The Warriors (video game)

The Warriors
Developer(s)	Rockstar Toronto Rockstar Leeds (PSP)
Publisher(s)	Rockstar Games
Released	PS2 & Xbox October 17 2005 October 21 2005 PSP February 13 2007 February 23 2007
Genre	Third-person action
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Ratings	BBFC: 18 ESRB: Mature (M)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Xbox, Playstation Portable
Media	DVD-ROM, UMD

The Warriors is a beat 'em up video game published by Rockstar Games. It was released on October 17 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and February 12 2007 for the PlayStation Portable. The game is based on the 1979 film, The Warriors. The console versions of game were developed at Rockstar Toronto, while the PSP port was developed by Rockstar Leeds.

Contents 1 Setting 2 Gameplay 3 Comparison between the video game and the movie 4 List of the Warriors 5 List of gangs 6 Reception 7 Controversy 8 References 9 External links

Setting

In addition to covering events depicted in the movie, the video game also acts as a precursor, establishing the Warriors' reputation all throughout New York City. Levels 1 through 13 (and Flashback Levels A through E) take place before the movie begins. After Level 13, the player is shown a CG cutscene duplicating, to an extent, the beginnings of the movie, with Cyrus's meeting. Levels 14 through 18 cover the movie itself.

Gameplay

The Warriors are based in their Coney Island hangout through the game. Between levels, a player can explore the hangout, talking with the other Warriors, completing bonus exercises, playing Rumble Mode (a mode which allows you to make your own gang and participate in single fights of various sorts, including more unusual games like King of the Hill and a wheelchair race), doing Flashback levels, or exiting to Coney Island to complete bonus missions which often benefit the player's stats. Between Levels 14 and 18 (the events of the movie), the levels go from one to the next without access to the hangout until Level 18 is completed, and some bonus missions do not become available until those levels are completed. Gameplay is beat 'em up style, consisting of mostly hand-to-hand combat, although melee weapons can be equipped. One feature is the ability to build up rage by beating up opponents and performing style moves (taking an opponent's hat, slamming him into a wall, throwing him from a high place, etc.) When in rage mode, the player's character can unleash 1 of 2 finishing moves. Street brawls between rival gangs are the central focus, but as players navigate the urban landscape, other gameplay mechanics are seamlessly integrated, such as laying down graffiti and avoiding enemies with stealth. There is an unlockable mini-game that exactly mimics the opening and graphical style of Double Dragon.

Comparison between the video game and the movie

Both the game and the movie involve the same characters and locations. The primary difference, however, is in the fact that a large portion of the game takes place before the actual movie begins, with Rembrandt's initiation. The flashback missions show how Cleon formed the Warriors and how each of the other members joined. The Flashback missions take place in 1978, a full year before the movie is set. The events of the movie itself take place near the end of the game. The game also looks deeper into various gangs and characters, fleshing them out and giving them personalities and backstories, where they might have only been seen in the background or mentioned in passing in the film. Cleon, for example, is the leader of the Warriors. The game portrays him as somewhat of a protagonist, whereas he dies within the first few minutes in the movie. The Hi-Hats are one of the gangs at Cyrus's conclave, but they are never named in the film, and only appear in the opening of the film. They are named, however, by the narrator of the theatrical trailer. The game has at least two missions in which the Hi-Hats feature prominently, giving a lot of depth to the group that many fans of the film had taken to calling "the mime gang." The major plot points of the movie are all translated into interactive stages within the game. The Warriors' insignia, a winged skull, is changed in the game to a cobra, a la the Saracens, with flaming wings. Many of the original actors voiced their roles in the video game, with the notable exceptions of Roger Hill (see "controversy") and David Patrick Kelly (who played "Luther"). Most of the movie's original soundtrack is included in the game.

List of the Warriors

• Cleon: The Warlord, leader of the Warriors, started the gang with Vermin. After Cyrus's assassination, Cleon is killed by the Gramercy Riffs believing that he killed Cyrus.

• Swan: The Warchief, second in command of the Warriors. Quiet and cool - headed, he is the only one who sees to long-term goals, and makes the plans accordingly.
• Ajax: A cocky, loud, womanizing Warrior always up for a fight. After the death of Cleon at the conclave, he engages in a short confrontation with Swan over who should assume command. He is the most aggressive warrior. He wears fingerless leather gloves and a black tank-top under his Warriors vest.
• Vermin: Started the gang with Cleon. Vermin is the largest of the Warriors (but not the most muscular). Voiced by Dimitry Michann.
• Rembrandt: The Writer, the gang's graffiti artist, he wears the standard Warrior's vest and an afro. Unlike the movie he doesn't have a messenger bag. The youngest member, Rembrandt is far less battle-hardened and is frequently looked after by the other members of the gang, but he does have a few tricks up his sleeve to protect himself when none of his gang is around to protect him.
• Fox: The Scout, Fox is very familiar with other gangs' tactics, territory, and numbers.
• Snow: A stoic, African-American Warrior with an afro. A bit more reserved, he's still a talented fighter.
• Cowboy: A Warrior who wears a Stetson cowboy hat. He is an optimistic, happy-go-lucky Warrior.
• Cochise: A real life soldier & the fastest fighter of the Warriors who wears Native American-style jewelry, leather pants and boots. He also has an afro with a red bandanna tied around it. He was originally from Harlem but moved to Coney Island.

List of gangs

The following gangs are depicted in the game. Some were not named or depicted in the film and are named/shown for the first time in the game.

Name	Leader	Turf	Levels
The Warriors	Cleon, later Swan	West Coney Island (now East Coney as well), Brooklyn	All Levels
The Destroyers	Virgil	Coney Island, later East Coney, Brooklyn; present whereabouts unconfirmed	2, 3, 9, 10, A, B, C
The Jones Street Boys	Knox	Bensonhurst, Brooklyn	11, 12
The Saracens	Edge	Bensonhurst, Brooklyn	12
The Satan's Mothers	Spider and Tiny	Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn	A
The Baseball Furies	Cobb	Riverside, Manhattan	4, 16
The Boppers	Big Moe	West Harlem, Manhattan	E
The Hurricanes	Vargas and Diego	East Harlem, Manhattan	7
The Gramercy Riffs	Cyrus, later Masai	Gramercy, Manhattan	18 (Credits)
The Hi-Hats	Chatterbox, later Crackerjack	SoHo, Manhattan	6, 8
The Orphans	Sully	Tremont, the Bronx	5, 15
The Turnbull AC's	Birdie, later Sid and Thrash	Gunhill, the Bronx	11, 14
The Moonrunners	Bullet	Pelham, the Bronx	4, 6, 13
The Van Cortlandt Rangers	Pharaoh	Van Cortlandt, the Bronx
The Electric Eliminators	Tracer	SoHo, Manhattan	6
The Panzers	Jonah	Washington Heights, Manhattan	4, 6
The Lizzies	Starr	Bowery, Manhattan	17
The Punks	Vance	Bowery, Manhattan	17
The Rogues	Luther	Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan; present whereabouts unconfirmed	4, 18
The Savage Huns	Ghost	Chinatown, Manhattan	4,D

Reception

The Warriors received mostly positive reviews. Many praised the game for its deep combat and control, stating that the game helped breathe life into the brawler genre, which was nearly dead at the time. The game was also praised for its unique style, along with a story and music that make the game feel identical to the movie. Complaints with the game were mostly directly towards the multiplayer. Critics complained about how the game's screen would split horizontally for two players, creating a narrow field of vision and often cluttered screens. The Warriors is often looked upon as one of the better movie licensed video games.

• 1UP.com: 8.0/10^[1]
• GameSpot: 8.6/10^[2]
• X-Play: 4/5^[3]
• Game Informer: 8.25/10^[4]
• IGN: 8.7/10^[5]

Controversy

Roger Hill, who played Cyrus in the movie, filed a lawsuit of $250,000 against Rockstar Games for using his voice and depicting him in the video game. He claimed that it would not have been difficult for Rockstar to pay, since the game made $37 million.

References

External links

• GameRankings PlayStation 2 previews
• GameRankings Xbox previews
• The Warriors at IGN
• The Warriors at MobyGames