When did Crack Down release?

Crack Down was first released on December 31, 1989.

Crack Down

Dec 31, 1989ShooterArcadeCommodore C64/128/MAXZX SpectrumLinuxWii

Crack Down — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Crack Down on?: Crack Down was released on Arcade, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari ST/STE, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, DOS, Amiga, Amstrad CPC.
When did Crack Down release?: Crack Down was first released on December 31, 1989.

About Crack Down

Ben and Andy, the two top Special Service agents have accepted a very dangerous assignment – the elimination of Mr.K and his Artificial Life System. Mr. K plans to rid the earth of human life forms using the killer robots he’s created, and no one but Ben and Andy can stop him!

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Arcade, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari ST/STE, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, DOS, Amiga, Amstrad CPC
Developer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Publisher: Sage's Creation, Inc.
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Themes: Action

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

79/100

from 10 ratings

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Fake risk
Sega Genesis	1991	$21	$70	—	77%	Low

Also released on: Arcade · Commodore C64/128/MAX · ZX Spectrum · Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Atari ST/STE · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac · DOS · Amiga · Amstrad CPC. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29

Loose

$21

Complete

$70

Sealed

—

Other releases and variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
European (PAL) release	$22	$61	—
Japanese release	$15	$31	—

How often it sells

Loose: about once a month
Complete: about once a month
Sealed: about once a year

Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.

Price over time

Loose
Complete

A loose copy sold for about $3.25 in Oct 2007, $19.92 five years ago, and $21 as of Oct 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2008	$3.24	—
Jan 2009	$1.94	—
Jan 2010	$2.95	—
Jan 2011	$2.98	—
Jan 2012	$2.99	—
Jan 2013	$2.99	—
Jan 2014	$7.61	$8.00
Jan 2015	$7.62	$16.50
Jan 2016	$10.68	$28
Jan 2017	$12.97	$30
Jan 2018	$13.76	$27
Jan 2019	$11.86	$27
Jan 2020	$14.99	$27
Jan 2021	$17.49	$50
Jan 2022	$25	$71
Jan 2023	$18.00	$70
Jan 2024	$19.99	$50
Jan 2025	$24	$50
Jan 2026	$21	$50
Oct 2026	$21	$70

Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.

Release record

Territory	Date	Product number	Barcode
North America	March 1991	T-47046	721337100057
Europe / PAL	1991	—	—
Japan	20 December 1990	—	4974365540241

Source: Product numbers: MAME's Mega Drive software list and the No-Intro serial records in the libretro database, published where both agree on the same cartridge dump, or from the libretro records alone where MAME lists no number for that dump. Board and ROM numbers: MAME's software list

Region: NA+EU+JP
Released: 1991
Authenticity: Low

Modern re-releases, such as Sega Ages, the Genesis Mini and Nintendo Switch Online, are not tracked hereLow counterfeit risk

Sega Genesis prices, all games & how to spot a fake

A short, bombs-and-guns Genesis port of a Sega arcade game, with a Japanese cart that costs less than the US one.

This is the Genesis version of Crack Down, Sega's 1989 run-and-gun arcade game. Hot-B developed it for the console. It came out in Japan on 20 December 1990, in North America in March 1991 through Sage's Creation, and in Europe in 1991 through Sega. Across several timed levels you plant bombs and destroy cyborg enemies, swapping between a machine gun and a cannon and using smart bombs that clear the screen.

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, in its March 1991 issue, liked the lack of end-of-level bosses and the varied music, but felt the game was over too soon, with too few missions and not enough variety.

What the press said at the time

Sega Pro Issue 36

September 1994

77%

“Not enough missions and not enough variety. But given its great music, easy play mechanic and particularly enjoyable two-player mode, it might be a good choice for those looking for an easy, quick-playing combat game.”
— Video Games & Computer Entertainment, March 1991

“Crack Down probably won't be one of the Genesis' all-time greatest hits, but it deserves an honorable mention.”
— GamePro, May 1991

“If you haven’t got that extra joypad and that game-loving friend, forget it completely, but if you’re the sociable type this is one of the better ways to have a good time with two people (and a Mega Drive).”
— Mega, July 1993

“Wander around Gauntlet-style levels, shooting everything that moves. The graphics are detailed and the gameplay addictive.”
— Sega Pro, September 1994

How the Sega Genesis version differs

In the Mega Drive version the villain Mr. X is renamed Mr. K.

MegaTech scored the Genesis version 65%, praising the two-player mode but criticizing the lack of challenge.

Also on other platforms

Arcade · Atari ST · Amiga · Amstrad CPC · Commodore 64 · MS-DOS · ZX Spectrum

Arcade. In Japan the arcade game was the third most popular in Game Machine's May 15, 1989 chart.

Before you buy

Among US carts it sits above the middle. The European loose cart usually costs about the same as the US one, and a complete European copy usually costs a little less. The Japanese Mega Drive cart usually costs less than the US one, noticeably so complete, but it has a different cartridge shape. A complete US copy means the case, cartridge and manual.