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{{Short description|1992 video game}}
{{Infobox CVG
{{Infobox video game
| title = Lethal Enforcers
|title = Lethal Enforcers
| image = ]
|image = Lethal Enforcers.png
| developer = ]
|caption = Arcade flyer
| publisher =
|developer = ]
| designer =
|publisher = Konami
| release = ]
|director = Yoshiaki Hatano
| genre = ]
|designer = Yoshiaki Hatano
| modes =
|programmer = Yoshiaki Hatano <br /> Hiroshi Matsuura <br /> H. Ueno
| cabinet =
|artist = Steve Johnson <br /> Jun Narita <br /> D. Marshall <br /> K. Hale
| arcade system =
|composer = ]
| cpu =
|series = ''Lethal Enforcers''
| sound =
|platforms = ], ], ], ], ] (as ''Lethal Enforcers I & II'')
| display =
|release = {{collapsible list|title=September 1992|'''Arcade''' {{vgrelease|NA|September 1992<ref>{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |page=122 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n123}}</ref>|JP|October 8, 1992|PAL|October 14, 1992}} '''Genesis''' {{vgrelease|NA|July 2, 1993|PAL|1993|JP|December 10, 1993}} '''Sega CD''' {{vgrelease|JP|October 29, 1993|NA|November 1993|PAL|December 1993|}} '''Super NES'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|January 1994|PAL|1994|JP|March 11, 1994}}'''PlayStation'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|November 17, ]}}{{vgrelease|PAL|November 1997}}{{vgrelease|JP|November 20, 1997}}}}
| input =
|genre = ]
| platforms = ], ], ], ]
|modes = ], ]
|arcade system =
}} }}
'''Lethal Enforcers''' was created as an ] shooting ] by ] in 1992. The game was ] to the ], ] and ] in 1993. The game makes use of a ]-shaped ] known as the ], which was included with the game. In the case of console versions, a standard controller can be used in lieu of the light gun. Lethal Enforcers also spawned a sequel: '']'', followed by the much different (and fully computer-generated) '']''.


{{nihongo foot|'''''Lethal Enforcers'''''|リーサルエンフォーサーズ|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1992 ] released as an ] by ]. The graphics consist entirely of ] photographs and digitized ]. Home versions were released for the ], ] and ] during the following year and include a ]-shaped ] known as ].
The game puts the player into the boots of a police officer who has been assigned to stop a growing crime wave that puts the city's security in jeopardy.


The game was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the top five highest-grossing dedicated ] in the United States, but it caused controversy as it allowed players to shoot photorealistic representations of enemies.
Lethal Enforcers has five stages or 'assignments': 'The Bank Robbery', 'Chinatown Assault', 'The Hijackers', 'The Drug Dealers', and 'The Chemical Plant'. During each stage, the player must shoot the armed criminals without harming any innocent bystanders or fellow officers. One shot is usually enough to kill most enemies. At the end of each stage, there is a ] that must be defeated in order to complete the assignment. Bosses often shoot projectiles at the player.


''Lethal Enforcers'' was followed by '']''. Both games would later be released in the two-in-one compilation ''Lethal Enforcers I & II'' (''Lethal Enforcers Deluxe Pack'' in Japan) for the ]. Years later, Konami released the '']'' series as a Japan-themed sequel to the original plot. This was also followed by the arcade game ''Heroes of Justice'', which was localized and renamed as '']'' for Western audiences.
In-game, the player's gun can carry up to 6 bullets. To reload, the player must aim their lightgun away from the screen and pull the trigger. In case of the console versions, if a controller is used, the player only needs to press a specific button to reload.


==Plot==
At the beginning of the game, three to five life units are available. In the arcade version, more can be purchased by inserting additional coins. Life units are also awarded based on how many points the player scores while playing the game. Every time the player is shot or an innocent person or officer is shot, one life unit will be lost. The game ends when all life units are gone, but continuous play is available.
The player assumes control of a ] (CPD) officer named Don Marshall in ], who is at a donut shop for a break. While sipping the last drop of coffee, he gets a call from his ]. They realize that a major crime organization has invaded town, and they need his help on the double. He is one of the two survivors of the elite group of officers. The rest have ended up in the hospital or killed. Once the call ended, he decided to check out the bank. From that point on, he is going to experience the toughest job that he would have during his years in the police force. He has been assigned and agrees to help stop a growing crime wave that puts the city's security in serious jeopardy, along with a helper (a second player can join in).


==Gameplay==
There are different ranks that the player can attain, depending on how well the player performs. The ranks are: Patrolman, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Commander. When the game begins, the player's rank is Detective, and after each stage the player will be promoted, provided they have not killed any innocents. If the player has killed innocents on any stage, they will either maintain their rank or will be demoted.
The game is viewed from a ] perspective. Initially armed with a standard-issue ], the player can acquire upgraded weapons during the course of play: a ], a ], a ], an ], a ], or a ]. The submachine gun and grenade launcher can only be used once while other weapons can be reloaded like the service revolver. Losing a life reverts the player's weapon to the revolver. The game ends when all lives are lost, unless the player chooses to continue. Along the way, extra lives can be earned per 2,000 points scored. There are bonus points (10 each) for destroying certain targets. 8 points per enemy shot.


''Lethal Enforcers'' has six stages (including the Training Stage): "The Bank Robbery", "Chinatown (on SNES, Downtown) Assault", "The Hijacking", "The Drug Dealers (on SNES, Gunrunners)", and "Chemical Plant Sabotage". During each stage, the player must shoot the armed robbers without harming any civilians or fellow policemen. One shot is enough to kill most enemies. At the end of each stage, a boss must be killed in order to complete the stage. A dip switch setting in the arcade version allows operators to let players progress through the stages in a linear fashion ("arcade mode") or select individual stages ("street mode").
Additional weaponry can be found throughout the game that will gives better firepower: automatics, Magnum bullets, rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers and machine guns. The grenade launchers and machine guns can each be used only once, but the automatics, the Magnum bullets, the rifles and the shotguns can be reloaded the same way as the regular gun. If the player is shot while they have one of those weapons, however, they lose any special guns they have collected and will return to the regular gun.


Enemies always wear sunglasses, ski masks or gas masks, while fellow police officers and civilians are always barefaced. The boss character sometimes will have his face exposed; this battle is fought where there are no civilians present.
In the arcade version, a ] allows users to set the game to "Arcade Mode" or "Street Mode". In Arcade Mode, one assignment follows directly after the other where, between each assignment, there is a target practice session where the goal is to try to shoot all the required targets to improve the player's accuracy. Street Mode gives the player a choice of which stage they would like to go to, including a target practice stage.


There are different ranks that the player can attain based on performance. The ranks are Patrolman, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Commander. When the game begins, the player's rank is Patrolman, and after each stage the player is promoted, provided they have not killed any civilians. Killing civilians will cause the player to either be demoted or stay the same rank, although the ranks do not go below Patrolman.
== The Assignments ==
A fellow officer will assist players in taking out the criminals. He will appear in "The Bank Robbery", "Chinatown Assault", and "The Drug Dealers". Players must be careful not to shoot him, or they will lose a life.


==Ports==
'''The Bank Robbery''': This is a warm-up stage where the player can get a feel of virtual realistic shooting. He or she starts out inside the bank. Most of the enemies are behind the counters. The player must kill the robbers wearing ski masks and other criminals, but not the bank tellers or other employees. A police officer will briefly appear and take out an enemy before moving away. The player then proceeds to the back of the alley. After engaging in (and winning) a firefight in the back alley, the player takes part in a high-speed chase. As always, he or she must eliminate all enemies including a passing motorcyclist. The player can shoot the tires of cars to slow them down, or destroy the gas tank to set the cars on fire. In each of the cars, the player should just be able to make out the top of a robber's head when he's not aiming at the player. The player can then attempt a head shot or just wait for him to completely expose his head. After clearing the cars, the first boss will appear from the side of the "Chemical Waste Service" van. He has a rocket launcher so the player must shoot the projectiles to avoid getting hit. When he is eliminated, the bank robbery mission is complete.
] came packaged with home ports.]]
Home versions were released for the ], ] and ]. The home versions make use of the ], a revolver-shaped ] which came packaged with the game. A standard controller can be also used in lieu of the light gun in these versions. A second-player Justifier light gun, pink in color, was available only by mail order from Konami. The CD version features higher quality ] music, sampled from the arcade original. The game is also featured alongside '']'' in the two-in-one compilation titled ''Lethal Enforcers I & II'' (''Lethal Enforcers Deluxe Pack'' in Japan), developed by Konami Chicago and released for the ] in ]. A ] version of the compilation was also announced<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Richard|last=Leadbetter|title=1997 Starts with a Bang!|magazine=]|issue=16 |publisher=]|date=February 1997|page=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Coming Soon|magazine=]|issue=94|publisher=]|date=May 1997|page=29}}</ref> but cancelled.


The Super NES version features traditional ] ]; no blood is shown when a player or criminal dies. Instead, the screen will flash light green or light blue to indicate that a player lost a life. Also, "Chinatown Assault" (which is basically a gang fight) is renamed "Downtown Assault" and "Drug Dealer" is renamed "Gunrunners".
'''Chinatown Assault''' ''('''Downtown Assault''' in the Super NES version)'': In this stage, ninjas and other gun-toting villains have invaded Chinatown. They are terrorizing the innocent population with acts of violence. The ninjas (wearing traditional blue robes) mostly carry knives, and they will either throw them or stab the player from up close. The player will start out on a street in Chinatown. He or she must eliminate all enemies, including the ninjas, in order to advance to the next area, which is the subway. Again, the player must not shoot any innocents. It is worth noting that the name of a restaurant seen on this level differs depending on which version of the game is being played (for example, in the arcade version, the restaurant is called the China-Inn). Further information is available . The player then moves on to the subway entrance. A lot of the enemies will pop up from behind the escalator, the turnstiles, and the kiosk. After killing all of the bad guys in the entrance, the player will move on the train platform where a subway car is sitting in the background. There is a sleeping man on the bench here, but this man is an innocent victim so the player cannot shoot him. After clearing all the enemies on the plaform, the train starts to move. The enemies sticking their heads out from the big windows of the subway train are easy to kill. The ones that are popping up from behind the subway door's windows are a little harder but not difficult. After killing all the enemies, the player will face another boss, a knife throwing ninja. The player must shoot the incoming knives to avoid getting impaled. When the boss is eliminated, Chinatown is saved.


==Regional differences==
A notable reason why the Super NES version had "Downtown Assault" as the stage name was because of ]'s ] issues in the early-to-mid '90s. This stage's references to Asian people were deleted by the company to prevent being offensive.
The Japanese arcade version of ''Lethal Enforcers'' contain several differences from the US and European arcade versions. These differences include the "how to reload" animation (the US and European versions show a woman shooting outside of the cabinet's screen to reload in-game, while the Japanese version shows the default revolver and how to reload it), and an additional enemy taunt, "Die, pigs!", which was removed from the US and European versions.


==Reception==
'''The Hijack''': To many players, this is a hard stage. It takes place at Metro International Airport where terrorists are attempting to hijack a plane. The player's mission is to neutralize them and prevent them from taking away the plane. Some of the hijackers will throw grenades at the player so he must shoot the grenades to avoid taking damage. Innocents will appear here so the player must be careful not to shoot them. In the first area, hijackers will appear behind the van and the truck, out of the small windows where the passengers board (just behind the truck), a remote-controlled trailer beside the plane, and from the open door of the plane. After the area is secured, the player will move on to the baggage loading zone. Extra weapons are hidden inside the baggage. After that, the player proceeds to the third area of the stage. Along the way, the player will encounter an enemy hiding in a big box that will take multiple hits to be destroyed. The grenade launcher is also available in this stage. After killing all the enemies here, the plane begins taking off. It is difficult to take down the enemies sticking their heads up from the small windows of the plane so the player must time his shots correctly and accurately. However, the enemies that open the doors of the plane are easy to kill. In the end, the player will face the boss, who is piloting the plane. He has backup men so the player must kill the men before concentrating on the boss. The boss' weapon is a grenade launcher. The player must shoot the grenades to avoid getting hit. When he is defeated, he commits suicide by blowing up the plane, and the airport is secure.
{{Video game reviews
| CVG = 80% (Genesis)<ref>'']'', issue 144 (November 1993)</ref> <br /> 82% (Sega CD)<ref>''Computer and Video Games'', issue 146 (January 1994), page 72</ref>
| EGM = 6/10 (Genesis,<br />Sega CD, SNES)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Sega CD|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=''1999 Video Game Buyer's Guide''|publisher=Ziff Davis|page=141}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Genesis|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=''1998 Video Game Buyer's Guide''|publisher=Ziff Davis|page=86}}</ref><ref name=egm/>
| GMaster = 93% (Sega CD)<ref>''GamesMaster'', issue 11 (November 1993), pages 44-46, published 21 October 1993</ref>
| rev1 = '']''
| rev1Score = 95% (Genesis)<ref>''Electronic Games'', volume 2, issue 3 (December 1993), page 120</ref><br />93% (Sega CD)<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kunkel|first=Bill|title=CD GALLERY|url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1993-11/Electronic%20Games%201993-11#page/n117/mode/2up|magazine= Electronic Games|page= 118|date= November 1993}}</ref>
| rev2 = '']''
| rev2Score = 89% (Genesis) <br /> 89% (Sega CD)<ref name=mega>''Mega'', issue 15 (December 1993), pages 38-40, published 18 November 1993</ref>
| Allgame = {{Rating|3.5|5}} (SNES)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2531&tab=review |title=Lethal Enforcers (SNES) Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116134926/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2531&tab=review |archive-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><br />{{Rating|3|5}} (ARC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10435&tab=review |title=Lethal Enforcers (Arcade) Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115031818/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10435&tab=review |archive-date=15 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><br />{{Rating|2|5}} (PS1)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7876&tab=review |title= Lethal Enforcers I & II Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115081541/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7876&tab=review |archive-date=15 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}


In the United States, ''RePlay'' listed the game as the third top-grossing upright arcade game in November 1992,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Upright Videos|magazine=RePlay|volume=18|issue=2|publisher=RePlay Publishing, Inc.|date=November 1992|page=4|url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-18-issue-no.-2-november-1992-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2018%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201992%20%28Compressed%29/page/4/mode/1up}}</ref> and then as the top-grossing upright arcade game from December 1992<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=December 1992 |volume=18 |issue=3 |page=13 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-18-issue-no.-3-december-1992-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2018%2C%20Issue%20No.%203%20-%20December%201992%20%28Compressed%29/page/13}}</ref> to January 1993,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=January 1993 |volume=18 |issue=4 |page=4 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-18-issue-no.-4-january-1993-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2018%2C%20Issue%20No.%204%20-%20January%201993/page/4}}</ref> before becoming one of the top five highest-grossing dedicated ] in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The AMOA Awards |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1993 |volume=19 |issue=2 |page=87 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-19-issue-no.-2-november-1993/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2019%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201993/page/87}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=AMOA Award Nominees: Game Awards |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1993 |volume=19 |issue=1 |page=59 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-19-issue-no.-1-october-1993-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2019%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201993/page/n56/mode/1up}}</ref> In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Lethal Enforcers'' on their January 1, 1993 issue as being the top-grossing upright/cockpit arcade unit of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)|magazine=]|issue=441|publisher=]|date=1 January 1993|page=35|lang=ja}}</ref> It was later the top-selling Sega CD game in the United States in November 1993.<ref name="EGMJan1994">{{cite magazine|date=January 1994|title=EGM Top Ten|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_54/page/n59|magazine=]|issue=54|page=58}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Video Games: As of November 22, 1993 |magazine=] |date=January 20, 1994 |volume=2 |issue=5 (February 1994) |page=24 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-02/page/n13}}</ref>
'''The Drug Dealers''': The player is sent to the shipping docks to stop a drug deal from happening. (A short video of this stage can be found . In the first stage, enemies will pop up behind the cars. One enemy will pop up behind the trunk of a red car, along with a shotgun available for use by the player. Several enemies are also standing on top of the moving boxes. After securing the area, the player will proceed to another area where a cruise ship will be passing by. Most of the enemies will appear on the boat, while a few will appear close to the player. After this section is cleared, the player proceeds to the next stage, where they can see trucks inside the garage of a big building near the shipping docks. One of the trucks houses two enemies who try to drive up towards the player. After clearing the enemies in this area, another high speed chase takes place, similar to the one in "The Bank Robbery". Again, the player can shoot the tires and/or the gas tanks of the enemy vehicles. The boss at the end is flying a helicopter. He mans a turret and shoots artillery shells at the player. As always, the player must shoot the incoming projectiles to avoid losing a life. After the player deals out enough damage to the helicopter, it crashes and the mission is complete.


'']'' gave rave reviews for the Sega CD,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Sega CD ProReview: Lethal Enforcers|magazine=]|issue=62|publisher=IDG|date=November 1993|pages=74–75}}</ref> Genesis<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Genesis ProReview: Lethal Enforcers|magazine=]|issue=63|publisher=IDG|date=December 1993|page=68}}</ref> and SNES versions; for the SNES version, they cited the accuracy of the Konami Justifier, the realistic graphics, and the "appropriately hyper music".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Lethal Enforcers|magazine=]|issue=68|publisher=]|date=May 1994|page=72}}</ref> '']'' scored the SNES version 24 out of 40 (6 out of 10 average). Though they noted that the port was technically impressive, they felt the brutal violence was toned down to the point where the spirit of the game was lost.<ref name=egm>{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Lethal Enforcers|magazine=]|issue=57|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=April 1994|page=40}}</ref>
'''The Chemical Plant''': A chemical plant sabotage is taking place. This is the last and arguably the hardest stage of the game. There are two types of enemies here: those who are wearing a yellow uniform (with a gas mask), or those who are wearing a blue uniform with a cap. As the player proceeds further into the stage, they will encounter enemy tanks. Shooting the tanks' guns will destroy them. There are volatile barrels in this stage and if either the player or the enemy destroys them, the player will switch into night-vision mode. Enemies will pop up in front and behind the flames along with more tanks to kill. When night-vision mode is over, the player faces off against the final boss. He is piloting an Apache helicopter. The player must watch out for the helicopter's machine guns, missiles and rockets. After the helicopter has been shot down and destroyed, the chemical plant is secure and the game is over.


The ''Lethal Enforcers I & II'' compilation received mediocre reviews, with critics saying that while the conversion is arcade perfect, the gameplay is simplistic and the graphics are highly static compared to contemporaries like '']'' (1995).<ref name=EGM97>{{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Lethal Enforcers 1 & 2 |magazine=]|issue=97 |publisher=] |date=August 1997|page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=PlayStation ProReview: Lethal Enforcers I & II|magazine=]|issue=107|publisher=]|date=August 1997|page=72}}</ref> ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' gave the compilation a 4.875 out of 10, with Dan Hsu commenting that, while the ''Lethal Enforcers'' games were very good, they were both too aged to stand up against other 1997 releases and not classic enough to make a credible retro compilation.<ref name=EGM97/>
== Quotes==
The following are quotes from the arcade game spoken by the innocent bystanders, enemies, and the officers:


'']'' placed the game at number 35 in their "Top 50 Mega Drive Games of All Time" and number 6 in their "Top 10 Mega CD Games of All Time" list.<ref>Mega magazine issue 26, page 74, ], November 1994</ref> '']'' listed it as the ninth best light gun shooter of all time.<ref name="screenrant">{{cite news |last1=Draven |first1=Derek |title=The 10 Best Light Gun Video Games Ever Created, Ranked |url=https://screenrant.com/best-light-gun-video-games-1980s-1990s-ranked/ |access-date=24 April 2021 |work=] |date=18 March 2021}}</ref> In 1995, '']'' ranked the game 58th on its Top 100 SNES Games.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=July 1995 |title=Top 100 SNES Games |url=https://archive.org/details/total-43/page/n45/mode/2up |journal=Total! |issue=43 |pages=46 |access-date=February 28, 2022}}</ref> In 1995, '']'' magazine listed the arcade version 43rd on their "Top 100 Video Games".<ref>{{Cite journal |date=April 1995 |title=Top 100 Video Games |url=https://archive.org/details/flux-issue-4/page/n29/mode/2up |journal=Flux |publisher=Harris Publications |issue=4 |pages=30}}</ref>
'''Innocent Bystanders''':
*"No!"
*"Don't shoot!"
*"Don't shoot! They're Crazy!"
*"Help Me!"
*"I don't want to die!"


===Controversy===
'''Enemies''':
''Lethal Enforcers'' gained controversy for its use of photorealistic imagery and was one of the video games that was part of the ], led by senators ] and ]. Lieberman, during ]'s coverage of the hearings, showed Nintendo and Sega the Konami Justifier that was bundled with the game and stated that it looked too much like a real revolver. At the time, it was pulled from toy stores, such as ]. Along with '']'' and '']'', which were also part of the hearings, the Genesis version was one of the first video games to be rated MA-17 by Sega's ].<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|title=Toys 'R' Us Stops Selling a Violent Video Game|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/17/nyregion/toys-r-us-stops-selling-a-violent-video-game.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|last=Redburn|first=Tom |date=December 17, 1993|accessdate=June 18, 2012|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref>
*"You can't kill me, copper!"
*You miss me, pig!"
*"Eat lead, copper!"
*"You can't shoot me!"


==Legacy==
'''Officers''':
''Lethal Enforcers'' popularized the use of digitized sprites and backgrounds in light gun shooters. Its release coincided with the release of another popular game using digitized sprites around the same time, '']'' (1992).<ref name="screenrant"/> ''Lethal Enforcers'' subsequently became the yardstick by which later light gun shooters were compared to up until the mid-1990s.<ref name="GW">{{cite magazine |last1=Perry |first1=Dave |author1-link=Dave Perry |author2=Nick |author3=Nick R |author4=Adrian |title=Reviews: Virtua Cop |magazine=] |date=November 1994 |issue=7 (January 1995) |publisher=] |page=21 |url=https://archive.org/details/games-world-07/page/n22}}</ref><ref name="NG1">{{cite magazine|date=8 December 1994|title=Finals|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-001/page/n109/mode/2up|magazine=]|publisher=]|issue=1 (January 1995)|page=105}}</ref> Digitized sprites also became the most popular graphical representation for light gun shooters up until the mid-1990s, with the arrival of ]'s '']'' (1994) which replaced them with ].<ref name="NGenSat">{{cite magazine|date=February 1996|title=Stunning|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-014/page/n163/mode/1up|magazine=]|publisher=Imagine Media|volume=2|issue=14|page=162}}</ref><ref name="GP">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Game_Players_Issue_60_Holiday_1995/page/n35/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Game Players - Awards - Best Game Gear Game |magazine=] |issue=79 |publisher=Signal Research |date=Christmas 1995 |pages=15–41 (36)}}</ref>
*"Freeze!"
*"Drop your weapons!"
*"Put your hands up!"


== Trivia == ===Popular culture===
A level in Konami's shooter '']'' is modeled after ''Lethal Enforcers'' and has the player character avoiding moving crosshairs. Both the blue and pink Konami Justifiers appear at the bottom of the screen during the stage.
* The game takes place in the city of Chicago: in the Chinatown Assault stage, the player can see the ], and the Sears Tower is visible in the background when playing the arcade version of the game.


The ] album '']'' contains a song entitled "Lethal Enforcer" in reference to the game. The album contains many video game related titles such as "Altered Beast", "Ghouls" (from "Ghouls 'n Ghosts") and "Gauntlet".<ref>{{cite web|title=LAist Interview: We Are Scientists|url=http://laist.com/2008/05/08/laist_interview_143.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515020254/http://laist.com/2008/05/08/laist_interview_143.php|archive-date=2008-05-15}}</ref>
* According to a photograph of an opened wallet on the game's control panel, player 1's name is Don Marshall and lives in Chicago, Illinois.


In the "St Hospitals" episode of '']'', Mark plays ''Lethal Enforcers'' in an arcade while Sophie is in labour.
== External links ==
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Latest revision as of 18:56, 24 November 2024

1992 video game 1992 video game
Lethal Enforcers
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)Yoshiaki Hatano
Designer(s)Yoshiaki Hatano
Programmer(s)Yoshiaki Hatano
Hiroshi Matsuura
H. Ueno
Artist(s)Steve Johnson
Jun Narita
D. Marshall
K. Hale
Composer(s)Kenichiro Fukui
SeriesLethal Enforcers
Platform(s)Arcade, Super NES, Genesis, Sega CD, PlayStation (as Lethal Enforcers I & II)
Release September 1992
  • Arcade
    • NA: September 1992
    • JP: October 8, 1992
    • PAL: October 14, 1992
    Genesis
    • NA: July 2, 1993
    • PAL: 1993
    • JP: December 10, 1993
    Sega CD
    • JP: October 29, 1993
    • NA: November 1993
    • PAL: December 1993
    Super NES
    • NA: January 1994
    • PAL: 1994
    • JP: March 11, 1994
    PlayStation
    • PAL: November 1997
    • JP: November 20, 1997
Genre(s)Light gun shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Lethal Enforcers is a 1992 light gun shooter released as an arcade video game by Konami. The graphics consist entirely of digitized photographs and digitized sprites. Home versions were released for the Super NES, Genesis and Sega CD during the following year and include a revolver-shaped light gun known as The Justifier.

The game was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the top five highest-grossing dedicated arcade games of 1993 in the United States, but it caused controversy as it allowed players to shoot photorealistic representations of enemies.

Lethal Enforcers was followed by Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters. Both games would later be released in the two-in-one compilation Lethal Enforcers I & II (Lethal Enforcers Deluxe Pack in Japan) for the PlayStation. Years later, Konami released the Police 911 series as a Japan-themed sequel to the original plot. This was also followed by the arcade game Heroes of Justice, which was localized and renamed as Lethal Enforcers 3 for Western audiences.

Plot

The player assumes control of a Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer named Don Marshall in Chicago, Illinois, who is at a donut shop for a break. While sipping the last drop of coffee, he gets a call from his dispatcher. They realize that a major crime organization has invaded town, and they need his help on the double. He is one of the two survivors of the elite group of officers. The rest have ended up in the hospital or killed. Once the call ended, he decided to check out the bank. From that point on, he is going to experience the toughest job that he would have during his years in the police force. He has been assigned and agrees to help stop a growing crime wave that puts the city's security in serious jeopardy, along with a helper (a second player can join in).

Gameplay

The game is viewed from a first-person perspective. Initially armed with a standard-issue .38 service revolver, the player can acquire upgraded weapons during the course of play: a .357 Magnum, a semi-automatic pistol, a combat shotgun, an assault rifle, a submachine gun, or a grenade launcher. The submachine gun and grenade launcher can only be used once while other weapons can be reloaded like the service revolver. Losing a life reverts the player's weapon to the revolver. The game ends when all lives are lost, unless the player chooses to continue. Along the way, extra lives can be earned per 2,000 points scored. There are bonus points (10 each) for destroying certain targets. 8 points per enemy shot.

Lethal Enforcers has six stages (including the Training Stage): "The Bank Robbery", "Chinatown (on SNES, Downtown) Assault", "The Hijacking", "The Drug Dealers (on SNES, Gunrunners)", and "Chemical Plant Sabotage". During each stage, the player must shoot the armed robbers without harming any civilians or fellow policemen. One shot is enough to kill most enemies. At the end of each stage, a boss must be killed in order to complete the stage. A dip switch setting in the arcade version allows operators to let players progress through the stages in a linear fashion ("arcade mode") or select individual stages ("street mode").

Enemies always wear sunglasses, ski masks or gas masks, while fellow police officers and civilians are always barefaced. The boss character sometimes will have his face exposed; this battle is fought where there are no civilians present.

There are different ranks that the player can attain based on performance. The ranks are Patrolman, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Commander. When the game begins, the player's rank is Patrolman, and after each stage the player is promoted, provided they have not killed any civilians. Killing civilians will cause the player to either be demoted or stay the same rank, although the ranks do not go below Patrolman.

Ports

The Konami Justifier came packaged with home ports.

Home versions were released for the Super NES, Sega Genesis and Sega CD. The home versions make use of the Konami Justifier, a revolver-shaped light gun which came packaged with the game. A standard controller can be also used in lieu of the light gun in these versions. A second-player Justifier light gun, pink in color, was available only by mail order from Konami. The CD version features higher quality CD-DA music, sampled from the arcade original. The game is also featured alongside Lethal Enforcers II in the two-in-one compilation titled Lethal Enforcers I & II (Lethal Enforcers Deluxe Pack in Japan), developed by Konami Chicago and released for the PlayStation in 1997. A Sega Saturn version of the compilation was also announced but cancelled.

The Super NES version features traditional Nintendo censorship; no blood is shown when a player or criminal dies. Instead, the screen will flash light green or light blue to indicate that a player lost a life. Also, "Chinatown Assault" (which is basically a gang fight) is renamed "Downtown Assault" and "Drug Dealer" is renamed "Gunrunners".

Regional differences

The Japanese arcade version of Lethal Enforcers contain several differences from the US and European arcade versions. These differences include the "how to reload" animation (the US and European versions show a woman shooting outside of the cabinet's screen to reload in-game, while the Japanese version shows the default revolver and how to reload it), and an additional enemy taunt, "Die, pigs!", which was removed from the US and European versions.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame (SNES)
(ARC)
(PS1)
Computer and Video Games80% (Genesis)
82% (Sega CD)
Electronic Gaming Monthly6/10 (Genesis,
Sega CD, SNES)
GamesMaster93% (Sega CD)
Electronic Games95% (Genesis)
93% (Sega CD)
Mega89% (Genesis)
89% (Sega CD)

In the United States, RePlay listed the game as the third top-grossing upright arcade game in November 1992, and then as the top-grossing upright arcade game from December 1992 to January 1993, before becoming one of the top five highest-grossing dedicated arcade games of 1993 in the United States. In Japan, Game Machine listed Lethal Enforcers on their January 1, 1993 issue as being the top-grossing upright/cockpit arcade unit of the month. It was later the top-selling Sega CD game in the United States in November 1993.

GamePro gave rave reviews for the Sega CD, Genesis and SNES versions; for the SNES version, they cited the accuracy of the Konami Justifier, the realistic graphics, and the "appropriately hyper music". Electronic Gaming Monthly scored the SNES version 24 out of 40 (6 out of 10 average). Though they noted that the port was technically impressive, they felt the brutal violence was toned down to the point where the spirit of the game was lost.

The Lethal Enforcers I & II compilation received mediocre reviews, with critics saying that while the conversion is arcade perfect, the gameplay is simplistic and the graphics are highly static compared to contemporaries like Time Crisis (1995). Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the compilation a 4.875 out of 10, with Dan Hsu commenting that, while the Lethal Enforcers games were very good, they were both too aged to stand up against other 1997 releases and not classic enough to make a credible retro compilation.

Mega placed the game at number 35 in their "Top 50 Mega Drive Games of All Time" and number 6 in their "Top 10 Mega CD Games of All Time" list. Screen Rant listed it as the ninth best light gun shooter of all time. In 1995, Total! ranked the game 58th on its Top 100 SNES Games. In 1995, Flux magazine listed the arcade version 43rd on their "Top 100 Video Games".

Controversy

Lethal Enforcers gained controversy for its use of photorealistic imagery and was one of the video games that was part of the 1993 United States Senate hearings on video games, led by senators Joe Lieberman and Herb Kohl. Lieberman, during C-SPAN's coverage of the hearings, showed Nintendo and Sega the Konami Justifier that was bundled with the game and stated that it looked too much like a real revolver. At the time, it was pulled from toy stores, such as Toys "R" Us. Along with Night Trap and Mortal Kombat, which were also part of the hearings, the Genesis version was one of the first video games to be rated MA-17 by Sega's Videogame Rating Council.

Legacy

Lethal Enforcers popularized the use of digitized sprites and backgrounds in light gun shooters. Its release coincided with the release of another popular game using digitized sprites around the same time, Mortal Kombat (1992). Lethal Enforcers subsequently became the yardstick by which later light gun shooters were compared to up until the mid-1990s. Digitized sprites also became the most popular graphical representation for light gun shooters up until the mid-1990s, with the arrival of Sega AM2's Virtua Cop (1994) which replaced them with 3D polygon graphics.

Popular culture

A level in Konami's shooter Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius is modeled after Lethal Enforcers and has the player character avoiding moving crosshairs. Both the blue and pink Konami Justifiers appear at the bottom of the screen during the stage.

The We Are Scientists album Brain Thrust Mastery contains a song entitled "Lethal Enforcer" in reference to the game. The album contains many video game related titles such as "Altered Beast", "Ghouls" (from "Ghouls 'n Ghosts") and "Gauntlet".

In the "St Hospitals" episode of Peep Show, Mark plays Lethal Enforcers in an arcade while Sophie is in labour.

Notes

  1. Japanese: リーサルエンフォーサーズ

References

  1. Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. p. 122. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  2. Leadbetter, Richard (February 1997). "1997 Starts with a Bang!". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 16. Emap International Limited. p. 18.
  3. "Coming Soon". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 94. Ziff Davis. May 1997. p. 29.
  4. Computer and Video Games, issue 144 (November 1993)
  5. Computer and Video Games, issue 146 (January 1994), page 72
  6. "Sega CD". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 1999 Video Game Buyer's Guide. Ziff Davis. p. 141.
  7. "Genesis". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 1998 Video Game Buyer's Guide. Ziff Davis. p. 86.
  8. ^ "Review Crew: Lethal Enforcers". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 57. Sendai Publishing. April 1994. p. 40.
  9. GamesMaster, issue 11 (November 1993), pages 44-46, published 21 October 1993
  10. Electronic Games, volume 2, issue 3 (December 1993), page 120
  11. Kunkel, Bill (November 1993). "CD GALLERY". Electronic Games. p. 118.
  12. Mega, issue 15 (December 1993), pages 38-40, published 18 November 1993
  13. "Lethal Enforcers (SNES) Review". Archived from the original on 16 November 2014.
  14. "Lethal Enforcers (Arcade) Review". Archived from the original on 15 November 2014.
  15. "Lethal Enforcers I & II Review". Archived from the original on 15 November 2014.
  16. "The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Upright Videos". RePlay. Vol. 18, no. 2. RePlay Publishing, Inc. November 1992. p. 4.
  17. "RePlay: The Players' Choice". RePlay. Vol. 18, no. 3. December 1992. p. 13.
  18. "RePlay: The Players' Choice". RePlay. Vol. 18, no. 4. January 1993. p. 4.
  19. "The AMOA Awards". RePlay. Vol. 19, no. 2. November 1993. p. 87.
  20. "AMOA Award Nominees: Game Awards". RePlay. Vol. 19, no. 1. October 1993. p. 59.
  21. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 441. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 January 1993. p. 35.
  22. "EGM Top Ten". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 54. January 1994. p. 58.
  23. "Top Video Games: As of November 22, 1993". Electronic Games. Vol. 2, no. 5 (February 1994). January 20, 1994. p. 24.
  24. "Sega CD ProReview: Lethal Enforcers". GamePro. No. 62. IDG. November 1993. pp. 74–75.
  25. "Genesis ProReview: Lethal Enforcers". GamePro. No. 63. IDG. December 1993. p. 68.
  26. "ProReview: Lethal Enforcers". GamePro. No. 68. IDG. May 1994. p. 72.
  27. ^ "Review Crew: Lethal Enforcers 1 & 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 97. Ziff Davis. August 1997. p. 51.
  28. "PlayStation ProReview: Lethal Enforcers I & II". GamePro. No. 107. IDG. August 1997. p. 72.
  29. Mega magazine issue 26, page 74, Maverick Magazines, November 1994
  30. ^ Draven, Derek (18 March 2021). "The 10 Best Light Gun Video Games Ever Created, Ranked". Screen Rant. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  31. "Top 100 SNES Games". Total! (43): 46. July 1995. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  32. "Top 100 Video Games". Flux (4). Harris Publications: 30. April 1995.
  33. Redburn, Tom (December 17, 1993). "Toys 'R' Us Stops Selling a Violent Video Game". New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  34. Perry, Dave; Nick; Nick R; Adrian (November 1994). "Reviews: Virtua Cop". Games World. No. 7 (January 1995). Paragon Publishing. p. 21.
  35. "Finals". Next Generation. No. 1 (January 1995). Imagine Media. 8 December 1994. p. 105.
  36. "Stunning". Next Generation. Vol. 2, no. 14. Imagine Media. February 1996. p. 162.
  37. "Game Players - Awards - Best Game Gear Game". Game Players. No. 79. Signal Research. Christmas 1995. pp. 15–41 (36).
  38. "LAist Interview: We Are Scientists". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15.
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