Dashin' Desperadoes (1993). Play online

Summary

Dashin' Desperadoes (known as Rumble Kids on Japanese hardware) packs frenetic split‑screen platform racing onto the Genesis. You control a cowboy in a race toward a prize at the end of each stage, and a friend or AI rivals you in real time.

The game offers six distinct worlds, each consisting of three visually diverse levels—beaches, jungles, ancient ruins and more. Every zone is peppered with hazards like moving platforms, lurking creatures and environmental traps that demand quick footwork.

Both players can grab and throw a variety of items—bombs that explode, barbells you can swing, electric blasts and slippery ice blocks—to sabotage the opponent or clear a path. Power‑ups appear as you race, making the competition as much about strategy as sheer speed.

Because the screen splits vertically, you can see the opponent’s actions while plotting your own, creating a constant tension that feels fresh even after dozens of runs. The simple two‑button control scheme makes the chaos easy to pick up, yet mastering the timing of attacks provides lasting depth.

Storyline

Dashin' Desperadoes lets you pick between two rival cowboys, Will and Rick, as they barrel across side‑scrolling stages filled with jumps, pits and other hazards. Both riders are after the same prize—a blond‑haired maiden named Jenny who stands at the end of each level. Will is presented as the hero, while Rick is his equally blond‑haired nemesis.

At the end of every world, the plot twists: Rick kidnaps Jenny and tries to flee in his vehicle. Playing as Will, you must blast Rick’s ride with the weapons you collect to stop his escape.

The game also features a two‑player mode where each player controls one cowboy and races to be the first to reach Jenny, earning her kiss as the reward.