Haha, I loved this article! This is one of those urban legends so absurd you almost want to believe it, just for the crazy story.<br> I completely agree that the death row story is pure invention. Your breakdown of the "idiot's puzzle" (the Japanese company traveling to record American inmates? The nickname "Bloodaliser"?) was perfect and very convincing. What really got me was the alternative investigation you did.<br> The truth behind the screams is much more '80s and much cooler: the good old practice of "borrowing" from movies! Finding the samples in Conan and Rambo was great detective work. That perfectly explains the game's vibe and makes much more sense in the context of the industry at the time. Now every time I play, I'll be trying to identify if it's David Caruso or Sven-Ole Thorsen grunting in my stead.<br> I'm curious about what else might be found. That woman's groan around the 31-second mark in the sound compilation really seems to have some background dialogue, so you're probably right about it being from a movie. I'll keep my ears open next time I revisit an '80s action movie!<br> In the end, the legend is fun, but reality is much more fascinating. Great post—it was an excellent read that mixed healthy skepticism with a genuine, good-humored investigation into an arcade classic.