Die Hard Arcade

Die Hard Arcade, known as Dynamite Deka (ダイナマイト刑事, Dainamaito Deka, lit. Dynamite Detective) in Japan, is an arcade

The game was published in cooperation with Fox Interactive and was a licensed product based on the Die Hard movie franchise. Because Sega did not hold the Japanese video game rights for Die Hard, in Japan the game was stripped of the Die Hard license and published as an original property.

Similarly to hit

Die Hard Arcade achieved a certain degree of success upon release.[16] In Japan, Game Machine listed Die Hard Arcade on their August 15, 1996 issue as being the second most-successful arcade game of the month.^[17] Computer and Video Games magazine gave the arcade game a positive review, comparing it favorably with the Streets of Rage series and comparing the moves and combos to the fighting game Virtua Fighter 2 (1994).^[3] Reviewing the arcade version, a Next Generation critic said Die Hard Arcade "breathes life into a dead-end genre", as the fighting moves are effective and far more abundant than in previous beat 'em ups, even discounting the acquirable weapons. He also found the graphics "lively", but criticized that it is often difficult to line up attacks with opponents, and the action is sometimes glitchy or sluggish.^[13] It was Sega's most successful US-produced arcade game up to that time.^[9]

Reviews for the Saturn port applauded its flawless conversion of the arcade version,^{[11][14][15][18]} variety of moves and combos,^{[11][14][15][18]} and selection of satisfying-to-use weapons,^{[11][12][14][15]} while criticizing the low longevity stemming from its short length, low difficulty, and limited replay value.^{[11][14][15][18]} Most critics asserted that even mildly-skilled players would beat the game within an hour, even without using the extra credits that can be earned by playing Deep Scan.^[11][14][15] Glenn Rubenstein of GameSpot disputed this, saying that most players would need credits from Deep Scan to have a reasonable chance of beating the game.^[12] Paul Glancey of Sega Saturn Magazine was particularly enthusiastic about the weapons, commenting that "there's not much to beat the thrill of smacking a terrorist right in his low brow with an antique grandfather clock." However, he stated that the game overall was "a fun fighting game that's especially suited for novice players, but it's too short lived for more experienced beat 'em up fans."^[15] Sushi-X of Electronic Gaming Monthly was also less than impressed, concluding, "Take away the humor, decent graphics and simple control, and you've got a bust." His three co-reviewers were more positive, with Crispin Boyer in particular calling the game "the slickest rip-off of Final Fight I've ever seen."^[11] GamePro's The Rookie made little of Die Hard Arcade's low longevity, deeming the game a welcome offering to enthusiasts of back-to-basics beat 'em up gameplay.^[18] A Next Generation critic noted the longevity as a major issue but likewise gave a firmly positive assessment: "Die Hard Arcade is designed for pure and simple action, and it delivers."^[14] Rubenstein similarly described it as "simple, violent, and easy. Basically, it's a blast."^[12]