Welcome to Insert Coin! A loving look at the arcade classics of the past. Oversized stands, greased up light-gun peripherals and a bag full of tokens pretty much defined arcade gaming for many of us. But few games managed to be as magnificently terrible yet addictive as Mad Dog McCree. So you just going to stand there all day whistlin’ Dixie, or are you going to slap leather and fill your hand with some iron?
Light-gun games weren’t anything new by the time that Mad Dog McCree rolled around. Duck Hunt had players wishing death on that damn sniggering dog and Hogan’s Alley had players brushing up on their marksmanship. But few games had ever committed themselves to creating a scenario for razzle-dazzle shooting, as effectively as Mad Dog McCree. And that’s because the game was a rarity: It was a full on interactive western movie that you were taking part in.
Naturally far too tech-heavy for the cartridge-based home consoles of the time, Mad Dog McCree used a revolutionary new technology instead. Laser-Discs. Back then, laser-discs were about the size of a dinner plate and ten times heavier, but the only medium around that could successfully store full-motion video that could react to your actions in the game.
And with a proper budget, actors and story, Mad Dog McCree looked convincing and ahead of its time. It was also a bigger pile of crap than the Jonah Hex movie.
Mad Dog McCree didn’t always work the way it was supposed to. Maybe you were able to fill your hand pretty quick, but nailing that all important kill-shot may not have registered with the game, resulting in a quick death for you and wasted coins. The game was notoriously glitchy and prone to temperamental gameplay sessions where the gun refused to register shots or shooting your foot resulted in an instant kill. None of this matterered of course, because Mad Dog McCree was a novelty game that drew in crowds a’plenty.
It was the closest that any western fan had ever gotten towards living the high-life of a high noon shooter, outside of dysentery that was caught from a camping trip. And with a massive arcade stand and a TV that could flatten a building if it ever fell down, Mad Dog McCree was a legend that just about everybody had to try at least once in their lifetime.
Pard’ner.
Last Updated: June 2, 2015
Ranting Raptor
June 2, 2015 at 15:33
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF That stupid Duck Hunt dog!!!! GAH!!!!!!!!!
rollingmol
June 2, 2015 at 15:33
Played this on the PC back in the day was good except for the mouse. Also had starwars rebel assault but that one wasn’t that good. Then quake came out and I never played it again
Kikmi
June 2, 2015 at 15:46
Used to have this on PC yonks ago. Dang. Blast of nostalgia right in my brain!
RustedFaith
June 2, 2015 at 19:08
Yeh I even forgot about it totally, it was a crappy game but nostalgia overload 🙂
Uberutang
June 2, 2015 at 15:46
Dated a girl who’s dad had this on PC. His PC was the reason I dated her…
HvR
June 2, 2015 at 15:53
Also played it on PC.
Over promised how revolutionary it was, gameplay was as repetitive as watching porn and took 30 min to play through the whole game.
….. hey it was the first COD.
MarryAnderson
June 2, 2015 at 22:20
???? $88 per h0ur @mi12//
??? https://www.dailythoughts.com
???????????????
Grant [_G_] Hancock
June 2, 2015 at 15:54
I remember walking with my Mom and Dad through a small mall in PE and Mad Dog McCree was sitting all alone outside a shop (I must have been 4 or 5) … My Dad thought it looked cool (Western movie fan) and thought he’d take a stab at it…….. My father never looked so cool in my eyes ! Fricken Super Dad busting-up some real live baddies infront of my eyes ! Never forget it!
Kervyn Cloete
June 2, 2015 at 15:56
N1 City Wonderland. Close to the token booth at the far end. Spent way too much of my youth (and my pocket money) there.
Hammersteyn
June 2, 2015 at 16:01
Same here! Decembers
AfricanTimeZA
June 2, 2015 at 16:30
N1 City under the great Octopus
Hammersteyn
June 2, 2015 at 16:58
Yes! Good times!
Hammersteyn
June 2, 2015 at 16:02
My inner child is screaming from nostalgia
Gareth Runnalls
June 2, 2015 at 16:27
I see the full PS3 playthrough on YouTube is a whopping 15min long, hahaha. I remember this game, I only ever saw it on one of my visits to Gold Reef City. Spent my entire months pocket money on it, and could only do the free rides until the end of that day (they were not all free back then). Good times, but I missed my ride in the coco pan thing…
Thenasd1
June 3, 2015 at 14:40
Dude I loved this game the local shopping center had the bug screen version, always drew a crowd. There was also a space pirate one if I can recall, from the same game studio.
Keith HappyFeet Mylie
June 3, 2015 at 17:06
played this on PC many moons ago what a good refresher !!!!!!!!!