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Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl!
Arch Rivals is a fighting game developed by Midway in 1990 for the NES that combines basketball gameplay with one-on-one brawling. Players control a character competing in street basketball matches where winning requires both skillful shooting and combat prowess. The game features two-player competition where contestants can punch and kick their opponent while simultaneously attempting to score baskets. Each match takes place on an urban court, and players must manage both offensive scoring and defensive fighting techniques. The controls use the standard NES controller for movement, shooting, and combat actions. The game includes multiple selectable characters, each with different strength and speed attributes. Progression involves competing through successive basketball-fighting encounters with escalating difficulty as players advance to face tougher opponents. The unique fusion of sports and fighting mechanics creates a distinctive gameplay experience that sets it apart from traditional sports or fighting games.
- Developer
- Midway
- Released
- 1990
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Fighting
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (1K)
- Last updated
Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! on our in-browser NES emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! on NES before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl!" NES longplay 1990
Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! Cheat Codes
5 community-curated cheats for Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl!. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
-
More time for a quarter
ALXLNZGU+ALNLPPGU -
Less time for a quarter
ZLXLNZGL+ZLNLPPGL -
Run faster without ball
AVNPLAAZ+ATVPAPAZ -
Super speed
IXVOPAGA+IZSPGPGA -
Never Miss A Shot
GZVPOZEI
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! released?
Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! was released in 1990 for the NES.
Who developed Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl!?
Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! was developed by Midway, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! support?
Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the NES.
What type of game is Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl!?
Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! is a Fighting game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! in the browser?
No. Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl!?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original NES cartridge supported.
Does Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! work on mobile devices?
Yes — the NES emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl! this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Arch Rivals - A Basketbrawl!. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
