The Warriors

The Warriors is a beat 'em up released by Rockstar Toronto in October 2005, adapted from the 1979 film of the same name. A Coney Island gang is framed for the murder of a respected gang leader and has to fight its way home across 1970s New York while every other gang in the city hunts them.

What Makes This More Than a Film Adaptation?

The first half of the game never happens in the film. It covers the three months before the story opens, showing how the gang formed and how it earned its reputation, which is material the 1979 script only implies. Several of the film's cast returned to voice their characters, so the adaptation extends the original rather than retelling it.

How Does The Warriors Play?

Large scale brawling in 3D streets, with your gang fighting alongside you and taking orders. Between fights there are chases, muggings, spray painting rival turf and stripping cars for parts. It is closer to an action-adventure than to a pure fighting game, and it was praised on release for controls that hold up across long, crowded fights.

Where Is The Warriors Set?

New York in the late 1970s, from Coney Island through the Bronx and the subway system. The city is built as a series of connected neighbourhoods rather than one open map, each one belonging to a rival gang with its own look and fighting style.

Can You Still Play The Warriors?

On PlayStation, yes. It returned to the PlayStation 3 in May 2013 and the PlayStation 4 in July 2016. Note that some licensed songs from the film soundtrack were removed from those versions, so the modern release is not musically identical to the 2005 original.