3D Classics: Urban Champion

 3DS
User Score
4.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 29
  3. Negative: 14 out of 29

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  1. julianozuca
    Jan 4, 2012
    6
    An interesting aesthetic update makes a good excuse for another try in this inexplicably hooking little game.

    The Good: 3D effects look cool; addicting. The Bad: Only local multiplay; wasted touch screen. Urban Champion was the first 1-on-1 fighting game on the NES back in 1986 and ever since it's been somewhat of a mystery regarding gameplay: how can such a simple game be so hard to    An interesting aesthetic update makes a good excuse for another try in this inexplicably hooking little game.

    The Good: 3D effects look cool; addicting.

    The Bad: Only local multiplay; wasted touch screen.

    Urban Champion was the first 1-on-1 fighting game on the NES back in 1986 and ever since it's been somewhat of a mystery regarding gameplay: how can such a simple game be so hard to put down?

    You can punch high or low (using A for fast/weak punches or B for slow/hard ones) and you can defend yourself in the same fashion; you can dodge back; and you must push your opponent towards the end of the block to throw him away and keep moving on. Quite simple in fact, but a couple twists make it a bit more interesting: the police delaying/ending the brawl, citizens throwing vases down the windows, sending the opponent down a manhole to earn trophies, etc. Pros and cons aside, what really makes it addicting is the way it becomes somewhat... rhythmic. Once you get the grip it can be really hard to put down.

    This remake gives the visuals and camera angles a twist (literally) for the sake of some 3D depth magic... And it does work quite fine because it's funny to see those old pixels multiplied as if they were LEGO pieces of some sort. Actually here we got the most clever solution in the 3D Classics series so far.

    Aside the graphical changes there's not much to be impressed here. Only local multiplay (two games required), a "records" table that only registers your grade and hi score on straight victories, the ability to quick-save and an unbelievable disdain for the touch screen--it can't be used not even for navigating the menus. -.-

    In the end 3D Classics: Urban Champion is worthy of a look for its neat graphical makeup and for the same old addiction featured in the original game--making it a decent on-the-go time-killer for a portable system.    … Expand
  2. raidendaigo
    Oct 5, 2011
    9
    This is a cosmetic update of the classic fighting game and nothing else. It is classic 8-bit arcade leveling, two types of striking. I expected nothing more then a time eater and that is what I got. Fast in, fast out good for adults and people who want a diversion in-between having a life.
  3. Luigibarqs
    Dec 11, 2011
    8
    3D Classics: Urban Champion is an upgraded version of a simple Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom pre-Street Fighter era fighting game made by Nintendo which was improved and rereleased as a downloadable 3DSWare game for Nintendo 3DS. It is worth noting that a lot of modern "hardcore" fighter genre gamers hate on this game for its simplicity and lack of content but, it was actually3D Classics: Urban Champion is an upgraded version of a simple Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom pre-Street Fighter era fighting game made by Nintendo which was improved and rereleased as a downloadable 3DSWare game for Nintendo 3DS. It is worth noting that a lot of modern "hardcore" fighter genre gamers hate on this game for its simplicity and lack of content but, it was actually rather advanced for its time compared to other games in the same genre and it should also be noted that the original release of Urban Champion in 1984 predates the original arcade version of the very first Street Fighter game in 1987 by approximately three years (approximately four years if you count only home console versions and not arcade cabinets.) Urban Champion is one of the very first fighting games with effective and reliable blocking controls, it innovated the genre with the concepts of an evading maneuver (before this, the closest thing to evading was usually simply moving away from your opponent), dizzy/stun states, and ring outs but lacks other features such as dashing, jumping, ducking and special moves. The game consists of brawling with opponents to punch them off screen for a "ring out" victory for two rounds and eventually into an open manhole on the third to win the round and move on to a higher difficulty level opponent. Think of the game as a hybrid of boxing and sumo wrestling with customized rules staring street thugs brawling in a city. Occasionally police will show up and send the competitors to each of their respective corners or arrest a specific player once the timer runs out and angry pedestrians with throw foreign objects into the arena that can stun and damage players they hit. The two modes in the game are a single player player survival gauntlet against artificial intelligence controlled opponents that gets progressively harder after each completed round and a multiplayer match mode where two human controlled players can fight it out to prove who is the best. Multiplayer is done with wireless link services in the 3DSWare version where you can search out local opponents unlike the original Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom version where your opponent was whoever was utilizing controller two. The Nintendo 3DS version exclusive features consists of unlockable titles for your character, 3D visuals and a new camera system. Your moveset consists of a high light punch, high strong punch, low light punch, low strong punch, high block, low block and evade. This game, similar to Game & Watch minigame titles are not meant for long extended periods of play but rather smaller doses to kill time in an attempt a high score or to battle a friend or rival. This game truly is a classic of the fighting genre that shows how much the genre has evolved since the 1980s and although it is incredibly simplistic and it hasn't aged that greatly over the years, it isn't anywhere near as bad or as poor quality as the "hardcore" fighter gamer crowd or the "haters" make it out to be.… Expand
  4. Zaccds
    Oct 3, 2011
    3
    Urban Champion was a slow ,clunky, repetitive fighter filed with dumb AI, only 3 move fight list back when it first came out and adding Zelda 2 like graphic update with decent 3D won't change that. Avoid if you like entertaining fun games.
  5. hapyrvwtime
    Apr 19, 2013
    5
    Just because its a terrible game, that doesn't mean its not entertaining. This is the stupidest thing you have played in a long time. Its a little hilarious yet upsetting however that urban champion got arguably the best and most comprehensive 3d update of all of the 3d classic games.

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best 3DS Game of 2011
55
#55 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2011
52
#52 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
37

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 6 out of 7
  1. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    Oct 9, 2011
    31
    While you can teach an old dog new tricks, it's still a dog. [Nov 2011, p.95]
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  2. Nintendo Gamer
    Sep 28, 2011
    40
    It might be simple, repetitive and nowhere near worth the asking price, but Urban Champion is a pleasant enough retro diversion for half an hour or so. [Oct 2011, p.76]
  3. Pocket Gamer UK
    Sep 2, 2011
    40
    The release of Urban Champion as a 3D Classic makes us wonder if Nintendo has gone stark raving mad.
    Read full review
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