Developer: Ocean Software Publisher: Ocean Software Release: 08/94 Genre: Action
The Untouchables was an interesting little NES game. It switched gameplay styles frequently to create a varied adventure to capture the many beats of the 1987 film. But it had many flaws that brought the experience down. I am still not sure whether I like or dislike it overall. In 1993 there was a new TV series based on the Untouchables that gave Ocean a chance to take another crack at the property. Just like their previous work it has its good and bad points but is a stronger title overall.
The Untouchables TV series ran from January 1993 through May 1994 for two seasons. This allowed them to more or less tell the full story of the real life Untouchables and their work to end Al Capone’s empire. Rather than creating an all new title based on the show Ocean instead created an enhanced port of the NES/computer title. Let’s be completely honest, this was a cost saving measure. But they at least do a decent job of reworking the weaker aspects of the game. With a little more work this could have been a solid game overall but is a missed opportunity for greatness instead.
On the NES the Untouchables had as many as five gameplay styles in its missions. The SNES wisely pairs that back to just three with a greater focus on strengthening their mechanics or completely redesigning the level altogether. The third person shooting stages are largely the same. The difference is you move from cover to cover using the shoulder buttons while independently moving the cursor with the d-pad. I would love mouse support or even use of the Super Scope 6 for these parts but whatever. The border raid from the previous game that saw you roll on the floor like a moron has been replaced with more cover shooting like the initial alley shootouts. You are still destroying Capone’s supply trucks but it works better this way and even has a semi boss battle at the end to boot.
The side-scrolling mission is largely the same however the controls are better. You can aim in every direction and you move much faster as well. I think it is silly that jump is mapped to the X button but whatever you can adjust. Instead of chasing down a specific enemy to find evidence plates they are now out in the open which is better. The level design is okay although collision is a bit spotty but overall I had a blast playing this stage this time. To be completely honest when you think the Untouchables this is what the game would have been in totality. I do appreciate the attempt at variety regardless. This level has been expanded with additional boss battles which on its face is nice. But it is also a symptom of problem with the game overall I will elaborate on later.
The railway station has been completely redesigned. Previously you spent the whole level guiding a baby through the train station, killing enemies and avoiding dead ends. Now you have five minutes to save hostages scattered around the station and have free reign explore area as you like. This is a traditional top down shooting stage now and is possibly my favorite in the game. It is a bit hard as you are often shot by enemies off screen and they respawn quickly but overall it is pretty strong. Just like the side scrolling action level I would not have minded if the game were entirely like this.
The one area that Untouchables needs more work is in its pacing. Simply put the levels are too long and repetitive. It is good that each gameplay style is solid. But almost every “assignment” or stage drags on too long. I like the third person shooting. But there is no reason for the first assignment to have eleven stages that are all damn near identical. If you switched neighborhoods it would have been cool. But you are shooting out in the same damn alleys. The side scrolling levels of assignment two are good enough to have been a separate game on their own. But once again, too many sections! You fight the same turret miniboss three times with no differences! If the whole game were like the top down assignment 4, quick and concise, this would have been exceptional. They were so close to making a great licensed action game.
In Closing
This one is hard to score. There is no question this version of the Untouchables is a stronger title than its 8-bit cousins. But it has almost as many flaws in different ways than those versions of the game. I enjoyed my time with the SNES Untouchables despite its pacing problems. But would I recommend it? Not without some caveats. I think good ideas, bad execution sums this one up the best.
