Cabal TV Commercial for Nintendo Entertainment System – 1990 #NES #Fanicom #90s #80s #psx
Cabal (1988)
Release Dates and Regional Names:
North America: June 1990 – Cabal
Europe: 1991 – Cabal
Australia: 1991 – Cabal
Japan: September 1988 – Cabal (カベール)
Manufacturer: Nintendo (NES)
Publisher: Milton Bradley (North America), Fabtek (Japan), Capcom (Europe)
Developer: TAD Corporation, ported by Rare
Type: Shooting Gallery, Action
Media: NES Cartridge (128 KB)
Controller: NES Controller Gameplay and Plot:
Cabal is a shooting gallery game for the Nintendo Entertainment System, ported by Rare from TAD Corporation’s 1988 arcade original. Players control an unnamed commando, viewed from behind, tasked with destroying enemy military bases of the fictional D.R.A.T. (Dreaded Republic of Allied Terrorists). The game spans five levels, each with four stages and a boss (e.g., helicopter, submarine, turrets). Players move left or right at the screen’s bottom, aiming a crosshair to shoot enemies (soldiers, tanks, helicopters) and destructible structures. A limitless-ammo machine gun and limited grenades (replenished via power-ups) are used to deplete an enemy gauge, clearing stages when emptied. A protective wall shields the player but can be destroyed. Unlike the arcade’s trackball and roll maneuver, the NES uses a D-pad for movement and crosshair control, with B (hold) for running, B+Down+Left/Right for rolling, A for shooting, and A+Up for grenades. Two-player co-op is supported (hot-seat, not simultaneous). Runs at 256×240 resolution. The port lacks the arcade’s fluidity, with sprite flicker and clunky controls.
Key Features: Five levels, four stages each, plus bosses (helicopter, submarine, turrets)
Weapons: Machine gun (unlimited), grenades (limited), power-up rifles
Destructible environments: Walls, buildings, crates
Two-player co-op: Alternating play, shared lives
Controls: D-pad (move/crosshair), A (shoot), B (run/roll), A+Up (grenade)
Enemy gauge: Deplete to clear stages
Game Length: Main Story: 2-3 hours
Completionist (high score, co-op): 4-6 hours
Sales Numbers:
No specific data; Milton Bradley NES titles sold ~100,000–500,000 units. Loose cartridges $10-$20, complete-in-box $50-$100 in 2025.
Technical Specifications: Media: NES Cartridge (128 KB)
Resolution: 256×240 (standard NES)
Save System: None; progress resets on game over
Audio: Mono (NES 2A03 chip, music by David Wise)
System: Nintendo Entertainment System
Back of the Box Description (North America):
Dare the danger in Cabal on NES! As a lone commando, blast through enemy bases with your assault rifle and grenades. Pulverize tanks, choppers, and forts to save the world from D.R.A.T. Team up with a friend for double the firepower!Additional Details: Mechanics: Fixed-screen shooter, destructible environments, co-op
Multiplayer: 2-player co-op (hot-seat, shared lives)
Difficulty: Moderate; bosses restart if all lives lost
Development: Ported by Rare without arcade source code, using sprite-swapping tricks
Localization: English, Japanese; minimal text changes
Regional Differences: Japan released earlier (1988), Europe in 1991
ESRB Rating: Not rated (pre-ESRB, suitable for ages 10+)
Technical Notes: Load Times: Instant (cartridge-based)
Playable on: NES, compatible with NES clones
Bugs: Sprite flicker when 8+ sprites per line (NES limitation)
Features: No roll in early versions; added via B+Down+Left/Right
Historical Context:
Released June 1990 at $39.99 in North America, Cabal was a modest arcade hit ported by Rare to the NES. Its pseudo-3D perspective influenced later shooters like Wild Guns. Critics noted the NES port’s clunky controls and sprite flicker (Nintendo Power gave it 3/5), but its co-op and destructible environments were praised. A 2025 leaderboard event highlighted its retro appeal.
Did You Know? Rare redrew graphics from memory, lacking arcade source code.
Grenades don’t damage bosses, making machine gun key.
Medics revive enemies but can’t be killed.
Inspired NAM-1975 and Wild Guns.
Japan’s arcade used a trackball, unlike NES’s D-pad.