Tattoo Assassins

Infobox VG
title= Tattoo Assassins


caption= "Tattoo Assassins" title log.
developer= Data East
publisher= Data East
released= 1994 (prototype)
genre= Fighting
modes= Up to 2 players simultaneously
platforms= Arcade
input= 8-way joystick, 6 buttons
cabinet= Standard
arcade system= Data East DECO32
cpu= ARM (@ 14 MHz)
sound= Sound CPU: M6809 (@ 2 MHz) Sound Chip: BSMT2000 (@ 24 MHz)
display= Raster, 320 x 240 pixels (Horizontal), 2048 colors

"Tattoo Assassins" is a 1994 fighting game by Data East. Spearheaded by Bob Gale (screenwriter for "Back to the Future") and Joe Kaminkow (leader of Data East's Pinball division, now known as Stern Pinball), "Tattoo Assassins" was designed to be a better "Mortal Kombat". Even though the game was never released, several prototype models were produced for testing in arcades. Two machines with the completed code were produced; the first is still at Stern Pinball headquarters, and the second was part of a collection that was eventually destroyed in a flood.Fact|date=June 2008

Overview

.

Each of the characters had magical tattoos, which came to life when they performed special attacks and finishing moves. Even though the game was never finished, "EGM" posted an in-depth article with moves and information about all of the characters: [http://www.bunnyears.net/tattoo/egm2a.jpgPage 1] , [http://www.bunnyears.net/tattoo/egm2b.jpgPage 2] , [http://www.bunnyears.net/tattoo/egm2c.jpgPage 3] , and [http://www.bunnyears.net/tattoo/egm2d.jpgPage 4]

Internal development strife, management problems, deadline woes, and negative feedback from testers contributed to the game's troubled development and eventual downfall. With similar games like "Killer Instinct" and "Primal Rage" performing well, "Tattoo Assassins" competing chances were slim and it was never put into production.

Characters

Here is a list of the characters that appeared in this game:
*A.C. Current - A cyber mercenary. Wanted by his former employers after an industrial espionage double cross.
*Billy Two Moons - Stereotypical Native American character. Fugitive from the U.S. government. Upon winning a round with Billy, he'll proceed to perform an apparently improvised parody of a Native American ritual dance while shouting "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!" The costume of the actor who plays Billy is nothing more than a fedora with a feather attached to it, a vest and some khaki pants.
*Deke Kay - A fighting zombie. Sub-boss in the game.
*Derek O'Toole - A rock star. Developed fighting skills after being falsely accused of terrorist activities.
*Hannah Hart - A stripper. Out to avenge her murdered friend.
*Karla Keller - An ice skater. Spoof of Nancy Kerrigan, from appearance to backstory.
*Koldan - A large man with a gloved hand with giant needles in the fingers out to create an army of mutants and enslave the human race. The final boss of the game.
*Luke Cord - Former Navy SEAL. Wanted by the CIA due to his knowledge after a compromised operation against the Soviets.
*Maya - Tribal amazon-like character. Fighting land developers off her people's land.
*Prizm - Light-based crystal monster. Sub-boss in the game.
*Rhina - Creepy looking half-woman, half-rhino creature. Sub-boss in the game.
*Tak Hata - Former Yakuza assassin. Wanted by the Yakuza and Japanese police after being framed for murder.
*Truck Davis - Member of a biker gang. Out to avenge the death of the other members.

Two other non-fighter characters that appear in the game's story are Mullah Abba, the spiritual leader of the Order of Colors who discovered the mysterious ink used by the fighters, and Lyla Blue, a woman who is used as a channel by Mullah Abba to allow the player to control one of the assassins in combat.

Cast

(as credited)
*Eddi Wilde - Billy Two Moons
*Kevin Knotts - Truck Davis / Koldan
*Charlie Rice - Luke Cord
*Melanie Baer - Maya
*Rick Mali - Takara Hata
*Gretchen Stockdale - Hannah Hart
*Maurice Travis - A.C. Current
*Cristine Dupree - Karla Keller
*Nicolas Andrews - Derek O'Toole
*Joanna Lee - Rhina
*William Zipp - Deke Kay / Prizm
*Mark Urgello - Mullah Abba
*Marushka Wilde - ???
*Rene Hudson - Lyla Blue

External links

* [http://www.dataeastgames.com/title_tattooassassin.html Official G-Mode webpage of Tattoo Assassins]
* [http://www.bunnyears.net/tattoo/ Dan's Tattoo Assassins page]
*KLOV game|id=10039
* [http://i-mockery.com/minimocks/tattoo-assassins/ I-Mockery.com feature on Tattoo Assassins]