Cabal

Cabal has one-player and two-player modes of gameplay. Each player assumes the role of an unnamed commando trying to destroy several enemy military bases. There are five stages with four screens each. The player starts with a stock of three lives and uses a gun with limitless ammunition and a fixed number of grenades to fend off enemy troops and attack the base.

The commando is seen from behind and starts behind a protective wall which can be damaged and shattered by enemy fire. To stay alive, the player needs to avoid enemy bullets by running left or right, hiding behind cover, or using a dodge-roll. An enemy gauge at the bottom of the screen depletes as foes are destroyed and certain structures (which collapse rather than shatter) are brought down. When the enemy gauge is emptied, the level is successfully completed, all of the remaining buildings onscreen collapse, and the player progresses to the next stage.

In Japan, Game Machine listed Cabal as the eighth most successful table arcade unit of October 1988.

The arcade version was reviewed by Clare Edgeley in Computer and Video Games magazine. She gave it a positive review, while comparing it favorably with Operation Wolf (1987) and Combat School (1987). Nick Kelly of Commodore User rated Cabal seven out of ten, comparing it favorably with Gryzor (1987) and Devastators (1988).

The game's success inspired many Cabal clones, such as NAM-1975 (1990) and Wild Guns (1994).

Cabal was followed in 1990 by Blood Bros. with a western theme.