Renegade (1993). Play online

Summary

Renegade hit the Sega Master System as a sharp, yet familiar beat‑‘em‑up experience. Natsume handled the port, leaning on the NES version’s level layout while giving the game richer sprites and smooth scrolling that the 8‑bit console could really showcase. The most noticeable upgrades are a handful of new death cut‑scenes that add a cheeky cinematic flair and a revised ending that lets the rescued girlfriend appear in a moment of pixel‑perfect triumph. Because it never made it stateside, the Master System edition became a bit of a collector’s curiosity in Europe, Australia, and Brazil, where fans cherished its crisp graphics compared to other home conversions. Despite its regional obscurity, the title still stands as an early milestone that helped solidify the beat‑‘em‑up template—horizontal‑vertical scrolling, combo‑based attacks, and that addictive “keep moving” momentum that would define the genre for years to come.

Storyline

Renegade drops you into a gritty urban showdown where you play as a lone street brawler on a mission to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend. The first beat‑em‑up takes place on a subway platform, battling an armed thug crew and their leader Jack, then you head to a harbor swarming with motorcycle‑riding foes before confronting boss Joel. The third level shifts to a narrow alley dominated by an all‑female gang led by Kim, and the climax erupts in a parking‑lot filled with knife‑wielding hitmen before you storm a building to face the final mobster Sabu, who fires a handgun. Defeating Sabu triggers a brief cutscene where the rescued girlfriend kisses the hero, and the game loops with a higher difficulty setting.

In the original Japanese version the plot follows Kunio, a high‑school delinquent who steps in to protect his classmate Hiroshi from rival gangs. Each stage opens with Hiroshi being assaulted, prompting Kunio to chase the attackers. The story wraps up outside Sabu’s hideout, where Hiroshi and other students greet Kunio with a handshake, a conclusion that the Western localization swapped for the rescue‑the‑girlfriend narrative.