Dead Connection (Arcade)

[Zack Burner]

Thanks to MAME, I was able to play this underrated gem of a Taito game. Why this didn't get included on any Taito collection is a mystery to me. You play as one of 4 detectives Philip (resembling Andy Garcia), James (resembling Kevin Costner), Gary, and Eddie. If you want to unlock your inner 1920's gangster, this is the game to go. Has some connections to The Untouchables, and of course the Godfather (in fact the final foe resembles Marlon Brando's character). All 4 play the same, you get to shoot and dive out of the way. The music is phenomenal especially stages 2,4,6,8. You get some special weapons, revolver, automatic, shotgun, and machine gun. There's no extra stages or performance meters, or even multiple endings, but the challenge will want to make you playthrough again and again.