Summary
The multiplayer side-scrollingbeat ‘em-upwas a popular genre in arcades and consoles during the 1980s and the 1990s. The simplicity of moving through stages and beating up waves of enemies tapped into the popular vigilante, martial arts, and sword and sorcery film genres. The fun of playing together with friends and family in co-op multiplayer is perfect for the beat ‘em-up genre.
Players can drop in during a gaming session and dive into a game without worrying too much about learning complicated controls. Games likeStreets of RageandFinal Fightare designed to be easy to pick up and enjoy. This article will outline some of the best beat ‘em ups that can beplayed with a friend.
Capcom’sFinal Fightseries sat next to Sega’s popularStreets of Rageseries as one of the best arcade brawlers of its time. Like Sega’s vigilante beat ‘em up,Final Fightis a side-scrolling fighter that can be played solo or cooperatively with a friend.
Its gameplay was a refinement of its predecessors, butFinal Fight 3is one of the deepest and most replayable entries in the genre, thanks to itsStreet Fighter-style super moves, branching story, and multiple endings.Final Fightoriginals Guy and Haggar return for the third outing and are joined by new characters Dean and Lucia.
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystarais a double pack featuringTower of Doomand its sequel,Shadow Over Mystara. Both titles originally launched in 1994 and 1996 respectively, and offered more depth for side-scrolling beat ‘em-up fans. Both games feature aDungeons & Dragonsstorywith branching paths and light RPG elements into a compact fighting game with beautifully animated characters and battles.
Players can choose typicalD&Dclasses like, a cleric, fighter, thief, magician, elf, and dwarven warrior. Narrative choices change the levels, and the characters feel and play differently but in a way that complements each other in co-op games. The replay value shines in multiplayer and solo modes as the characters feel vastly different to play, and the narrative design still feels revolutionary for the genre compared to modern titles likeStreets of Rage 4.
4Golden Axe 2
A Superior Sequel In The Golden Axe Trilogy
Golden Axeis a series of beat ‘‘em-ups where the action is focused on fantasy-based heroes and villains. The games borrow a lot from theConanfranchise, but fans of the sword and sorcery genre that was popular in the 1980s after theConan the Barbarianfilm will find a lot of similarities to other classics likeBeast MasterandRed Sonja.
The 1991 classicGolden Axe 2features the returning characters, Ax Battler, Gilus Thunderhead, and Tyris Flare. The warriors must defeat the new villain Dark Guld and his clan of fighters who stole the Golden Axe and are terrorizing the land.Golden Axe 2features improved animations, combat mechanics, and magic effects. The side-scrolling slash ‘em-up features seven levels and a duel mode, where the player picks their hero to fight in one-on-one battles against villains ofGolden Axe 2.TheGolden Axeis set to make a comebackalong with other Sega classics.
The Warriorsis a beat ‘em-up based on the 1979 cult classic of the same name. Rockstar developed it and managed to capture the feel and atmosphere of the original movie while fleshing it out with better character development and a story that works with the movie. Some of the cast returned to reprise their roles for the game, like James Remar and Dorsey Wright.
It’s a 3D brawler where a second player can join the fight against rival gangs.The Warriorshas a selection of story missions to fight through, hidden missions that offer more backstory, and unlockable combo and moves to keep the action going. While it wasn’t a visually impressive title at launch, the stylized art design adds authenticity to the game. However,The Warriorsshines the most in the audio design and voice acting.
Streets of Rage 4is both an homage to the arcade classics and a sequel for the fans. It also serves as an excellent and modern introduction to the beat ‘em-up genre, thanks to its eye-catching visuals, accessible gameplay, and fun cooperative gameplay. The story is set ten years after the events ofStreets of Rage 3and features new antagonists with the Y Twins, the children of Mr. X.
Streets of Rage 4features 12 stages to work through with series originals like Axel and Blaze making a return and two new characters, Cherry and Floyd to mix things up. OtherStreets of Ragecharacters appear as the story progresses, with unlockables, and challenging combat playing in solo and multiplayer modes.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revengeis a terrific throwback to the classic 1980s series and the 1991 classic arcade beat ‘em-upTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time.It features the original voice cast for Turtles from the 1987 cartoon series.Shredder’s Revengefeatures a substantial story mode with imaginative and beautifully designed levels and excellent boss fights.
The co-op gameplay is superb with assisted team moves and combos that are easy to pull off. Its accessibility and simplistic but fun gameplay makeShredder’s Revengesuch a great game and perfect for fans of classic arcade beat ‘em-ups and newcomers. It’s a nostalgic experience that feels fresh, challenging, and full of surprising and creative moments.
