Dick Tracy

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Master System

DickTracy MDTitleScreen.png

DickTracy SMS Title.png

Dick Tracy
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Licensor: Touchstone Pictures
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Action[1][2][3]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,0006,000 G-4044
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[6] 1014
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1014
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£34.9934.99[7] 1014
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
CA
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Master System
US
7057
Sega Master System
EU
7057
Sega Master System
UK
£29.9929.99[7][11] 7057
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
025100

Dick Tracy (ディックトレイシー) is a Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System action game developed by Sega Technical Institute. Based on the 1990 film of the same name, it was published by Sega in early 1991, and was one of the first titles produced by Mark Cerny's STI.

Story

Dick Tracy MD, Introduction.png

Introduction

Dick Tracy is a police detective in a stylized 1930s American city. The game does not follow the plot of the film.

Tracy receives word that the gangster Big Boy is up to something at the train yard. When he arrives, he finds a train carrying a shipment of nitroglycerin. He eventually tracks the shipment to the criminal Lips Manlis, who reveals that Big Boy is using the nitroglycerin for his secret explosives factory.

Gameplay

Mega Drive version

The game is an action game played as the hard-nosed police detective Dick Tracy as he fights groups of gangsters to unravel the mystery. Each stage has three scenes, with the last involving a boss fight against one of the gangsters. Each scene has two planes, a foreground and a background. Tracy walks along the foreground but enemies can appear in and attack from either layer. Tracy walks with Left and Right and ducks with Down. He jumps with B. He can climb ladders with Up and Down.

Tracy shoots his pistol at enemies in the foreground layer with A. If an enemy is close, Tracy punches him instead; the game gives the player bonus points at the end of each scene for enemies defeated with punches. Tracy's pistol is always fired straight ahead and cannot be aimed, though it can be fired while ducking or jumping. He shoots his Tommy gun in the background layer with C, which can be held for continuous fire. His Tommy gun is aimed in any direction with the D-Pad; Tracy stands in place while shooting it. He can fire his Tommy gun while ducking if he ducks before firing, and he can jump while firing it. Enemies in the background layer initially miss with their shots, to give the player a chance to dodge, but gradually close in. Both weapons have unlimited ammunition.

In some scenes, Tracy cannot use his weapons and can only punch enemies. These scenes do not have a background layer. In the boss scenes, the boss stays in the background layer, attacking and attempting to evade Tracy. Tracy must gradually wear down his health while progressing through the scene until he is finally defeated.

Some scenes involve Tracy pursuing suspects by grabbing the side of a police car and fighting gangsters in their cars as they drive through the streets. These scenes scroll forwards automatically, but the player can maneuver the car back and forth with Left and Right. Tracy can still duck with Down and climb on to the roof of the car with C to dodge incoming enemy fire, and he still fires his pistol at foreground enemies with A and his machine gun at background enemies with C.

Tracy has a limited number of health points. He loses health whenever he takes damage from an enemy; punches and knives cost one health point and bullets cost two health points. When he loses all of his health, he loses a life, but he revives at a checkpoint if the player has lives remaining. Scenes are also timed, and Tracy loses a life if time runs out. If he runs out of lives, the game ends, but the player can continue from the start of the current scene if there are credits remaining. The player can earn extra credits in bonus rounds after each stage.

There are three selectable difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, and Hard). The player can also decide the starting number of credits (3, 4, or 5).

Stages

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 1-1.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 1-2.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 1-3.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 1-1.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 1-2.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 1-3.png

Stage 1
Boss:
Itchy

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 2-1.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 2-2.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 2-3.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 2-1.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 2-2.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 2-3.png

Stage 2
Boss:
The Brow

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 3-1.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 3-2.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 3-3.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 3-1.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 3-2.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 3-3.png

Stage 3
Boss:
Lips Manlis

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 4-1.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 4-2.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 4-3.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 4-1.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 4-2.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 4-3.png

Stage 4
Boss:
Pruneface

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 5-1.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 5-2.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 5-3.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 5-1.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 5-2.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 5-3.png

Stage 5
Boss:
Flattop

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 6-1.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 6-2.png

Dick Tracy MD, Stage 6-3.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 6-1.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 6-2.png

  • Dick Tracy MD, Stage 6-3.png

Stage 6
Boss:
Big Boy Caprice

Bonus round

Dick Tracy MD, Bonus Stage.png

Bonus round

After each stage, there is a bonus round in which Tracy shoots targets in a police shooting gallery. In addition to pictures of gangsters, there are civilians such as milkmen or police officers. The player receives a rank and bonus credits for successfully hitting gangsters and avoiding shooting innocents. The speed at which the targets flip over increases. There are three targets, which are targeted from left to right with A, B, and C.

Master System version

This version of the game plays nearly identically to the Mega Drive version. There are six stages divided into three rounds each. Tracy moves with Left and Right and crouches with Down. He jumps with 2. Enemies appear in both the foreground and background. Tracy fires his pistol in the foreground by tapping 1 and fires his machine gun in the background by holding 1. He can fire his pistol while crouching or jumping. He punches enemies at close range instead of shooting them, which awards extra bonus points at the end of the round. Both weapons have unlimited ammunition. In some rounds, Tracy does not have a weapon and can only punch enemies. A "G" icon in the top status area indicates if Tracy has his guns available.

Tracy can call for police backup with 1+2, which eliminates all enemies on the screen. This can be done once per round, though not all rounds allow police backup to be called. An "R" icon in the top status area indicates if Tracy has police backup available.

In the car chase scenes, Tracy can move the car with Left and Right. He can still duck with Down and jump with 2. His weapons work the same way, with the pistol firing in the direction last moved.

Tracy has six health points and loses one whenever he takes damage from an enemy. He loses a life if he loses all of his health or if the player runs out of time in a round. He revives at the beginning of the round as long as the player has lives remaining. Otherwise, the game ends, but the player can continue if there are credits remaining. The player can earn extra credits in bonus rounds after each round.

There are three selectable difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Hard, and Hardest), which determines the starting number of credits.

Stages

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 1-1.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 1-2.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 1-3.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 1-1.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 1-2.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 1-3.png

Tracy Gets a Lead
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ 
Boss:
Itchy

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 2-1.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 2-2.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 2-3.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 2-1.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 2-2.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 2-3.png

Destination: 7th Street Warehouse
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ 
Boss:
The Brow

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 3-1.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 3-2.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 3-3.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 3-1.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 3-2.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 3-3.png

Hitting the Streets
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ 
Boss:
Lips Manlis

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 4-1.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 4-2.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 4-3.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 4-1.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 4-2.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 4-3.png

An Explosive Confrontation
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ 
Boss:
Pruneface

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 5-1.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 5-2.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 5-3.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 5-1.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 5-2.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 5-3.png

A New Lead?
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ 
Boss:
Flattop

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 6-1.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 6-2.png

Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 6-3.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 6-1.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 6-2.png

  • Dick Tracy SMS, Stage 6-3.png

After a Rat!
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ 
Boss:
Big Boy Caprice

Bonus round

Dick Tracy SMS, Bonus Stage.png

Bonus round

After defeating the boss at the end of each stage, Tracy plays a bonus round where he shoots targets in a police shooting gallery. Tracy must shoot gangsters and avoid shooting innocent civilians. There are two targets, and Tracy fires at the left target with 1 and the right target with 2. The player earns extra credits for accurate shooting.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Source:
Uncredited


Magazine articles

Main article: Dick Tracy/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Playmix advert 1 FI.jpg
FI advert
Playmix advert 1 FI.jpg
MDMS MX advert.png
MX advert (1991)
MDMS MX advert.png
MDMSGG MX advert.jpg
MX advert (1992)
MDMSGG MX advert.jpg
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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #112: "March 1991" (1991-02-16)
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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #113: "April 1991" (1991-03-16)
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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #114: "May 1991" (1991-04-14)
also published in:
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Print advert in Cumhuriyet (TR) #1991-12-20 (1991-12-20)
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
79 [18]
Sega Mega Drive
79
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
30
[19]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
65
[20]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[21]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
80
[22]
Console XS (UK) PAL
71
[23]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
86
[24]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
60
[25]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
80
[26]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
70
[27]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
68
[28]
Games-X (UK)
100
[29]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
30
[30]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
85
[31]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
93
[32]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
39
[33]
Mega (UK) PAL
47
[34]
Mega (UK) PAL
47
[35]
MegaTech (UK)
89
[36]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
90
[37]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
82
[38]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
89
[39]
Player One (FR)
88
[40]
Power Play (DE)
75
[41]
Raze (UK) PAL
80
[7]
Score (CZ)
71
[42]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
84
[43]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[44]
Sega Pro (UK)
76
[45]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
71
[46]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
61
[47]
Supergame (BR)
85
[12]
Tilt (FR)
85
[48]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
61
[49]
User (GR) PAL
73
[50]
Video Games (DE)
73
[51]
Zzap! (IT)
89
[52]
Sega Mega Drive
73
Based on
36 reviews

Dick Tracy

Mega Drive, JP
DickTracy MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
DickTracy MD JP CartTop.jpg
Dicktracy md jp cart.jpg
Cart
DickTracy MD jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
DickTracy MD US Box.jpg
Cover
DickTracy MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
DickTracy MD US manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
DickTracy MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
DickTracy MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Dick Tracy MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT black)
DickTracy MD SE rental Box Back.jpgNospine.pngDickTracy MD SE rental Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, FR

Dick Tracy MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU
DickTracy MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
DickTracy MD BR cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, CA
DickTracy MD CA cover.jpg
Cover

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 [18]
85 [12]
Sega Master System
73
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Buzz! Computers (UK)
70
[53]
Console XS (UK) PAL
21
[54]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
64
[55]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
71
[56]
Joystick (FR) PAL
45
[57]
Mean Machines (UK)
77
[58]
Player One (FR)
74
[59]
Power Play (DE)
53
[60]
Raze (UK) PAL
34
[7]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
30
[61]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
0
[62]
Sega Pro (UK)
34
[45]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
21
[63]
Tilt (FR)
75
[64]
Video Games (DE)
62
[65]
Sega Master System
49
Based on
15 reviews

Dick Tracy

Master System, US
DickTracy SMS US Box.jpg
Cover
Dicktracy sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
DickTracy SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Dick Tracy SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Dick Tracy SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU
Dick Tracy SMS AU Cover.jpg
Cover
Dick Tracy SMS AU Cart Top.jpg
Dick Tracy SMS AU Cart Back.jpgDick Tracy SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (SP3/Hotline stickers)
DickTracy SMS AU sp3 cover.jpg
Cover
Dick Tracy SMS AU Cart Top.jpg
Dick Tracy SMS AU Cart Back.jpgDick Tracy SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
DickTracy SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
DickTracy SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
DickTracySMSBRManual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Dick Tracy/Technical information.

References

  1. File:DickTracy MD JP Box.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
  3. File:DickTracy SMS EU Box.jpg
  4. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/uVNk7djCad0/m/Bk77F5pIsYQJ
  5. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/YuE8ac7NcdA/m/V7tKJF9oxFYJ
  6. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "May 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 50
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Raze, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-04-25), page 46
  8. Supergame, "Dezembro 1991" (BR; 1991-12-xx), page 38
  9. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 82
  10. 10.0 10.1 Mean Machines, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-02-01), page 64
  11. Sega Power, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-07), page 25
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Supergame, "Julho 1992" (BR; 1992-07-xx), page 32
  13. https://archive.ph/ohW8Y
  14. http://alanackerman.blogspot.com/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-02-21 09:51)
  15. Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games
  16. https://nakataka.me/works/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-05-31 15:22)
  17. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 2
  18. 18.0 18.1 Hobby Consolas, "Marzo 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 34/36 (34)
  19. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 58
  20. Aktueller Software Markt, "Mai 1991" (DE; 1991-04-26), page 122
  21. Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 34
  22. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 104
  23. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 128
  24. Computer & Video Games, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-14), page 52
  25. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 18
  26. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 37
  27. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1991-0x-xx), page 1
  28. GamePro, "March 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 36
  29. Games-X, "Sneak Preview March 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 16
  30. Hippon Super, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-04), page 42
  31. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1992" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 90
  32. Joystick, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 104
  33. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91
  34. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 19
  35. Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 87
  36. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 77
  37. Micromanía (segunda época), "Julio 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 34
  38. Mean Machines, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-04-01), page 16
  39. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
  40. Player One, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 28
  41. Power Play, "5/91" (DE; 1991-04-12), page 122
  42. Score, "Cervenec 1994" (CZ; 1994-07-01), page 59
  43. Sega Power, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-02), page 49
  44. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
  45. 45.0 45.1 Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 35
  46. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  47. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  48. Tilt, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 58
  49. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 51
  50. User, "Aprílios 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 86
  51. Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 90
  52. Zzap!, "Maggio 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 58
  53. Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  54. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 139
  55. Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 94
  56. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 132
  57. Joystick, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 151
  58. Mean Machines, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-02-01), page 62
  59. Player One, "Mai 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 40
  60. Power Play, "5/91" (DE; 1991-04-12), page 131
  61. Sega Power, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-07), page 24
  62. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 56
  63. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70
  64. Tilt, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 78
  65. Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 75


Dick Tracy

DickTracy MDTitleScreen.png

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