Motor City Patrol

Motor City Patrol

Overview & History

Released by Shin Nihon Kikaku (SNK) and published by Mandic for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, Motor City Patrol places players in the polished black-and-white shoes of rookie officer Mitch. Set in the gritty, crime-infested urban grid of Detroit, the storyline tasks you with single-handedly cleaning up the streets from a sprawling syndicate of ruthless mobsters and street thugs. Unlike standard linear action titles of the era, the game uniquely blends top-down vehicular patrol navigation with frantic on-foot beat-'em-up segments. Players must actively monitor their squad car's fuel and health gauges while cruising city blocks, responding to active 911 dispatch calls, and pulling over erratic civilian drivers before rushing into dynamic, multi-story buildings or dark alleyways to apprehend hardened fugitives face-to-face.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Gameplay shifts dramatically depending on your current mode of transit. During the driving phase, viewed from an overhead perspective, you navigate traffic lights, avoid road hazards, and engage in high-speed pursuit bumps. Once you arrive at a crime scene or bust a vehicle, the perspective drops into a tight side-scrolling or flick-screen action arena. Officer Mitch relies on a swift set of standard martial arts moves, kicks, and punches, alongside an invaluable service revolver for ranged crowd control—though ammunition is strictly limited. Environmental interaction is crucial; players can smash through doors, vault over low obstacles, and utilize corner cover to dodge incoming gunfire from armed syndicate bosses. Balancing fuel management during patrols with precise combat execution makes for a surprisingly tactical and challenging NES experience.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Steer car / Move Mitch / Aim weapon
• Action Keys: Accelerate / Brake (Car) - Punch / Shoot (On Foot)
• Enter: Start / Pause