One of Irem's 1990s classics is getting a fresh physical release this year, thanks to American company Retro-Bit.
Undercover Cops originally launched in arcades in 1992, and built upon the legacy of Kung-Fu Master, which Irem had released way back in 1984.
Set in a post-apocalyptic 2043, it's a belt-scrolling brawler in the same vein as Final Fight and Streets of Rage, and was ported to the Super Famicom in 1995 but never got localised for release in the west, despite plans being in place. As a result, a cart-only copies of the Super Famicom version regularly fetches over $200 when it appears for sale on the secondary market; boxed versions are often twice that amount.
Retro-Bit is looking to even those odds a little with a bells-and-whistles physical release that comes in two forms: Standard and Collectors.
The Collectors Edition ($69.99 / €64.99) includes:
- Undercover Cops SNES Collectible Cartridge Cover (NA & EU)
- Outer Slipcover with exclusively-made artwork
- Hard Embossed packaging only City Sweepers can break through
- Full-colored Instruction Manual
- Undercover Cops SNES Cartridge in Mutant Red (NA & EU)
- City Sweepers Edition Sticker Set
- Crazy Chicken Acrylic Keychain
- Individually Number Certificate of Authenticity
- Special Operative Identification Profile Cards
- Exclusive double-sided poster featuring original comic art
- Collector’s Rosa Felmonde Vinyl Figure designed by Erick Scarecrow Toys
The Standard Edition ($54.99 / €44.99) includes:
- Mutant SNES® Cartridge
- SNES® Collectible Cartridge Box
- Full-Colored Instruction Manual
- Exclusive Double-Sided Poster
Retro-Bit is calling this a "one-of-a-kind and exclusive release", so expect numbers to be low. Pre-orders go live at Limited Run Games, Strictly Limited, Spel & Sant, and Dragonbox for Europe today, and will end on Friday March 12th. In North America, you can pre-order at Castlemania Games and Limited Run Games.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 20
Release Ninja Baseball Bat Man!
They actually called their company CastleMania Games?
The actual arcade game will come to Arcade Archives at some point. Think I'll wait for that.
I remember playing the arcade years ago. It was fun, but not enough for me to want to get this. It's still neat that it's seeing a rerelease though.
Odd that the Japanese version was released a year and a half after the canceled US version was reviewed in magazines (like EGM).
I want to guess part of the reason the Japanese release was limited was probably the publisher. Doesn't seem like Varie was exactly one of the bigger publishers in Japan. (I was going to say they had moved to pachislot, but it seems that was the company Vap that I was thinking of.)
This game had terrible sprite flicker on the Super Famicom
@HamatoYoshi Yeah, it wasn't great.
Nah I think I'll just wait for the day HAMSTER hand us the arcade version.
@GrailUK
I was wondering if there'll be a digital version? Surely there will be? I would love to give it a try, but I don't necessarily want to spend $60-$70 to.
Irem, The fathers of Metal Slug. Before become Nazca. Undercovers Cops is a great game, The Arcade version is supreme, support 2 players, bater graphics...
@GamerGrandpa Like I said, Hamster have the rights for the arcade game, so I would be patient and wait for that
It’s the SNES version? Gosh darn it
NINJA ONLY APPROVES ARCADE VERSION
I thought this game was pretty decent for the SNES. I’d certainly play it anytime
Still on the verge with these rereleases. I mean, they have the official license, they're legal, which always appeals to me, but I can't completely shake the "this is not real, looks like an enhanced repro" feeling off.
I love how they go for the nostalgia feels with these releases by including loads of tat alongside the game, you know, like it used to be in the 90s. Oh no wait.....
@Moroboshi876 I can't speak for this release, but the re-release of Metal Storm I got last year FEELS real. I even opened the cart and the PCB is very high quality. I know it's not the original production cart, I get you on that, but Metal Storm is several hundred dollars that would steal from my ninja funds.
NINJA APPROVED
I'm not paying that much for an old SNES game no matter how good or rare it is.
I don't like this strictly-limited-game-money-making-machine, but Undercover Cops is one of my most wanted game of all time. I never played it on original hardware and searched for it in every shop when I was in Japan, so I want it very much!
@RupeeClock I've had great experiences with them. Excellent customer service. Check them out! castlemania dot com
Hmm Game itself looks ok, Artstyle looks really great.
Dragonbox is good, so no expansive Import for me.
Game is ordered.
10€ for each Level.
Good Thing about Games like this, i'll play through multiple Times.
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