Dino Rex (World)

Six prehistoric titans clash in Dino Rex, a two-player fighting game released by Taito in 1992. Players choose from a roster of dinosaurs and battle each other on behalf of their caveman masters. The controls are straightforward, utilizing an eight-way joystick and three buttons to execute attacks and special moves—some of which cleverly echo techniques found in Street Fighter II, such as the Dragon Punch and Hurricane Kick. Matches can conclude with unexpected twists: a double knockout or draw will trigger a showdown between the caveman handlers, depicted as masked figures resembling Rastan from another Taito title. The game’s development saw a significant shift in direction; originally planned as a helicopter shoot 'em up, it pivoted to capitalize on the popularity of fighting games. Dino Rex initially targeted western markets but eventually reached Japan as well. A version released in the United States includes an anti-drug message screen. The game runs on Taito’s F2 system hardware and features music composed by Zuntata and V. Ohashi, alongside sound effects from both composers.