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The Warriors 
Release date: 17 Oct 2005
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Warriors...Come Out and Pla-ay!
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With the success of such games as Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, it is no wonder that Rockstar Games has decided to step outside of its comfort zone. No, their new game is in the same genre, but they have given it a new name. The Warriors, a game Rockstar has been developing for three years, is based on the 1979 film of the same name. The game belongs to the beat’em up-style genre like its Rockstar predecessors, with the addition of team based NPC commands (being as you are not just an individual, but leading an entire gang!) Of course, you wouldn’t know this unless you actually read Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel or have seen the cult film classic. Therefore, here is a little background info.
The Warriors is set in late 1970’s New York and centers around a gang that is running for their lives. Basic premises: They have been framed for murder. Cyrus, a gang leader who is encouraging the gangs of the city to put aside their differences and is attempting to unite the gangs under one banner, has called a meeting in the Bronx. Representatives from every major gang attend, and if Cyrus is successful, the combined strength of the gangs will outnumber the police 3-to-1, putting the control of the city in the hands of the gang alliance. However, in the middle of his pitch, the police bust the meeting and Cyrus is shot by an unknown gunman. The killer quickly frames the Warriors, which leads to them being number one on the hit list of every gang in New York. However, The Warriors game will only use that part of the story in its third act. The first two-thirds of the adventure will explain what The Warriors did the summer before, and provide the player with an explanation as to who The Warriors are and why they do what they do.
The game allows the player to control each member of the gang, who in turn each has his own unique moves. The basic punching, kicking, and throwing mechanics are the same as every other game in the old-school street fighting genre, a game-type that is finding less new games in its inventory every day. The characters are able to perform both light and heavy attacks depending on which assigned button is pressed. Combinations also play a major part in the game. The Warriors features a rage meter. Basically, the more impressive a combo, the more efficiently the meter fills. One the meter is full, the character can enter rage mode, allowing for more powerful attacks. Unique special moves can also be performed by pressing both attack buttons, with each character in the gang having two special moves a piece. The game also offers snap attacks and reversal systems. The snap attacks are, in essence, a way to attack anyone around you in a flash. The enemy AI takes full advantage of the 3D space the game provides to beat you to death. However, with a tap of the square button and a tilt of a control stick toward the intended target, snap attacks can be a lifesaver when surrounded by multiple enemies. The reversal system is self-explanatory. It provides a way for the player to reverse an enemy’s attack. If the basic combat system is not enough to quench your sadistic thirst, Rockstar has filled the game with many objects, whose basic function is to be used against the side of the head of an enemy gang member. Lastly, if worse comes to worse, The Warriors features the MOST BASIC of all beat’em ups…the ass saving block button.
As mentioned earlier, along with the beat’em up fighting system, Rockstar has also implemented an NPC command system. The system is based off of a menu where one can give simple commands such as to stay, follow, attack, or commit “mayhem.” The “mayhem” option will send crew out on a path of complete destruction and chaos. The player’s NPCs will loot, steal, and mug to their hearts’ content. Mini-games are made out of these felonies. Mugging is a simple fight against a meter system, and once you have the upper hand, the theft can occur. Stealing a car stereo is not as easy as smashing the car window, for the player will have to use the analog sticks to simulate actually unscrewing the stereo from the car. The Warriors features a very basic economy that lets you spend your “acquired” money on “flash,” an illegal drug that restores health to The Warriors. The last mini-game is not necessarily based on collecting dough for flash, but is for the more artistic of gamers. Rockstar has employed a graffiti tagging system that allows the player to trace a tag icon with the analog stick while your character sprays it on.
In the graphics department, the developers over at Rockstar tried to stick true to the movie in every aspect. The environments, or better said, the back alleys and other gang locals, are designed after those seen in the movie. An impressive level of detail can be seen with the character models, all of whom match their movie counterparts quite well. The cinematics will be very similar to the movie, and in some cases, a replica shot for shot. The Warriors will also feature a multiplayer option. This option is available inside or outside the story mode. If players want to customize their own gangs to compete in capture the flag or king of the kill, among other games, The Warriors features “Rumble mode.” Inside of story mode, the multiplayer option can be used for the entire game or for just a few minutes of co-op fun. Like an old-style arcade game, when player two presses start, he will automatically gain control of a Warrior and play alongside player one. It also features an automatic split screen when the Warriors become separated, so both players can go “do their own thing.” Once they are paired back together, the screen will come back together.
If players are looking for another , will a little less grand theft auto and a little more “beat the crap out of anything that comes close to you,” The Warriors will be a game to look forward to. For those filled with nostalgia from watching the cult film classic, your time to feed your addiction will be this fall. Finally, for you gamers out there who are not quite sure whether this 70’s cult film-to-game is right for you, MyGamer.com will soon have a review up to help you make up your mind.
Preview by Jeremy Gard on 4 Nov 2005
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