Blood Bros. (set 1)

Blood Bros. hit arcades in 1990, developed and published by TAD Corporation in Japan and Europe. North American distribution fell to Fabtek. It is a direct spiritual successor to TAD's earlier Cabal, sharing the same overhead run-and-gun formula. This is an official release, not a hack or bootleg, though a bootleg called West Story does exist.

You control a cowboy moving left and right across the bottom of the screen, taking aim at enemies that appear from all sides. The playing field is fixed per stage - you cannot scroll; instead you must defeat all foes to progress. You can also take cover behind obstacles to avoid enemy fire, and your movement is limited to a single row. The game throws multiple enemy types and bosses at you, requiring careful aim and quick dodging.

For retro shooter fans, Blood Bros. offers a tight, no-frills experience that captures the arcade ethos of the early 90s. While it doesn't innovate beyond Cabal's template, it executes that template well with responsive controls and satisfying gunplay. If you enjoy titles like Cabal, N.Y. Warriors, or similar shooters, this is a hidden gem worth firing up for a quick session.