{{Short description|1991 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Who Shot Johnny Rock? | image = WhoShotJohnnyRockLogo.jpg | developer = American Laser Games<br />Origin Systems (3DO) | publisher = American Laser Games<br />Philips (CD-i)<br />Digital Leisure (DVD, Windows) | director = David Roberts | programmer = Pierre Maloka | designer = Kylene Wing | platforms = Arcade, MS-DOS, Sega CD, CD-i, 3DO, DVD, Microsoft Windows | released = '''Arcade'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|1991}}'''MS-DOS'''<br/>{{vgrelease|NA|1994}}'''Sega CD'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|1994}}'''3DO'''{{vgrelease|NA|1994}}'''CD-i'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|1995|EU|1995}}'''DVD'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|November 28, 2001}}'''Microsoft Windows'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|2003}} | genre = Interactive movie, light gun shooter | modes = Single-player }}
'''''Who Shot Johnny Rock?''''' is a full-motion video laserdisc video game produced by American Laser Games and released for arcades in 1991. Versions followed for MS-DOS, Sega CD, 3DO and CD-i. Part of a series of similar-styled games released by the company, ''Who Shot Johnny Rock?'' introduces a different setting than most of the others, while maintaining almost identical gameplay. The game was re-released by Digital Leisure around 2003 with updated video and sound, in addition to several bonus options.
==Plot== The game is set in a Hollywood version of 1930s Chicago, where the player takes on the role of a private detective hired to find out who murdered nightclub singer Johnny Rock. The player must attempt to reach Johnny Rock's killer, shooting villains and interrogating individuals. The game takes the player through the gangs of four gangsters with suggestive names - Munition factory owner Measles, Bar Owner Mumps, Mechanic Pox, and Casino Owner Lockjaw Lil, each of whom knew Rock and are suspects in his murder - and locations such as a warehouse, a pool hall, a garage and a casino.
==Gameplay== As is the case with other American Laser Games releases, the game is played from a first-person perspective of the player watching the full motion video, listening to the various characters and shooting the right enemies at the right times with a powerful Tommy gun. Most other games produced by the company - with minor exceptions such as ''The Last Bounty Hunter'', where the player can use a shotgun for a limited amount of time - feature no more than a simple pistol, which must be used to eliminate successive foes. The player character narrates the story.
Unlike previous games, such as ''Mad Dog McCree'' and ''Crime Patrol'', the player's Tommy gun does not need to be reloaded, but one does need to buy extra ammunition. Also, when health is lost, the player must purchase extra lives from the city doctor. If money runs out, the game is over. The player must also try to avoid hitting innocent bystanders, as doing so results in having to pay funeral expenses. The doctor also gives advice (usually fake) and criticizes the player's actions.
Along the way, the player must collect clues, which will eventually allow the player to determine Johnny Rock's murderer. One of the final sequences takes place in Rock's mansion, where a final clue will point to the killer, who must be defeated and apprehended to win the game. The identity of the killer is determined randomly on each playthrough from one of the four suspected gangsters.
As in most rail shooters by American Laser Games, the MS-DOS and 3DO versions include mouse and light gun support. The Sega CD version supports the Konami Justifier light gun.
==Development== ''Who Shot Johnny Rock?'' was showcased at the 1991 Las Vegas Amusement Expo, at the time under the title ''Who Killed Johnny Rock?''<ref name=showcase>{{cite magazine|title = Arcades: American Laser Games|date = November 1991|url = https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-38/page/n93 |magazine = The One|publisher = emap Images|last = Cook|first = John|issue = 38|pages = 94–95}}</ref><ref name=sinclair>{{cite magazine |title=Coin Ops - Best Follow-Up Game |url=https://archive.org/details/sinclair-user-magazine-117/page/n61 |magazine=Sinclair User |pages = 62–63|date=November 1991}}</ref>
==Reception== {{expand section|date=April 2022}} {{Video game reviews | Allgame = 1.5/5 (Sega CD)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christopher Michael Baker |title=Who Shot Johnny Rock? (Sega CD) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12727&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117022204/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12727&tab=review |archive-date=November 17, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref><br>2.5/5 (DVD Video)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Skyler |title=Who Shot Johnny Rock? (DVD Video) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=36929&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115225109/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=36929&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref><br>1.5/5 (PC)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Couper |first=Chris |title=Who Shot Johnny Rock? (PC) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6256&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116183508/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6256&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref><br>2.5/5 (Xbox)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Skyler |title=Who Shot Johnny Rock? (Xbox) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=37760&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116195731/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=37760&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref> | EGM = 4.8/10 (3DO)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Who Shot Johnny Rock?|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=61|publisher=EGM Media, LLC|date=August 1994|page=36}}</ref> | rev1 = CD-i | rev1Score = 82% (CDI)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bateman |first=Patrick |date=October 1995 |title=Who Shot Johnny Rock? (CD-i) Review |url=https://archive.org/details/cdi-uk-14/page/12/mode/2up |journal=CD-i |publisher=Haymarket Magazines Ltd |issue=14 |pages=12–13 |access-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref> }}
''Sinclair User'' magazine awarded the arcade version "Best Follow-Up Game" in 1991.<ref name="SU">{{cite magazine |title=Coin Ops |url=https://archive.org/details/sinclair-user-magazine-117/page/n61 |magazine=Sinclair User |issue=117 |pages=62–63 |date=November 1991}}</ref>
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' gave the 3DO version a 4.8 out of 10. They commented that the game's whodunnit concept is appealing, but that the graphics are poor by 3DO standards, the gameplay is frustrating, and the cursor moves too slow when using the control pad, making it impossible to progress in the game without a Gamegun, which was sold separately.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Who Shot Johnny Rock?|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=61|publisher=EGM Media, LLC|date=August 1994|page=36}}</ref> ''Computer Gaming World'' said in June 1994 of the PC version that "The storyline and acting are decent for this sort of game, but the gameplay is simplistic to the extreme".<ref name="cgw199406">{{Cite magazine |date=June 1994 |title=Taking A Peek |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=119 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=168–172}}</ref>
The game appeared on the 1992/1993 series of ''GamesMaster'', with Tony Slattery playing. During the segment, Slattery stated that he hated video games, and later failed the challenge by shooting an innocent victim.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{moby game|id=/who-shot-johnny-rock|name=''Who Shot Johnny Rock?''}}
{{American Laser Games}}
Category:1991 video games Category:3DO games Category:Arcade video games Category:CD-i games Category:Detective video games Category:Digital Leisure games Category:DOS games Category:DVD interactive technology Category:Full motion video based games Category:Interactive movie video games Category:Light gun games Category:Menacer Category:Organized crime video games Category:Sega CD games Category:Single-player video games Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Video games set in Chicago Category:Video games set in the 1930s