Dirty Harry: The War Against Drugs

Dirty Harry: The War Against Drugs
Cover art of Dirty Harry: The War Against Drugs
Developer(s)	Gray Matter[1][2]
Publisher(s)	Mindscape[2]
Designer(s)	Chris Gray[2] Ed Zolnieryk[2]
Composer(s)	Steven Samler[2] Elliot Delman[2]
Platform(s)	NES[2]
Release date(s)	NA December 1990[2]
Genre(s)	Action[2]
Mode(s)	Single-player
Media/distribution	NES cartridge

Dirty Harry: The War Against Drugs, also referred to as simply Dirty Harry on the game's cover and in the in-game menus, is a 1990 video game based on the Dirty Harry film franchise starring Clint Eastwood.

Story

Harry Callahan is a San Francisco police detective who rarely follows police protocol. A powerful druglord known as "The Anaconda" has created a burgeoning drug-smuggling operation by recruiting all of San Francisco's drug gangs. Harry must crack the case and take down the kingpin himself on Alcatraz.^[3]

Gameplay

General information

The game is a side-scroller, in which players must guide Dirty Harry throughout San Francisco. He wears a blue suit, although it can be exchanged for a white suit. He wields his signature .44 magnum, and players have to ability to draw the weapon without actually firing it. This allows the player to walk around while aiming at punks and dare them to feel lucky. Most notable, in reference to real-life handguns, the .44 also exhibits a recoil effect when fired.

Other weapons consist of LAWs rockets, harpoon guns, and explosive remote-controlled cars. When injured, Harry's health can be restored by eating chili dogs.

Destinations

• THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO

On the first level Harry must navigate through the back alleys and sewers, in an attempt to find The Toymaker. For the streets are in a non-linear manner, Harry can enter most of the buildings to confiscate drugs or collect power-ups and weapons. But aside from grabbing some extra ammunition, the buildings are largely secondary to completing the level.

• CITY BY THE BAY

Harry clean up the docks and searches for the spear gun. He also has to find Longshore, who protects himself with bulletproof clothing.

• ALCATRAZ ISLAND

On the island, a small army is trying to stop Harry as well as General Ripper. Harry must fight his way onto the island, climb several cliffs, and make his way into the center of the prison to reach "The Anaconda."^[4]

Music

The music in Dirty Harry was composed by Steven Samler and Elliot Delman. The music was composed using Digital Performer for the Macintosh.

Film references

Although it is non-canon to the film series and novels, it however incorporates several references to the film series.^[5] The game uses digitized speech to deliver both of Harry's famous lines ("Make my day", "I know what you're thinking..."), and the showdown occurs on Alcatraz island.^[6] Also the password for infinite lives (CLYDE), is a reference to Clyde the Orangutan from Every Which Way but Loose and the password for level 2 is Misty, a reference to Play Misty for Me, both non-Dirty Harry films starring Clint Eastwood.

See also

• Dirty Harry (video game)

References

1. ^ "Developer information". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/nes/action/dirtyharrythewarad/index.html. Retrieved 2008-11-03. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "Release information". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587230.html. Retrieved 2008-10-29. 
3. ^ http://www.the-dirtiest.com/manual.htm
4. ^ http://www.the-dirtiest.com/nes.htm
5. ^ "Basic game summary". Neoseeker. http://www.neoseeker.com/Games/Products/NES/dirty_harry/. Retrieved 2008-11-03. 
6. ^ "Advanced game summary". The Dirtiest. http://www.the-dirtiest.com/nes.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-03.