Cabal

About

Cabal is a 1988 side-scrolling shooter where you control a soldier moving left or right along the screen's base. You dodge bullets and grenades while using a separate target cursor to aim and fire, which can shift your position and leave you exposed. The original arcade version included a roll maneuver that didn't make the PC release. Gameplay is fast-paced with a focus on reflexes and timing to survive waves of enemies. It launched on arcade machines and quickly spread to systems like the NES, DOS, and Commodore 64. With over 70 different platforms, it's one of the most widely ported games of its era. Forums and retro gaming communities consistently rank it among the top shooters for its simple yet challenging action. The 2-player mode adds competitive replay value, though most play through its 10 escalating levels alone. Over 30 years old but still shows off tight mechanics that keep it relevant in retro circles.