/vr/ - Retro Games

Another classic straight from the golden age of arcade beat-em-ups.

TMNT arcade beat-em-up. These always attracted huge crowds at the arcade.

The X-men arcade game was a goliath of an arcade game, with an extra-wide screen and the ability for 6 players to all play at once.

>>1856363
>>1856367
>>1856373
I'm pissed never made a 4-player Goemon beat-'em-up for the arcades.

>>1856367
Too bad the console versions of both arcade games were better

>>1856373
The 6 player feature made the game a lot of fun and really a unique experience since beat-em-ups tended to be either 2 player or 4 player.

Were there any other 6 player beat-em-ups? None immediately come to mind but you'd think there'd be more out there.

Favorite arcade beat em up: Revenge of Death Adder
Favorite console beat em up: Golden Axe 2 (Gen)

Runners up:
King of Dragons (SNES ver)
Turtles in Time (Arcade ver)
Dungeons and Dragons (both)
X-men 6 player version

Yeah, I like sword and sorcery stuff.

>>1856470
The console versions are only two-player though. Otherwise I agree with you.

>>1856550
Console versions of TnT: barely animated by comparison, worse music, about 1/4th as many enemies on screen at a time and the variety is lower. I guess its easier and has 2 new levels, but it isn't even close to the spectacle.

I haven't played the original Turtles arcade in a very long time so I can't comment on that, but no way on Time; arcade all the way.

>>1856564
AC Turtles in Time > AC TMNT > SNES Turtles in Time > Hyperstone Heist > NES TMNT III > NES TMNT II
It's such a shame Konami never released a retail compilation of both arcade games.

>>1856603
But AC TMNT was crap.

>>1856373
I used to play one of these at a pizzeria in middle of nowhere, West Virginia in the early 90s. Good times.

I see a lot of people shit on this one, but it's seriously one of my favorites. Probably my favorite SNES exclusive beat 'em up. Grabbing thugs with web-lines and throwing them into each other never gets old.

>>1856674
I don't blame them for shitting on it, considering you can't see anything in that screenshot you posted. I'm going to assume you're talking about Maximum Carnage or Separation Anxiety.

>>1856656
Pizzerias were great for beat em up games. Turtles in Time and Knights of the Round while waiting for your food.

>>1856683
I was, and then I realized I forgot my picture AND forgot it wasn't SNES exclusive like I said it was. Way to call attention to my absent-mindedness before I could hide it.

But yes, people shit on Maximum Carnage a lot. I have a theory that they aren't using the web mechanics and just can't beat it the same way they play Streets of Rage.

Separation Anxiety was atrocious, though.

Too soon?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqhQPW5_SA0

>>1856603
This guy doesn't know anything about what makes a good beat'em up. he thinks the AC version is better.

SNES turtles in time is the best. if you don't know why, then you don't know anything about beat'em ups and you just look at graphics and sound.

Hint: It has to do with hit detection and hit-stun.

if you ever attempted to one-coin a beat'em up then you'd know why game mechanics are the most important thing in this genre.

>>1856701
>Uh...I probably should honor Robin Williams and play Hook
>choose Rufio anyway

>>1856705
Speak for yourself. Maybe the console versions had better hit detections, easier difficulty and extra stages and bosses, but did they have 4P co-op? That's really the only thing these Konami beat-'em-ups have going for them. Besides, it's not like a 1CC is impossible in either of those games.

>>1856521
That game is awesome, btw i love this music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDAQ_9cxuo

And pic related is very fun.

>>1856728
This guy thinks that the main attraction to beat'em ups is 4player mode. He thinks beat'em up is a party-game genre.

He doesn't realize that in Japan and other Asian countries (which are the only places where the beat'em up genre was highly regarded, appreciated, and understood) there were no 4-player cabinets (except for very rare exceptions)

>>1856754
Whoa, hold up, someone's trying to have FUN playing a video game? With friends no less?
Protip: Some people play and enjoy games differently than other people. There is no right or wrong way to have fun.

>>1856754
Newsflash, you sorry excuse of an icycalm wannabe. I had 1CCed and no-missed hundreds of games when you were probably still in diapers and I'm well aware of how the Japanese arcade scene worked compared to the west.

The Turtles series (and practically every licensed Konami beat-'em-up) were hardly hardcore beat-'em-ups compared to the likes of Undercover Cops and Denjin Makai. They were casual games aimed at kids who were fans of the properties.

Turtles in Time didn't even get an AC release in Japan (neither did Bucky O'Hare and C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa for that matter), which makes your whole point about 4P cabinets (which is also wrong, see pic) a moot point.

Not retro, but does /vr/ love Double Dragon Neon?

>>1856858
I liked the aesthetics of it, but Wayforward hasn't quite mastered 3d games at this point.

>>1856858
I thought it was meh. Not the worst Double Dragon ever made, but I could've done without the "OMG, so retro" humor.

I was always bummed that they never did a console port of Capcom's AVP; sort of a moot point now, but still...

>>1856850
>>1856705

Calm down, people can enjoy genres of games for completely different reasons. If you like complex, difficult beat-em-ups in single-player mode on a console, fine. If someone else likes button-mashing on 4 and 6 player beat-em-ups on a huge arcade console at an arcade or pizza parlor, that's fine too.

Though personally what I loved about these games was the huge crowds they drew and playing with lots of other people. There was something almost magical about playing a game where a crowd forms and people wait and take turns for their chance to be part of it. People came and went and you found yourself having an awesome time playing side-by-side together with complete strangers. It was an event. And even if it was just button mashing it was a helluva lot of fun. Some of my greatest childhood memories were formed next to these games at arcades.

>>1856943
I played both kinds of game, whether they're easy and hard. My point that if you're gonna brag about being a HARDCORE BELT SCROLL MANIAC PLAYER, using the Turtles series as your benchmark of what an arcade beat-'em-up should be is the worst example you could use. Either way, it's clear Konami beat-'em-ups like Turtles in Time and X-Men were more catered towards casual party play than the mastering of their play mechanics.

The beat em up bug bit me hard recently;
started messing around with final fight, a game which i thought was fairly shallow as a kid,i now realize there is lots of technique.

Not retro but

been playing alot of sengoku 3 too, the art direction is very boring compared to the first 2 games but dash cancelling combo's is neat. Really nice to play

>>1858257
>been playing alot of sengoku 3 too, the art direction is very boring compared to the first 2 games but dash cancelling combo's is neat. Really nice to play
Here's a ridiculously extensive strategy guide for the game.
http://unofficial-guide.sakura.ne.jp/html/sd2001/sd_01_in.html

Do they even make Beat 'em ups anymore?
Off the top of my head all I can think of is God Hand and Mad World.

Am I the only who thinks the arcade Double Dragon weren't that great and that the NES versions are a lot better?

The first arcade game is virtually unplayable due to all the slowdown and the elbow makes the game pointless. At least the NES version makes you work for your moves and always stays in a pretty fast pace.

>>1858396
Stuff like Ninja Gaiden, Metal Gear Rising and Devil May Cry are pretty much considered the modern equivalent.

In terms of belt-scrollers, Double Dragon Neon, Dragon's Crown, Code of Princess and Scott Pilgrim are all pretty recent. I think they're even working on a River City Ransom revival (a real one this time).

>>1858434
Dumping some Final Fight art from that Onimusha Souls social game. Here's Guy

>>1858446
Cody

>>1858450
Haggar

>>1858453
Damnd

>>1858454
Sodom

>>1858458
And everyone's favorite tranny, Poison.

>>1856358
>Pic related, possibly the greatest game of what is sadly now a long-dead genre
But that's not SoR2 nor D&D: SoM, granted AvP was definitely up there.

>>1856363
>>1856367
>>1856373
I loved these games as a kid but playing through them recently made me realize how much of a quarter muncher Konami's titles were.

>>1856705
>if you ever attempted to one-coin a beat'em up then you'd know why game mechanics are the most important thing in this genre.

This guy knows what's up. SoR2 on Maniac difficulty is a better example of how to balance for hard mode without making the game feel cheap.

>>1858598
>This guy knows what's up.
Except he's a dumbass for trying to pull his "BEU cred" with the fucking Turtles series of all things. And the 1CC mentality is hardly a secret knowledge as many people think it is.

Need a hand?

>>1858598
Having said that, I'd still recommend them. My essentials are:
Double Dragon (NES)
Double Dragon 2 (NES)
River City Ransom
TMNT (Arcade)
TMNT 2 (NES)
TMNT 3
Return of Double Dragon
TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist
TMNT 4: Turtles in Time
X-Men (Arcade)
The Simpsons
Golden Axe
Golden Axe 2
Golden Axe 3
Streets of Rage
SoR 2
SoR 3
SoR Remake
Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka (RCR sequel)
Battletoads (Genesis)
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs
Battletoads & Double Dragon
Super Battletoads (Arcade)
Final Fight (Arcade)
Final Fight 2
Final Fight 3
Burning Fight
Vendetta
Violent Storm
The Ninja Warriors (SNES)
Robo Army
Sengoku 2
Sengoku 3
Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon (Arcade)
Knights of The Round (SNES)
Captain Commando (Arcade)
The Punisher
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
Armored Warriors
Aliens vs Predator
Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom
Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara
Battle Circuit
Guardian Heroes
Dynamite Deka
Dynamite Deka 2
Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe 2
Castle Crashers
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game
Dragon's Crown

>>1858679
Yeah, his tone was a bit condescending. I still agree with Turtles in Time (SNES) and Hyperstone Heist playing better than their arcade counterpart though.

>>1856358
Well thanks for supplying the title. Really good of you OP

>>1858710
>Missed out on AvP
I'm so sorry, anon.

>>1858710
>Xenomorphs in image
It's clearly Aliens based. Google could have lead you to find that it's Aliens Vs. Predator

>>1858709
So, basically, your "essentials" consist of every single beat'em up ever made that's even remotely notable?

>>1858453
omg who shrunk his head?

>>1858760
>every single beat'em up ever made that's even remotely notable?
That's exaggerating. There are plenty I've omitted due to less refined gameplay or forgetfulness. But if you want me to be a little more realistic:

Double Dragon (NES)
Double Dragon 2 (NES)
Return of Double Dragon
River City Ransom
TMNT 2 (NES)
TMNT 4: Turtles in Time
Streets of Rage
SoR 2
SoR 3
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs
Battletoads & Double Dragon (SNES)
Final Fight (Arcade)
Final Fight 3
Sengoku 3
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
Armored Warriors
Aliens vs Predator
Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom
Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara
Guardian Heroes
Dynamite Deka 2
Viewtiful Joe
Dragon's Crown

Honestly, the original list isn't that long if you've got an itch to start a beat 'em up collection and don't mind emulation. Shmup genre's far more prosperous in contrast.

>>1856701
What??? There's a Hook Beat 'em up?
Thanks anon.

>>1858284
Sengoku 3 is my personal fave. Used to be D&D:SOM.

That's a great site to learn the data and numbers for damage/gauge-charge/etc. An excellent site, and i used it many times over the years.

But I really disagree with that guys character rankings. First of all, he plays on Japanese difficulty level 4. The Japanese lvl 4 is considerably easier than all the other regions (as in enemies have half as much health, and there are far fewer enemies that spawn). What this means is that on the more difficult versions, there are more important things to take into account, like reach and recovery - which he doesn't factor in his rankings. When it comes to reach, and hitting enemies safely without getting hit yourself, the most important moves are t he dash kick and the jump-A attack. Both are safe, quick, and set up juggles. Walking up to an enemy and starting a jab combo is really inefficient. Even the trusty beat'em up strategy of waiting below/above an enemy and waiting for them to walk into your x-axis isn't ideal. Moving offscreen to herd enemies onto your x-axis then juggling all of them with a single dashkick or jump-A is the most efficient way to play the game.

Anyway, to make a long story short..

Falcon is not a shit tier character. He's actually top 3 at the least. Single best dash kick in the game trumps whatever other weaknesses he has (slowest weapon throw speed) and his ability to infinite bosses cannot be ignored.

Byakki is the single best character in the game. Byakki's jumping-A is fucking-ridiculous. Test this out. walk right up next to a barrel, turn around, and neutral jump and press A. it'll hit. His jump-A has a god-like hitbox. Excellent damage against bosses and normal enemies alike.

Kurenai has THE highest damage against normal enemies (from juggles) but the weakest damage against bosses. Shitty dash kick, worst jab, but sexy jump-A and fastest walking speed. Special attacks are the best for just throwing it out, but worst for

>>1859190
ending combos. The thing is that once you're able to one coin this game consistently, you RARELY have to just throw out special moves for whatever reason (whether its positioning, escaping, etc) so quite frankly special moves sole purpose at the higher levels of play is to end combos against bosses (against whom you cannot use juggles).

Okuni is great, but has such an awkward mix of SHORT and long-range moves that she's inconsistent.

Kagetsura isn't that great honestly, but still solid.

Kongoh.. is just too slow. Only character i can't one-coin with on level 8. BTW, the difference between level 8 and 4 isn't that great as long as you follow my advice in my previous post.

a) herd enemies off-screen (the AI in this game will converge on your x-axis off-screen) - what i mean by this is if the level is two screens long, then when all the enemies are on one side of the screen, then you should run to the opposite side so that the enemies are off-screen.
b) dash kick or jump-A attack to pop them up right when they appear on-screen. followed by juggles. Don't waste special moves on normal enemies in these cases.
c) if the stage is limited to 1 screen, THATs when you have to rely sometimes on your special moves and rely on the wait-and-jab strategy. but still, dash kick and jump-A should be used if possible
d) against bosses- learn their patterns.
e) last boss


1) Byakki- excellent damage against EVERYTHING. combo ender is fucking awesome. special-A is instantaneous and despite seeming shitty is actually one of the best in the game. Crappy dash kick is his only weakness, but has an awesome jump-A which serves the same purpose. 2nd best jab after kongoh.
2) Falcon tied with Kurenai
Falcon- best dash kick. only character able to infinite bosses, but only char unable to combo into shurikens (you can, but it's not a true combo).

>>1859220
Kurenai- highest damage against normal enemies. lowest against bosses. fastest walker. worst jab. specials are situationally good, but lowest dmg for ending combos with. worse dash kick than even byakki- her dash kick comes out TOO quick and the final frames of animation don't have a hitbox- this defeats the purpose of the dash kick which is meant for distance, not speed. overall, her entire game is her jump-A and ability to do ridiculous juggle damage, and use her specials in situations when you can't get a good jump-A off.
3) Okuni SLIGHTLY above Kagetsura
Okuni- 2nd best dash kick (tied with Kagetsura actually- her's has slightly better reach while Kagetsura has better speed and recovery). Great jab. good specials for ending combos. Worst juggle in the game. Godawful jump-A. Still a great, but inconsistent character.

Kagetsura- Not a SINGLE thing really stands out. tied with Kurenai for fastest recovery on throwing projectiles (actual fastest thrower is byakki). consistent juggle damage. Great dash kick. Just plain average, but still solid. Slightly worse than Okuni. Command throw is pointless. Grab-dash-cancel into special move is the same thing (and every character can do it, except maybe Kurenai (her special-A will probably not fully hit, and special-B will whiff-- but otoh she, byakki, and kongoh floats enemies when their grab duration ends)

Last is Kongoh. he's just not as good. Only place where he truly shines is against bosses. Being able to grab, then move to a corner (where there are no pesky henchmen), wait for grab to end, then finish off with a damaging combo (highest against bosses) is what he's good at. Also, he can rape the final boss for free. Only character whose A-hits aren't blocked by the last boss. He and Byakki are the best against the final boss. However, against multiple normal enemies, Kongoh can struggle a bit

>>1859245
Oh, one last thing. The best Sengoku 3 videos are on youku. The japanese players on youtube (replay burners) are very average

>>1858709
You didn't like God Hand?

No mention of Ninja baseball batman? The visuals and theme alone are fun.

By the way, 3DS Japanese e-shop keeps releasing different themed Kunio-kun. Last one was a medieval themed one.

>>1859519
Gameplay is simple but it is fun

>>1859519
>By the way, 3DS Japanese e-shop keeps releasing different themed Kunio-kun. Last one was a medieval themed one.
They've released at least four of them on the 3DS. Nekketsu Mahou Monogatari is the one you're thinking about and it's the most recent release.
http://kuniokun.jp/
http://kuniokun.jp/

>>1859541
I still wonder how they got away with a name like "Bat Man" on the title. Should've stuck with the Japanese title of League Man.

Barely two mentions of this beautiful game?

It was one of my all-time favorites as a kid. It's still brilliant today.

>>1860084
>Posting PAL version's sausage fest cover
>Not the JPN cover with glorious Cerena and Nicole.
But seriously. Who was the gaywad at Sega of Europe that decided to remove the ladies from the cover?

>>1856701
Too soon anon
too soon

>>1859404
I don't like God Hand, I love it! I know it's usually described as a modern day beat 'em up but I don't feel right placing it on the same list.

is there any beat em up where the enemies arent just kind of hanging around and throwing punches but they actually team up to beat you?

>>1858710
Try using that little right-facing arrow next to the post number, sometime. It can be helpful.

>>1860249
Spartan X.

>>1858798
>Dynamite Cop
Good man.

>>1860249
Pretty much every Technos beat-'em-up, particularly the arcade ones, where one bad guy is always approaching from behind. Renegade and Combatribes both definitely fit the bill.

>>1860262
really bad troll you make look it up...

>>1860336
I will look for them thanks.

>>1856373
I played this as recently as the last year. Although I don't live in USA this kind of games (licensed properties) were relatively popular on my country, yet I never saw a cabinet of that game. I guess it was too big since you could have 6 players.

>>1856698
This is a game that I play (well, played) since my childhood and I never beat it. I have tried countless times, and I got really far but I simply can't beat it. Anyway, it has been years since the last time I played it and if I try now, I'd probably end not liking it.

Now that I think about it, although I like the genre I've only beat a few titles. Like with Contra, this is a genre that I like to play with another friend/s, and this year we started to beat some pendients, like Altered Beast, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage.

My personal favorites are Final Fight and Captain Commando. Also, pic related is great. I'm a MMPR fan but even if I wasn't, is a fun game to kill some time.

>>1860249
Final Fight.

>>1860672
I never understood why the Genesis version of MMPR The Movie is rated highly by fans of the show. I always founded it to be a pretty boring and monotonous brawler.

I much rather play the SNES games, even that shitty Zeo racing game.

>>1860172
But wouldn't Viewtiful Joe and the Scott Pilgrim games be classed as modern?

>>1860708
They're all really lousy except for that one Zord fighting game on the SNES.

But the Genesis version of MMPR The Movie is really neat if only because it has really, really well done renditions of practically every song from the show.

>>1860727
>They're all really lousy except for that one Zord fighting game on the SNES.
MMPR1 on the SNES was pretty good too. It was pretty much a precursor to Ninja Warriors Again.

>>1858421

>Any double dragon game
>Fast paced

DD has got to be the clunkiest beat em up I have ever played, their popularity baffles me.

>>1860751
I dunno. I just played it again for the first time in years and found it to be way too simple and easy. And a lot shorter than I remember it being. Granted, as a kid's game it was great for the time but I find it difficult to go back to. And I really like The Ninja Warriors.

>>1860835
Finally.

>>1860827
The NES versions of DD1 and 2 are pretty different from their arcade counterparts. Also, did you even played Double Dragon Advance?

>>1860249
Sailor Moon is pretty brutal in this respect. It throws at you huge crowds of enemies that like to circle you. Don't get sandwiched!

>>1860726
Yup, pretty much anything after Dynamite Deka 2. It's skirting the specifics but seeing as it's a dying genre I can't help but recommend those non-retro titles.

I should've stopped after Deka 2 but wanted to include Dragon's Crown in there since it's the spiritual successor to Capcom's D&D series.

Might as well bump this to ask if there's any superplays of Growl (preferably of the arcade version) online where the player uses Gen or Khan (the two Indiana Jones-looking guys).

>>1858434
>>1856701
>>1856373
>>1856363
>>1856358

No love for Rushing Beat's Ran & Shura?

>>1860727
>But the Genesis version of MMPR The Movie is really neat if only because it has really, really well done renditions of practically every song from the show.

basically this
the music was fantastic

>>1861192
I wasn't paying attention to the thread or the content of your post. I was just scrolling down the page and saw an image I thought looked interesting. I enlarged it and said, "Growl fanart?" before I read your post.

That's some good attention to detail on the artist, there, making cannon fodder enemies from an obscure beat-em-up recognizable.

>>1858421
yeah the arcade versions were shit for this game.

>>1859252
you have a real depth of knowledge there, thanks for the insight. I've just been scratching the surface.

>>1861253
Yeah, there's this Korean guy who makes fanart of obscure beat-'em-up femme fatales. Honestly, that post was just an excuse to post that fanart. Growl is not really that great of a game, but I've never seen a video of anyone clearing the game with the Indiana Jones dudes.

>>1860336
I love that classic 80's box art

Besides Armored Warriors, what other Mecha games are there? It can be utter shit, I don't care.

>>1861206
I had no idea those three games were part of a series until I read some article about them a couple years ago.
"Rival Turf", "Brawl Brothers" and "The Peace Keepers"? Why was that necessary?

Beat 'em ups aren't fun because they eventually descend into quarter-munching cheapness.

>>1864768
Not all of them are like that. Any game with desperation ("Mega Crush", fuck I hate that stupid name) that doesn't cost any life when hitting nothing is a fair beat em up, you can use that to bypass bullshit.
There's also a fair amount of games that grant invincibility when picking up item/weapon or holding enemy. Those are also a fair design.

If you think about it, games with "quarter-munching cheapness" really boil down to not too many game after those. Double Dragon, Battletoads, and Die Hard Arcade might be cheap like you claimed, if at that. Those games still have ways around it, though. You're also forgetting about console exclusive ones.

>>1864636
>I had no idea those three games were part of a series until I read some article about them a couple years ago.
Didn't the M. Bison lookalike in Rival Turf! and Brawl Brothers gave it away?

>>1864837
The only beat-'em-ups I would consider cheap would be the export versions of Crime Fighters and Metamorphosis Force, where they replaced the time limit with health draining.

>>1861206
I've known of these games since their debut, and discovering the existence of the Warp Room was a shocker to me.

http://tcrf.net/Rival_Turf!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWDenljEQxw

>>1864768
They usually have an invincibility move that costs life just so the game isnt easy mode. You shouldn't be taking hits from regular stage enemies by using clever positioning and screen scrolling tactics to prevent a number of enemies you can't handle. During bosses there's usually a certain blind spot, a move with a huge hitbox you should dodge by special moves and that's basically it. The execution is balls hard lots of times, but the premise is really simple and fair.

>>1864768
I hope you realize that there are several people on this very thread that can beat every listed game so far with a single coin/credit.

>>1864837
calling it a mega crash is for homos

the real OGs call it a joy move.

Ah beat 'em ups. A great way to spead time. My personal list
>TMNT IV(SNES)-Great music, my favorite boss fight ever, Shredder in "Technodrone-Let'sKuck Shell!!" Great fun all around.
>SoR 1 & 2-2 is the better game but SoR1 has it's own charm. And Yuzo Koshiro tracks. Oh god that music. How in the blue hell he got that much out of the genesis is amazing.
>Punisher Arcade-You get to go to town as Nick Fucking Fury. The JP ver. adds flame kicks. Frank Castle with Chi. Holy shit.
>Battle Circuit-Capcom's best beat 'em up, bar none.
>Sengoku 3-The shit as they say.

>>1858434
Is that Boormans edition of Arthur!

Why wasn't this posted in this tread!?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce9J-J30B3o

The beat-em up genre isn't dead. It just evolved into games like Dynasty Warriors and games like God of War, Devil may cry etc.

I really like if some combined all three of these genres, (old-school beat-em ups, Dynasty Warriors-type and Devil may cry-type) into a new genre.