths.

In summary, Timecop is an engaging piece of SNES history and a neat footnote in the evolution of digitized graphics. It won’t redefine the action-platformer genre, but it offers enough unique visuals and era-spanning set pieces to merit a look from collectors and Van Damme aficionados alike. If you’re chasing a vintage challenge and enjoy seeing real actors pixelated on-screen, Timecop delivers a distinctive—and occasionally bumpy—ride across time.

Retro Replay Score

5/10