Undercover Cops Gaiden: 1993 Game Boy Spin-Off Receives English Fan Translation

Undercover Cops Gaiden: 1993 Game Boy Spin-Off Receives English Fan Translation Originally released by Irem in 1993, Undercover Cops: Hakaishin Garumaa (sometimes referred to as Undercover Cops Gaiden) brought a fresh twist to the beat 'em up franchise with its board game-inspired RPG gameplay for the Nintendo Game Boy.

Now, over three decades later, this rare spin-off has become newly accessible to a worldwide audience, thanks to an unofficial English fan translation completed by the group Stardust Crusaders. Background and Franchise Legacy Undercover Cops first entered the arcade scene in 1992, developed by renowned studio Irem — the team best known for their work on the R-Type series.

Building on the popularity of the belt-scrolling beat 'em up genre popularized by titles like Capcom’s Final Fight and Sega’s Streets of Rage, Undercover Cops stood out with its gritty setting and memorable cast of “City Sweepers,” a trio of police agents dedicated to restoring order in a dystopian metropolis.

While it never achieved the same widespread recognition as its contemporaries, Undercover Cops gained a dedicated following, partly thanks to its innovative design and for being created by developers who would later form Nazca Corp, the studio behind the acclaimed Metal Slug series. The original arcade title saw further reach with a Super Famicom port in 1995 and an official English release via Retro-Bit in 2021, cementing its status as a cult classic and earning it a place among the best beat ‘em ups of all time, according to genre enthusiasts. A Unique Game Boy Experience Distinct from its arcade origins, Undercover Cops: Hakaishin Garumaa was launched on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1993, offering a completely different gameplay experience.

Rather than traditional side-scrolling action, the Game Boy iteration is a board game RPG, allowing players to take on the roles of original characters Zan Takahara, Matt Gables, or Rosa Felmonde as they traverse through various game board squares.

Movement across the board is determined by a slot machine mechanic, and landing on specific tiles might trigger battles with thugs, resolved through a number-based battle system displayed on the device’s screen. Fan Translation Efforts and Accessibility The recent fan translation was facilitated by dedicated contributors from Stardust Crusaders, with specific roles handled by team members: Pennywise managed text hacking and editing, TheMajinZenki and Ryusui provided translation, and Graphicus was responsible for graphical elements.

This effort ensures non-Japanese speakers can finally experience the gameplay and story that previously remained exclusive to its original audience. With the new patch available for download, retro gaming enthusiasts and fans of Irem’s distinctive style now have the opportunity to explore this unique chapter in Undercover Cops history.

The translation underlines the continued passion among the gaming community for classic Nintendo handheld titles and the ongoing relevance of preservation and accessibility within retro gaming culture.

Game Boy Irem English Off Undercover Cops Stardust Crusaders Metal Slug Capcom Final Fight Sega Streets of Rage Nazca Corp Retro-Bit