Capcom is afraid to combine impossible concepts leaving its mark and for decades its logo was synonymous with successful arcade games. Proof of this is its almost flawless legacy of crossovers, adaptations and collaborations. Now, the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs thing is another level: not only is it a superb beat ’em up , but it is also an example of the waste of talent of the geniuses of Osaka.
Because the arcade adaptation of Xenozoic Tales, the comic by Mark Schultz , was a brilliant way to jump on the bandwagon of the brutal dinomania that occurred during the first half of the 90s and, at the same time, a total revalidation of the arcade action formula that fascinated us with Final Fight and all the great classics and minor substitutions that followed.
After all, it was impossible not to be fascinated by those prehistoric titans: beyond the hype aroused by Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, dinosaurs had deeply penetrated popular culture and, by extension, video games. Which has left us classics like Joe & Mac Caveman Ninja, Chuck Rock and, above both, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs.
Curiously, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs does not take us back to prehistory, but to a distant future, although not too far: originally published in 1986, the Xenozoic Tales comic series wisely combines ideas and philosophies from Michael’s Jurassic Park novel. Crichton or the first Mad Max movies to assemble a dystopia in which science has made dinosaurs return to Earth and pollution has destroyed civilization as we know it.
And despite being an alternative comics series, that promising context was too interesting to go unnoticed . Attractive enough to have its own animated series , with little girlish tone and, in the process, tucking this new momentum through its own game. More specifically, a new beat’em up from Capcom.
Logically, and as is deduced from the name of the game and the animated series, dinosaurs are only half the claim of these adaptations of Xenozoic Tales : the Cadillacs and the motor subculture in a time when there is more junk than operating machines. it also has a special weight in this dystopia.
In fact, the iconic General Motors signature originally designed by William Murphy are Jack Tenrec’s greatest obsession, the ultimate protagonist of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs and, by the way, the most balanced fighter in the Capcom game.
The universe of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is set in a future hostile, and Tenrec is not only capable of taming creatures of the past and change wheels in record time is also willing to clean up bad guys, merchants and punks what little remains of civilization knuckle syrup base.
The Capcom-style Xenozoic Era
The Xenozoic Era is synonymous with chaos , but also with redemption: in a world in which society seems to have lost its way, the past and the future collide before a humanity that resurfaces to discover that they are no longer at the top of the pyramid. food: dinosaurs have returned to Earth.
At some point in the 21st century, science achieved the unthinkable: it was not only possible to generate life, but also to return it to extinct species. However, the increasing pollution generated by society itself forced the human race to be forced to seclude itself to survive. Creating underground shelters and staying there for centuries.
600 years later, humanity returns to the surface to discover that nature and life had erased almost the entire legacy of previous civilizations and, in the process, the planet itself was once again dominated by dinosaurs . At least, until then.
With the resurgence of humanity, most of the new inhabitants of the surface began to timidly prosper. Most of them living peacefully with the dinosaurs. However, it was inevitable that from this blank canvas for humanity would emerge new interests called to tarnish this new opportunity for man.
As the first new houses on the surface were being built, sinister alliances and clans began to emerge that wanted to initiate a new stage of colonialism and subdue both humans weakened for generations and the dinosaurs themselves.
Some of them motivated by greed and power. Others, however, had a more twisted view: They saw the Xenozoic Age as the sign that the world was claiming a new ruling race . Unfortunately for both of them, Jack Tenrec and his allies will not be fooling around when it comes to preserving machinato vitae. The balance between civilization and nature.
Under that plot premise, Capcom assembled Cadillacs and Dinosaurs : a powerful Beat’em Up with eight generous scenarios in which the Osaka people gave rein to their own vision of the Xenozoic Era . And, although comparisons with Final Fight or Captain Commando were inevitable, a single game is enough to realize that this game radiates its own character without renouncing the clichés.
Starting off because the four selectable characters are designed to make any newcomer feel at home:
|
Nombre |
Jack Tenrec |
Hannah Dundee |
Mustapha Cairo |
Mess O’Bradovich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Kind |
Balanced |
Technical |
Fast |
Brute force |
|
Specialty |
Sliding attack |
Jumping and use of weapons |
Acrobatic kicks |
Devastating grabs |
|
Statistics |
|
|
|
|
However, it will not take long to realize that each character is contrasted beyond their own statistics through techniques that give them their own identity in combat. And what’s better: it complements each other wonderfully.
The Cadillacs and Dinosaurs arcade cabinet and the eight stages in the game are designed to be enjoyed by three players. And although it is perfectly enjoyable if we go on our own, the chaos generated on screen when we embark with three other players on the Xenozoic makes the authentic experience take off.
In part, because this way we can have access to combined attacks between players : instead of trying to avoid damaging the rest of the characters, Capcom invites us to join forces to generate even more destruction on screen. A not so usual attraction within the genre. Especially when knives and firearms are also part of the premise.
In addition to the explosives and the typical blunt and edged weapons, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs integrates with great success and even more generosity submachine guns, pistols, shotguns and bazookas that do not break with the game experience, but complement it wonderfully.
Of course, both dinosaurs and Cadillacs are also part of the gaming experience . The former will remain neutral until they are attacked, automatically becoming the biggest threats on the scene and attacking every human being who gets in front of them.
Logically, Jack not only keeps his Cadillac close to him throughout the adventure, but even puts it to some use by ramming enemies at specific times. Raising the degree of brutality of the game even more . Because Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is not about street justice and martial arts: it is about chaos, survival and unnatural experiments. And the blood is implied
For its part, Capcom was right with the design of enemies . And while all the beat’em-ups clichés were present and dressed up according to what is expected of a post-apocalyptic dystopia, there was also scope to experiment with the hot topics . In the most literal sense of the expression.
As we move through the exotic settings set in jungles, forests, precarious buildings and long-abandoned cities; Jack and company uncover a dark plot in which a not-so-well-off rooftop scientist is spawning a new hybrid species between humans and dinosaurs . Abominations yes, but also formidable rivals and final bosses.
10 brutal moments and aspects of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
Overcoming the recreational with enough credits will take us about an hour if we are not too clueless. However, that time gives room for real moments and very interesting details . Here you have a selection of them.
Dinosaurs are neutral in the game
Needless to say, the appearance of dinosaurs is one of the claims of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs . They come in various sizes, colors, and shapes. However, they will only fight us if we hit them.
Obviously, throughout the game we will run into all kinds of thugs who will have no qualms about whipping them up and making them violent. In any case, it is easy to know their predisposition: if they turn reddish, you better stay away.
What’s more, waking up a large carnivore from its nap can be expensive: some enemies are eaten alive or lose their heads – literally – leaving a stream of blood after interrupting the rest of one of these colossal creatures. Brutal.
Butcher, sadist and dirty-mouthed
One of the most shocking scenes comes at the end of the second stage. In it, we see how the final Boss, nicknamed the Butcher , finds himself cutting a huge stegosaurus into steaks with two huge machetes.
A fairly explicit prelude to the inevitable combat that, by the way, is preceded by a rather thin speech by the villain, who directly sends us to a place so ugly that it is even censored in the text.
Cadillacs, dinosaurs and loads of guns
One of the most remembered aspects of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is the enormous presence of knives, pistols and all kinds of weapons in the game. In fact, if we play alone it is rare that we spend too much time empty-handed. The interesting thing here, though, is how well the weapons are integrated into the game.
The ratio of damage and bullets is sensational, so the show is served and we are given options to reduce or keep at bay the generous waves of enemies that are coming at us. However, these will not guarantee us victory.
As an additional detail, the game is so gross that if we hit squarely with an explosive or missile we will reduce a damaged enemy to a handful of meat, generating a kind of viscera and eye fireworks.
If you go back to the game, let it be to get revenge
Sometimes the amount of enemies on the screen and their aggressiveness make it difficult to advance in the game. Capcom balanced things out and incentivized us to put in an extra coin in a brilliant way: if we lost all our lives and returned we would come back engulfed in a wave of missiles and with a bazooka in hand. One accurate shot and the one that sent us to the other neighborhood will end up being puree.
Scenario 3: road rage
Although Cadillacs and Dinosaurs did not have bonus phases, the third scenario should count as one: once the first section was over, we got into Jack’s Cadillac and spent the rest of the level at the wheel and running over everything that came our way. .
In fact, there is even a section before the boss in which we must face the enemy on duty in a combat on wheels in the purest Mad Max style, with grenades and shocks included. Just great.
The two Slisaurs, a nightmare designed to swallow coins
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is a very well balanced game, but it must be recognized that Capcom got out of hand with the final enemies of the seventh level: the Slisaurs. A pair of humanoids with really elusive dinosaur features.
In addition to casting shadows and moving like lightning, each one of them has a set of boomerangs that will fill half the screen . Hitting them with the less agile characters is complicated, and knocking them down doesn’t cost you an extra coin – at least – it’s also a milestone.
Side scrolling sweeps
Some of the enemies in the later stages of the game have an invincible frontal assault that, a priori, cannot break the schemes. The trick? Basically scroll up or down a little bit and let it go to the other side of the screen.
A section in an elevator, of course!
Despite Cadillacs and Dinosaurs radiating an identity of its own and leading us to a unique dystopia, Capcom has planted me versus neighborhood clichés throughout the game. Including sections set in a two-level sewer, a scientific laboratory from which aggressive experiments emerge and, yes, an elevator in which the fighting will be played vertically. Yes of course!
Stepping strong
Some of the dinosaurs in the game are wild creatures that can turn against us and other hybrid beings created in a laboratory. However, some of these colossi are part of the scene and can give us a scare.
An example is the huge brachiosaurus that we will see in the middle of the game and will stomp left and right. If they lay flat the racers in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, why wouldn’t they smash up the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs characters ?
Jimmy, is that you?
In Cadillacs and Dinosaurs there is a specific type of enemy that reminds us too much of a certain Brazilian world warrior : the Bludges move and attack like Blanka from Street Fighter and even share colors. Too coincidence?
A simply BRUTAL final boss
There’s an unwritten rule that says an arcade shooter is only as good as its final boss, and Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is as grotesque as it is sensational.
The short version is that the mad scientist responsible for the mutations and crimes of this new age for humanity injects himself with the genetic code of several dinosaurs at once. The result? A very powerful chimera and a true Final Boss.
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, a brutal arcade that refuses to be forgotten
We are fully aware that Capcom has no qualms about relaunching the best of its legacy on current systems through reviews and compilations. Even multiple times on the same systems. However, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs only appeared in arcades and, to date, there are no revisions or home versions.
The reason? Although the popularity of the game itself is beyond doubt, especially in a European territory where the comic book series did not become so well known, the truth is that – as with Marvel or Disney – the licenses of the characters, the The comic book universe or the Cadillac brand itself does not belong to Capcom.
As an additional anecdote, there was a video game based on Cadillacs and Dinosaurs on consoles and PCs, although it has nothing to do with Capcom’s arcade. In fact, this is a third-person shooter and driving title.
In 1994, and taking advantage of the versatility of the multimedia format of CDs, Rocket Science Games released Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Second Cataclysm for Mega CDs and computers.
Offering finishes very in tune with the comic and animated cinematics. Unfortunately, The Second Cataclysm has aged far worse than Capcom’s arcade.
For their part, those from Osaka continued to shape the beat’em ups genre in arcades and home systems with much more polished, complete and surreal experiences such as Battle Circuit or new numbered installments of Final Fight, one of the unquestionable molds of the genre. .
Still, it would be unfair to say that many of the ideas in Cadillacs and Dinosaurs would not somehow end up coming back in different experiences . Titles like Dino Crisis or Resident Evil invite us to discover dinosaur dystopias, mutants and twisted scientific plans that we must tackle with bullets and punches.
And yet here we are. Almost three decades later, and with the return of great exponents of the genre such as River City Ransom, Streets of Rage or the reissues of Capcom’s classic beat’em ups, it is impossible not to remember how good Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is and how brutal it was. “Or is it?” The Xenozoic Era.
