Lethal Weapon (1993). Play online

Summary

The NES title Lethal Weapon lets you step into the shoes of either Riggs or Murtaugh as they chase down crime in a colorful, 1992‑era Los Angeles. The side‑scrolling stages are packed with bright tiles and backgrounds that still look sharp on the old hardware. Neil Baldwin’s synth‑heavy soundtrack underscores every gun‑fight and jump, giving the game a surprisingly cinematic feel. Choosing your partner instantly changes the sprite and a few move quirks, but both characters punch, shoot, and toss grenades.

Despite the flashy presentation, the game quickly earns its reputation for brutal difficulty—enemies take barely any damage from bullets, while a single well‑timed punch can clear a cluster. The grenade mechanic is useful but limited, forcing you to plan each blast carefully. The controls are unforgiving enough that many players describe the experience as frustrating, yet the same challenge drives a lingering sense of triumph when a level is finally conquered.

Storyline

In the NES adaptation of Lethal Weapon, you step into the shoes of either Martin Riggs or Roger Murtaugh, patrolling the streets of Los Angeles.

The mission chain sends you to rescue their buddy Leo Getz, then race against time to defuse a bomb hidden in a bustling shopping mall, and later shut down a dockside smuggling ring.

The climax pits you against a terrorist plot to detonate the city’s sewer system before you finally face Jack Travis, the chief antagonist carried over from Lethal Weapon 3.