Original
Overview
Two Crude (known in Japan as Crude Buster) is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up platformer developed and released by Data East for arcades in 1990.
A spiritual successor to the earlier game Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja, Two Crude is set in the year 2030, 20 years after a nuclear explosion made New York City inhabitable. With the city ruins overrun by a militant gang known as "Big Valley", the government sends two mercenaries (the "Two Crude", or "Crude Buster") to retake control.
As muscle-bound brawlers, players can pick up and throw enemies, other players, and other large objects (including barrels and entire cars). In addition, the Two Crude can use certain objects as melee weapons.
The game was later ported to the Sega Genesis in 1992. In North America and Europe, the game is known as Two Crude Dudes.
The arcade version of the game later received two ports after Data East's bankruptcy: one for the 2010 Wii compilation Data East Arcade Classics, and a standalone digital release for the Nintendo Switch. The Switch version was released by Flying Tiger Entertainment on April 5, 2018, as part of the Johnny Turbo's Arcade series, and was later included in the compilation Retro Classix Collection 2in1 Pack: Bad Dudes and Two Crude Dudes on August 27, 2020.
Gameplay
Players in either single-player, or two-player co-op, take control of a Crude Dude, and brawl their way through side-scrolling levels filled with enemy gang members (human, cyborg and mutant) to destroy through melee combat or by throwing projectiles such as cars, other enemies, and even the other Crude Dude at them.
Melee combat includes punches and kicks in left and right direction, and the ability to punch upwards. Players can make evasive rolls to avoid attacks.
At the end of each of the six stages there is an end-of-level boss, as well as mid-level bosses throughout the stages. These outrageous characters, in fitting with the theme, include a giant named Jake "The Snake" Roberts, a half human half rhino, an imp dressed as Santa Claus, and a spider with a one hit kill ultimate attack.
Vending Machines, once beaten up, dispense sodas to refill the players health. Theses are placed throughout stages and during mid-stage cutscenes.
The game grants a maximum of three continues.
Version Differences
Aside from the naming for the arcade versions, the Japanese version had a few differences from other regions. The Japanese vending machines were branded with Budweiser logos, whist they were re-branded Power Cola elsewhere. In addition the Japanese version originally had stage 2 and 4 in the opposite positions. This was changed to fix difficulty progression.
Other bosses also received minor changes, mostly making the game easier such as The Scientist's final form not having the ceiling baby-spawning or diving attacks. In addition he also doesn't say his dialogue once beaten.
The intro has also had the mushroom cloud from the Nuclear event removed.
In 1992 the game was ported to the Sega Genesis. This port has some modifications from the original version, including the Santa-Imp being dressed in Blue, rather than Red and only throwing bombs instead of the original combo of bombs and syringes (most probably due to censorship). The Genesis port follows the Japanese stage progression but the mid-level boss has been removed.
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