After the War vs Crime City
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
After a nuclear war, Manhattan has become a lawless wasteland. Play as Jonathan "Jungle" Rogers, battling feral thieves in a gritty side‑scrolling beat‑em‑up as you race toward the airdrop platform XV‑238. The second act shifts to a side‑view shoot‑'em‑up where you must confront the guardians of Professor McJerin's scientific complex. Released in 1989 by Dinamic Software, the game blends classic hack‑and‑slash action with retro shooter mechanics, delivering a single‑player experience that challenges players to master both melee combat and precise shooting in a post‑apocalyptic setting.
Crime City puts you in the shoes of policemen Tony Gibson and Raymond Broady as they battle through multi‑scrolling streets filled with armed foes. The game blends classic beat‑em‑up action with shooter mechanics, letting you fire a variety of weapons while punching and kicking enemies. Collect power‑ups for stronger guns, extra ammo, and health drinks to survive the relentless waves and face challenging end‑level bosses. Its fast‑paced arcade style delivers nostalgic fun for fans of retro action titles.
- Authentic retro graphics and sound.
- Two distinct gameplay styles keep the experience fresh.
- Challenging enemy patterns reward skill.
- Engaging post‑apocalyptic storyline.
- Fast‑paced, satisfying combat.
- Varied weapon and power‑up system.
- Challenging boss encounters.
- Authentic retro graphics and sound.
- Limited move set can feel repetitive.
- No multiplayer or co‑op options.
- Modern players may find controls dated.
- Limited to single‑player despite co‑op option.
- Simple AI can become predictable.
- No modern quality‑of‑life features like save states.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to After the War
View all →Alternatives to Crime City
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Side‑scrolling brawler where Sylvester Stallone battles thugs and avalanches in the Rockies
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth are $19.99 retro arcade titles, but Crime City focuses on two police characters and high‑score combat, while After the War mixes beat‑em‑up with shoot‑em‑up sections and a narrative.
Key differences
- •Crime City lets you control two distinct police characters; After the War features a single hero.
- •After the War includes both beat‑em‑up and side‑view shoot‑em‑up segments; Crime City stays in a single combat style.
- •Crime City emphasizes high‑score chaining and varied power‑ups; After the War emphasizes a post‑apocalyptic storyline.
- •Crime City mentions a co‑op option but is limited to single‑player; After the War has no multiplayer at all.
Gameplay & fun factor
After the War offers two distinct gameplay styles (beat‑em‑up and shoot‑em‑up), adding more variety than Crime City's single style.
Price & value
Both are priced at $19.99 with one‑time purchase.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Both are effectively single‑player; Crime City’s co‑op option is not functional.
Content & replayability
Crime City rewards high‑score chaining, varied weapons and bosses, encouraging repeated play for better scores.
Difficulty & accessibility
Both have dated controls and lack modern QoL features like save states.
Graphics & performance
Both use retro pixel‑art visuals and chiptune soundtracks reflecting a late‑80s arcade feel.
Choose After the War if…
Players who prefer mixed beat‑em‑up/shoot‑em‑up gameplay and a narrative setting.
Choose Crime City if…
Players who want classic arcade scoring, two character options, and pure beat‑em‑up action.
Common questions
Is either game multiplayer?
Both are single‑player only; Crime City mentions a co‑op option but it is not functional.
Do the games have save or checkpoint features?
No; neither title includes modern quality‑of‑life features such as save states.
Which title offers more gameplay variety?
After the War provides two distinct styles—beat‑em‑up and shoot‑em‑up—while Crime City stays within a single combat style.




