NARC (video game)
NARC is a video game in which the object is to arrest and kill drug offenders, confiscate their money and drugs, and defeat Mr. Big. Several versions have been created. Early versions were designed to appeal to children, while later versions were supposedly targeted at the adult market.
1988 version
The 1988 version of NARC, published by Acclaim Entertainment was billed as "the first video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System(R) with a strong anti-drug message"[1]. The two characters, Max Force and Hitman, have received a memo from Spencer Williams, Narcotics Opposition Chairman in Washington, DC dispatching them on Project NARC. Their mission is to apprehend Mr. Big, head of an underground drug trafficking and terrorist organization. Project NARC encompasses an illegal narcotics laboratory, a cannabis greenhouse, and several other places of villainy. Seven of the nine levels are: The JunkyardK.W.A.K. StreetThe BridgeSunset StripSkyhigh's NurseryDowntownMr. Big's Office
1998 Midway version and 2004 re-release
Midway Games' coin-op version was released in 1998. The 2004 Midway Arcade Treasures 2 compilation featured a re-release of that version. Phil Rownd, writing for ChristianAnswers.net, wrote, "As a narcotics officer (NARC) out to stop drug dealers your goal is admirable, but its execution is atrocious. . . Absolutely tasteless from beginning to end, NARC is the trashiest game on the disc"[1].
2005 update
The 2005 home console update of the 1988 arcade hit of the same title was also developeded and publisheded by Midway Games. The player is cast as narcotics officer Jack Forzenski, who is instructed to investigate a new drug on the streets called liquid soul. As the game progresses, one also plays as Forzenski's partner, Marcus Hill. One of the most controversial aspects of the game is that after arresting dealerss and confiscating their drugs, you can either take them to the evidence room, or hang on to them for your own use. The game's code dates back to the three-year-old State of Emergency[1]. dealing and having the character use them are possible; as in real life, using drugs can have serious consequences in the game, as it can lead to addiction, blackouts, and loss of health and reputation points. It can also, however, lead to improved weapons accuracy (such as when smoking cocaine, the player can obtain a "crack shot" high which gives a one-shot kill benefit for a short time). Several well-known stars are involved with the voice acting in NARC, including Michael Madsen, Bill Bellamy, and Ron Perlman. A March 21, 2005 press release announced the game's shipment to retailers and emphasized that NARC was designed for an "older audience"[1]. According to Chris Morris, "Its timing, though, couldn't be worse – and could have long-term ramifications on the industry"[1]. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said, "These kinds of games teach kids to do the very things that in real life, we put people in jail for. Just as we don't allow kids to buy pornography or alcohol or tobacco, we shouldn't allow them to buy these games"[1].
ReferencesCiting 'Narc,' Ill. Gov. Seeks Video-Game Sales Ban, Mar. 22, 2005.Johnson, Eric (a.k.a. VegitaBOD): NARC Walkthrough/FAQ.Midway Ships NARC for the Xbox, XBox News, Mar. 21, 2005.Morris, Chris: Weed, speed and LSD - in a video game?, Mar. 12, 2004.NARC; God of War; Heritage of Kings: The Settlers, The Washington Post, Mar. 27, 2005.Pepin, Chris: NARC NES manual.Rownd, Phil: Midway Arcade Treasures 2, Christiananswers.net.
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