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Die Hard

TurboGrafx-16

TurboGrafx-16

Die Hard is a PC Engine exclusive top-down shooter that plays similarly to Capcom's Commando. As John McClane, it is the player's job to stop the terrorists that have taken over Nakatomi Plaza in downtown LA, as per the plot of the 1988 movie upon which the game is based. The game takes severa...

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Developer
Pack-In-Video

Released on
1990

Size
1 Player

Version
TurboGrafx-16

Requirements
NEC TurboGrafx-16

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
Nihon Bussan

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Die Hard is a PC Engine exclusive top-down shooter that plays similarly to Capcom’s Commando. As John McClane, it is the player’s job to stop the terrorists that have taken over Nakatomi Plaza in downtown LA, as per the plot of the 1988 movie upon which the game is based.

The game takes several liberties with the source material, starting McClane off in what appears to be a jungle before moving him to a Vietnamese river full of tall bamboo before finally reaching the basement of Nakatomi Plaza.

McClane can fire in eight directions, once he finds a weapon, and can move and jump through each of the game’s top-down stages. Occasionally, he’ll need to use his jump to avoid obstacles on the ground, such as pitfalls. He can gain extra armor by finding colored vests; once he’s low on health, he’ll lose the standard white vest to reveal an injured torso.

As well as the basic machine gun and shotgun, John can also find weapons with a lot more power but far smaller ammunition counts such as flamethrowers and rocket launchers.

Die Hard

Overview & History

Released in 1990 by Pack-In-Video in Japan and later brought to North America by NEC for the TurboGrafx-16, this adaptation of the iconic 1988 action film charts a distinct path compared to its NES and Commodore 64 counterparts. Rather than relying solely on side-scrolling action, this iteration drops John McClane directly into the tense, vertical architecture of the Nakatomi Plaza. The storyline faithfully mirrors the cinematic source material: off-duty NYPD cop John McClane must navigate the towering corporate skyscraper during a Christmas party to rescue his estranged wife, Holly, and dismantle a heavily armed terrorist cell led by the cunning Hans Gruber. The TurboGrafx-16 version utilizes the console's HuCard format to deliver sharp, arcade-style sprite rendering and an atmospheric, suspenseful chiptune soundtrack that captures the urgency of the film's race-against-the-clock dynamic.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The gameplay shifts dynamically between multiple perspectives. Players alternate between overhead maze navigation on the blueprints of Nakatomi Plaza, tense first-person shooting sequences where players aim a reticle to pick off terrorists emerging from elevators, and classic 2D action-platforming stages. John McClane starts the game barefoot, meaning environmental hazards like shattered glass continuously drain his health unless he scavenges for shoes hidden within office desks and filing cabinets. McClane's arsenal expands as he neutralizes enemies, progressing from his standard issue Beretta pistol to stolen submachine guns, flashbangs, and detonate charges. Navigating the expansive 30-floor tower requires careful management of ventilation shafts, elevator shafts, and locked security doors. Players must constantly monitor McClane's health, stamina, and ammunition reserves while rescuing hostages scattered across various executive suites to earn vital bonus points and health restorations before the final confrontation with Hans Gruber on the ravaged rooftop.