Dick Tracy
The detective protagonist controlled by the player.
How it plays
The game uses a side-on perspective. Tracy advances through linear city stages, defeats gang members, avoids hazards, and reaches an end-of-stage confrontation.
Players can move, jump, attack at close range, and use ranged fire when available. Stages emphasize timing and positioning, while later sections increase enemy pressure and introduce tougher encounters.
Progression is stage-based rather than experience-driven: completing a level advances the story, with no known character-building system or branching campaign.
Plan your run
Keep moving instead of allowing groups of enemies to surround Tracy. Use the edge of the screen and nearby platforms to control the distance between Tracy and attackers.
Study enemy attack timing before committing to close combat. Against bosses, prioritize safe openings and avoid trading hits whenever the stage provides room to retreat.
Meet the cast
The detective protagonist controlled by the player.
A major crime boss and one of Tracy's principal adversaries.
A criminal opponent from the Dick Tracy rogues' gallery.
A recurring criminal adversary associated with Tracy's investigations.
A dangerous criminal featured among Tracy's enemies.
Before you begin
Do not rush into groups of enemies; approaching from a controlled distance makes attacks easier to time.
Use jumps to clear hazards and reposition when several enemies appear together.
Dick Tracy is a side-scrolling action game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis in 1991. It adapts the comic-strip detective and the visual style of the 1990 film, placing Tracy in dangerous city streets controlled by organized crime. The game combines close-range combat, platforming, and limited firearm use across compact urban stages. Players guide Tracy through enemy encounters, moving hazards, and boss confrontations rather than investigating clues in an adventure-game format. Contemporary reception was mixed: the licensed presentation and colorful graphics were recognized, while repetitive combat and uneven difficulty were common criticisms. Its appeal rests mainly on its brisk arcade-style action and faithful pulp-crime atmosphere.
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