Global Gladiators (Mick & Mack as the Global Gladiators) is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Virgin Games in 1992. First released on the Sega Genesis, it was later ported to the Master System, Game Gear, Amiga and other platforms. Set against the backdrop of the McDonald’s fast food chain, it delivers a strong environmental message.
In the game, players can choose to control Mick or Mack and traverse four unique worlds: Slime World, Mystical Forest, Toxi-town and Arctic World. Each world has multiple sub-levels, and players must collect a certain number of Golden Arches to advance. The weapon is a device similar to a Super Soaker, firing sticky projectiles to fight enemies.
The development team was led by David Perry, who had previously worked on games such as *Terminator*. The game’s animation, background art and music were created by Mike Dietz, Christian Laursen and Tommy Tallarico respectively. Despite its tie-in with the McDonald’s brand, the game’s content has little connection to McDonald’s beyond its branding.
Global Gladiators received positive reviews upon release. Sega Pro magazine gave it a score of 93/100, praising its challenge, stunning graphics and dynamic music. Mega Action magazine also rated it 93%, describing it as "a brilliant game with really great character animation".
Overall, Global Gladiators is a game that combines platform jumping and shooting elements. With its unique environmental theme and polished production, it has become one of the classic retro games.