Growl

Growl

Overview & History

Developed and published by Taito in 1990 as an arcade coin-op, Growl (released as Runark in Japan) made its way to the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 1991, courtesy of Tonkin House. Set in an alternate, highly militarized 1920s Earth, the storyline thrusts players into the boots of elite environmental rangers whose mission is to wage a one-man (or co-op) war against a ruthless syndicate of poachers plundering the globe's wildlife. Eschewing the urban gang themes of contemporaries like Final Fight, Growl delivers a uniquely eccentric eco-warrior brawler where saving endangered species is brutally literal—freeing caged animals mid-stage summons furious panthers, charging elephants, and massive eagles to maul the poacher grunts. Its frantic pacing and bizarre menagerie interactions set it apart in the 16-bit library.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard side-scrolling beat-'em-ups that rely purely on punches and kicks, Growl leans heavily into projectile spam and chaotic crowd-control. Players choose from four rugged rangers—Gen, Burn, Chuck, and Wiz—each tearing through stages equipped with standard martial arts combos, leaping aerial kicks, and devastating 360-degree spin attacks that clear the screen when surrounded. The real mechanical hook is the staggering arsenal of weaponry strewn across the battlefield. Beyond melee tools like whips, iron pipes, and switchblades, rangers can pick up military-grade hardware including bazookas, flamethrowers, assault rifles, and even mounted machine gun turrets ripped straight from the environment. Enemies drop timed dynamite sticks that can be hurled back instantly, creating explosive chain reactions. Every stage culminates in frantic boss battles against towering biomechanical nightmares and poacher warlords, all while environmental hazards and frantic animal stampedes keep players constantly moving and adapting their positioning.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause