Midnight Resistance is a classic run and gun arcade game developed by Data East in 1989. The game is notable for its side-scrolling action and was popular in arcades and later on various home consoles, including the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and others. “Midnight Resistance” is remembered for its engaging gameplay, challenging levels, and cooperative play option.
Gameplay Overview
Players take on the role of a commando fighting against an evil kingpin who has kidnapped the protagonist’s family to obtain a secret formula that the family possesses. The game allows players to move in eight directions, providing a rich and dynamic shooting experience. One of the distinctive features of “Midnight Resistance” is its weapon upgrade system. Players collect keys dropped by defeated enemies to unlock weapon upgrades, additional ammunition, and other power-ups in special rooms found at the end of certain levels.
Key Features
Cooperative Gameplay: “Midnight Resistance” offers a two-player mode, allowing friends to team up and tackle the game’s challenges together.
Weapon Upgrade System: The game features a unique system where players use collected keys to unlock various weapons and power-ups, including machine guns, flamethrowers, homing missiles, and more.
Diverse Levels: The game spans several levels, each with its own set of enemies, obstacles, and a boss fight, offering varied and engaging gameplay.
Rotary Joystick (Arcade Version): The arcade version used a special rotary joystick that allowed players to shoot in one direction while moving in another, adding depth to the game’s shooting mechanics.
Gameplay Tips
Conserve Keys: Be strategic about how you spend your keys. Saving them for critical upgrades can make challenging levels more manageable.
Learn Enemy Patterns: Like many games of the era, enemies in “Midnight Resistance” follow specific patterns. Learning these can help you anticipate attacks and conserve health.
Use Cover: Whenever possible, use the game’s environment to your advantage by taking cover behind obstacles to avoid enemy fire.
Coordinate in Co-op Mode: If playing in two-player mode, coordinate with your partner on who collects keys and how you distribute weapon upgrades to maximize your effectiveness.
Legacy
Despite being less well-known than some contemporaries, “Midnight Resistance” has maintained a cult following over the years, cherished for its solid run and gun gameplay and the fond memories it created in arcades and on home consoles. Its innovative features, particularly the weapon upgrade system and cooperative gameplay, have influenced the design of later titles in the genre. For fans of retro gaming, “Midnight Resistance” remains a beloved classic that captures the essence of arcade action from the late ’80s.