(AfroGamers.com) Some video game genres exist within a specific period of time. When an indie studio comes along and announces they’re making a game inspired on a somewhat dated genre or they picked up the license, that game tends geared at players from that generation of gaming.
I’m talking about the tried and true beat ‘em up. They were big in the 1980s, we saw some fun ones in the early 1990s and by the end of the decade, things were leaning towards slash ‘em ups and shoot ‘em ups. I always enjoyed beat ‘em ups not because the gameplay was straightforward to the point of not requiring a tutorial, but they were a reflection of action films from that period.
Beat ‘Em Up Games Were Like Playing Through an Action Film
That should’ve been the main marketing point at the time, but you have to consider that not everyone was taking kids to go see Kickboxer or Under Siege. However, they would go to see Double Dragon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even Surf Ninjas. You know, the fun, colorful action films. Those beat ‘em up games ran the gamut of being reflective of both kinds of action movies but the ones that were closer to those gritty one-against-many were the ones that rocked.
What was cool was having those games that were a mix of both. The LJN Spider-Man and the Sunsoft Batman games catered to a mainstream audience based off the FOX Kids Spidey and Batman cartoons from the same period while also being similar to beat ‘em ups like Rushing Beat, Final Fight, and Streets of Rage. Well, less so the Batman game. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t play like the others, but it wasn’t a colorful beat ‘em up like the TNMT titles.
Even the reasons why you and your buddy had to take to the streets were stock action movie reasons. Maybe someone’s girlfriend was kidnapped or a new gang is causing trouble and your crew are the only ones trusted to stop them. You honestly didn’t need much to throw fists with knife-wielding punks and chain-swinging thugs.
Thinking back, some action films also featured an ineffective police force that results in the player taking it to the streets. It’s like Death Wish with fists, you’re going full Sonny Chiba in The Street Fighter. One storyline I haven’t seen explored much in beat ‘em ups is the martial arts tournament.
That’s more of the realm of fighting games even though when the tournament falls apart and is shown to be a criminal or corporate front, things tend to escalate into a compound-wide brawl or shootout.
Beat ‘Em Ups Today Still Have That Spirit
Now beat ‘em ups still get made and many have that nostalgic vibe graphically. Some open-world games also allow you to navigate the world like its a beat ‘em up with story. I mean, I treat every Fallout game like it’s Fist of the North Star and raise unarmed: Power Fist or nothing, folks. However, the games that are made with being a beat ‘em up in mind take me back.
I’m big on games and television having better story than decades earlier. Stories are paced so that we get actual lore as opposed to the events of the game being the lore going forward. Or episodes having no effect on the rest of the season. You find out about all characters’ motivations and some of their background across multiple games in a series and even the villains have deeper motivations than being just evil or greedy.
I appreciate that in some beat ‘em ups if they are reboots in nature. A sequel, remake, or revival? Eh, I could do without the whole story. For instance, 2022’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge doesn’t need too much story. It’s a game made for fans of beat ‘em ups but more so for fans of the Ninja Turtles games that made it to the Sega and Nintendo consoles while also holding down Showbiz Pizza and Chuck E. Cheese.
That said, I do appreciate the modern day features such as a skill tree and levels. It’s a good mix now. What were some of your favorite beat ‘em up games and which ones are you fan of that no one seems to remember?
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Staff Writer; M. Swift
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.