5/5 ★ – RawMetal's review of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs.

System: Arcade Started: April 13, 2023 Ended: April 13, 2023 Free Play Arcade Session - April 13, 2023: 9/12 I’ve never heard of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs until a handful of people from the internet brought this game up as an underrated Capcom Beat Em’ Up. I saw this game as I browsed through the arcade and found this game next to Capcom’s Punisher arcade cabinet and would later play this game as my ninth game that day. After playing this hidden gem, it actually made me want to check this franchise out. It is originally a comic book series in the late 80’s and even Marvel Comics acquired this IP in the early 90’s for a brief period. I considered myself a novice on the Comic Book medium, but I’m currently reading Judge Dredd, so it’s a start. There was even a Saturday morning cartoon series that I wasn’t aware of since I was 4 months old. There is also another Cadillacs and Dinosaurs game on the Sega CD but under a different development company and Elon Musk was actually involved in that game. The story of Cadillacs and Dinosaurs does sound interesting as it is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth where Dinosaurs have reappeared, Humans used to live underground, went back into the surface and have to rebuild civilization in this new ecosystem. You play as Mechanic Jack Tenrec, an eco-freedom fighter alongside his friends, Hannah, Mustapha and Mess. Each playable character has unique abilities such as Hannah is good at using Items or Mess who plays like a Tank. What makes this beat ‘em up unique was its energy it puts off. Like the game screams at you to progress further in the game screaming “Go! Go! Go!”, Every player character screams their special moves like “Dino Uppercut!”, and my new favorite Continue Screen as you are about to submit to some thug but once you press continue, you throw a manly punch at that guy and you start back at the level with a barrage of missiles and an equipped Rocket Launcher which is always satisfying. The music gives you that feeling of pumping up especially that first Boss theme that sticks out. Just like Capcom’s The Punisher, you get to carry weapons in the game from Pistols to Assault Rifles and this game has a lot of variety. The best moment was the third stage as you get to run over poachers using your Cadillac and get to fight a boss who rides a motorcycle. For flaws in this game, It is nothing too severe as I can get by with it. Even though you get to choose a cast of four characters, this arcade game can play up to 3 players which is baffling. I’m sure there is a reason for having 3 players, such as avoiding slowdowns. Certain Beat ‘em ups are known to have a simple plot as you go around beat up thugs and defeat the level boss. Cadallacs and Dinosaurs does misstep on the plot to the story as you go around playing PETA for Dinosaurs as you stop dinosaur poachers that threaten the balance of nature and some of the moments are pretty gruesome like that one boss who keeps stabbing a dead stegosaurus. There is really know endgame objective to it until later on you have to fight a mad scientist who is willing to generate more horrid looking dinosaurs. It came out of nowhere on the plot but at least I had fun with this game. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs is an underrated Beat 'Em Up by Capcom and I was surprised how it flew under the radar by the majority of Capcom enthusiasts. I heard about this game from only a few people and it’s from the internet and it deserves better. I don’t think this game went to modern consoles due to the IP of this Comic Book so it’s best to Emulate or find this at a Retro Arcade.