64th Street: A Detective Story (Arcade) - 2Players Co-op Walkthrough

“64th Street: A Detective Story” is a belt-scroll action game released by Jaleco in arcades in 1991. In Japan, its title is “64番街”. It was developed by C.P. Brain, using Jaleco’s Mega System 1-C hardware.
At the time, titles like Capcom’s Final Fight and Sega’s Streets of Rage were popular, so this game also follows that genre. However, rather than being a mere imitation, it attempts differentiation through original systems and presentation.

The setting is a city reminiscent of late 1930s New York. A wealthy businessman’s daughter is kidnapped by the “Legacy” organization, triggering the action of two detectives. The protagonists are 35-year-old private detective Rick Anderson and his 19-year-old assistant Alan Thomas. Alan was once a delinquent but reformed under Rick’s tutelage and now helps solve the case.
The game has six stages: street, port, train, factory, headquarters, and inside an airship, with the final segment concluding in an aerial battle. The story is straightforward and linear, but each stage has varied atmosphere and structure, evoking the tension characteristic of detective stories.

Its most striking feature is the ability to throw enemies “into the screen depth”. When you grab an enemy and hurl them toward the background, walls or glass may shatter and items may drop; occasionally you can defeat the enemy in one blow. Such background-destruction elements were rare among arcade games at the time, adding dynamism to otherwise repetitive fighting. The two protagonists are divided into a “power type” and a “speed type,” and by inputting specific commands, you can execute powerful attacks or special moves. In two-player cooperative play, there are joint techniques too, giving strategic variety beyond mere impact.

The sound was handled by Yokoyama Kiyoshi, whose jazzy, lively BGM enhances the urban atmosphere. Graphically, for 1991 it is decent: character animation and impact effects are well expressed. However, the difficulty is high, and enemy attack hitboxes are strict, which may feel unfair to novices. Some techniques lack invincibility frames, so you may be countered in mid-combo. Because of these points, it was often judged “medium in completeness but notable in ideas.”

This title later became a foundation for Jaleco’s Super Famicom Rushing Beat series. Indeed, some interpret that the Rushing Beat protagonist “Rick Norton” inherits his name from this game’s Rick. Also, in another Jaleco game, Kimerabit, the two protagonists make cameo appearances. At release, the game was often seen merely as a Final Fight clone, but over time, thanks to its background destruction presentation and unique world, it has been reappraised. In the 2020s, it was ported via the Arcade Archives series to PS4 and Nintendo Switch, garnering renewed attention, and is now sometimes introduced as an overlooked gem. As a rare combination of detective story and action, it well captures the atmosphere of early-’90s arcade titles.

0:00 Start/Opening
1:52 STAGE1 - 64th STREET
5:37 STAGE1 - BOSS
6:28 STAGE2 - SMUGGLER'S WHARF
12:19 STAGE2 - BOSS
13:05 STAGE3 - RAILROAD YARD
16:00 STAGE3 - BOSS
17:48 STAGE4 - SECRET FACTORY
22:52 STAGE4 - BOSS
24:58 STAGE5 - THE HEADQUARTERS
34:10 STAGE5 - BOSS
35:26 STAGE6 - LAST LEVEL
37:40 STAGE6 - BOSS
40:38 ENDING
42:30 PARFECT! - Name Entry

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Full gameplay walkthrough of 64th Street: A Detective Story (Arcade / Jaleco, 1991).
Patrol the 1930s-style city as private detective Rick Anderson and his reformed assistant Allen Thomas to rescue a kidnapped heiress from the Legacy organization. This brawler stands out with its signature “throw enemies into the background” mechanic—smashing glass and walls for items—and joint attacks in 2-player co-op. Across six varied stages (street, docks, train, factory, HQ, airship), the jazzy soundtrack and brisk pacing keep the action lively. Difficulty is tough but fair once you learn spacing and grabs. All stages cleared – no cheats, no commentary (unless stated otherwise).