Cadillacs and Dinosaurs

Full throttle, a shotgun in hand and a tyrannosaurus at your back. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs from 1993 is one of the juiciest excursions into the golden era of the Capcom beat 'em up. The game was based on the comic and animated series of the same name and takes the player into a post-apocalyptic world where modern people contend with gangs of villains and with reawakened dinosaurs.

In gameplay terms it is a textbook side-scrolling brawler from early-1990s Capcom, from the era when the studio dominated this genre. Excellent character animation, a varied gallery of heroes with different combat styles and superb multiplayer co-op make it an ideal title for sitting down at the cabinet with friends. Capcom moreover added the ability to pick up and use weapons, including firearms, which gives fights against dinosaurs and human opponents a juicy dynamic.

The game belongs to the wider family of Capcom brawlers of the time. While Knights of the Round added blocking and an experience system with growing equipment (a certain RPG flavor), Cadillacs bet on firearms and prehistoric beasts and Captain Commando on a sci-fi team of heroes. Together these titles form the peaks of the genre, on which Capcom showed its mastery of animation, enemy design and the feel of blows.

Visually the game shines with colorful environments, large and carefully drawn sprites and imaginative opponent design, from street thugs to giant reptiles. The feel of combat is tangible and every blow has weight, which is exactly what you expect from an arcade brawler.

Thanks to its tie to the comic source, the game has a distinctive atmosphere that sets it apart from other titles in the genre. The blend of car chases, dinosaurs and classic street brawling creates a unique cocktail that retains its magical retro charm to this day.

Why play: For a genuine experience of the golden era of the Capcom beat 'em up, where you pummel gangs and tyrannosaurs alike and where co-op with a friend is the greatest fun.