Arcade games evoke memories of neon-lit aisles filled with cabinets and groups of friends competing for spots on the leaderboards. More specifically, beat 'em up games, or "brawlers," induce a sense of camaraderie in which others can join together to mash buttons against a wave of AI adversaries.
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With titleslike Final Fight and Streets of Rage, the genre became incredibly popular during the late '80s and early '90s. Nostalgia for the co-op experience remains strong whereas the upcoming releases ofTMNT: Shredder's Revengeand GigaBash are both highly anticipated. However,so many brawlers exist in the aether that a profusion of them will end up lost in obscurity. The following games are underappreciated classics that deserve more attention and, potentially, a reboot.
Undercover Cops (1992)
In 2048, elite covert police officerscalled "City Sweepers" duke it out against the evil Dr. Clayborn and his henchman in Irem's Undercover Cops. Fight for justice as either Claude, Bubba, or Flame (their Japanese counterparts are Zan, Matt, and Rosa, respectively).
While the gameplay, even for its time,isn't particularly groundbreaking, and the lunging enemies can be quite punishing, there is still a lot to appreciate in terms of the aesthetics. Sprites, as well as level designs and backgrounds, are intricately detailed. Considering a group of Irem workers would eventually form the Nazca Corporation, thegraphical art style resembles that of games like R-Type IIandMetal Slug.
B. Rap Boys (1992)
Following the controversial release ofDJ Boy,Kaneko followed up with a dope sequel that improves upon its precursor in almost every way.B. Rap Boys takes the action to the street as players maneuver through stages on bikes, boards, blades... and big mech suits.
Boastingsmoother mechanics and rollerblading physics, players develop an almost rhythmic flow with movement and combat. This is well complemented with one of the best video game soundtracks featuring hip-hop group 3 Stories High, fully cementing this arcade-only throwback as a '90s relic. Despite being problematic in areas, the game is also notable for being considerably less offensive thanDJ Boy regarding its portrayal of ethnic and racial stereotypes.
Alien Storm (1990)
A special forces team is the only thing standing in the way of annihilation afterEarth is invaded by terrifying extraterrestrials inAlien Storm. Game designer Makoto Uchida uses the framework of his previousSEGA hit,Golden Axe, for a familiar feeling experience that trades axes and blades for flame throwers and rocket launchers.
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Exterminate the intergalactic foes as one of the "Alien Busters," a trio of soldiers/hot dog vendors including an android named Scooter who hilariously self-destructs as part of its special. Uchida's grotesque creature design is highly inspired, fromThe Thing-like organisms tomutant snails thatstay incognito by usingtrash cans and mailboxes as shells. Although criticized for being too easy,Alien Stormattempts toswitch up its side-scrolling formula with the infusion of arcade-style-FPSstages.
Zero Team (1993)
Seibu Kaihatsu, the developer of the popular Raiden series, made the switch from vertical-scrolling shooter to side-scrollingbrawler with Zero Team.Superheroes Ace, Speed, Spin, and Big-O assemble to form the Zero Team to thwart avillainous kidnapping ninja in this inspired sendup of Super Sentai.
Zero Teamis an all-around solid beat-em-up with interesting defense mechanics. Since the playable character sprites are smaller in comparison to those in Capcom and Konami games, it allows players to be tactical with spatial proximity. Additionally,after players are knocked down, they can roll dodge incoming attacks and projectiles which will prove useful when the enemies inevitably get tougher.
Dynamite Cop (1998)
When a cruise ship falls under siege to a group of armed pirates, it's up to a team of maverick cops to rescue the hostages, primarily the President's daughter. SEGA'sDynamite Cop, also known asDynamite Deka 2in Japan, is technically a loose sequel toDie Hard Arcade.
Although this follow-up dropped theDie Hardlicensing, it bears a similarity in gameplay, aesthetics, and even plotline (except for the Kraken boss fight). However, the improved movement and fight mechanics allow for multi-directional combat as opposed to the standard side-scroller. Ported to the SEGA Dreamcast a year after its initial release, this ridiculously fun beat-em-up has attained a cult following similar to its predecessor.
Night Slashers (1993)
Three months after the world is overcome by dark supernatural forces, a trio of monster slayers must rise to the occasion in this retro horror-themed beat-em-up from Data East. InNight Slashers,players take on the undead by controlling either Jake Hunter, Christopher Smith, or Hong Hua Zhao.
Each character possessing unique stats and elemental abilities is a funmechanism that greatly enhances the, otherwise, standard gameplay. Jake is a psychic cyborg with an electricity-based move set, Christopher is a vampire hunting martial artist who unleashes a storm of water and ice, and Hong is an agile practicer of the mystic arts with pyrokinetic powers.Night Slashersis a gory puddle of nostalgia that fondly pays tributeto the Universal Classic Monsters andFriday the 13th.
Cadillacs And Dinosaurs (1993)
Survivors band together toprotectEarth from both human and reptilian threats in a future where society is dominated by the dinosaurs. Capcom released Cadillacs and Dinosaursas a promotional tie-in to the eponymous cartoonbased on the comic book series Xenozoic Tales.
Living up to its title, this over-the-top brawler is, indeed, a wild ride that injectsa high-octane car chase into the mix.In addition to unique move sets, playable characters can pick up an assortment offirearmswith shooting mechanics akin to Capcom's The Punisher whichpremieredaround the same time. Known for developing Final Fight, which is widely considered to be the gold standard of beat-em-ups, Capcom brings a strong foundation to what could have been another cash grab.
Violent Storm (1993)
Following World War III, in an alternate post-apocalyptic 1990s, three combat-ready dudes must save their friend, Sheena, from a crime lord in the Konami side-scrollerViolent Storm. Memorable for its '80s inspired soundtrack, with tunes reminiscent of Bob Seger and Huey Lewis and the News, the gameis a surprisingly upbeat beat-em-up given the title.
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Players canselect between Wade, Boris, and Kyle who represent the balanced fighter, the heavy powerhouse,and the agile speedster, respectively. Although each character has a distinctive fighting style and move set, all of them have powerful spinning "tornado" strikes that forcibly charge through gangs of enemies. Along with the funky jams, its goofy humor and "Mad MaxmeetsBeverly Hills Cop"aesthetic make thiskineticbrawlerabreezy experience.
Ninja Baseball Bat Man (1993)
The Commissioner of Baseball calls upon Captain Jose, Twinbats Ryno, Beanball Roger, and Stick Straw to retrieve stolen artifacts from the Baseball Hall of Fame in this bonkers classic. For being such an imaginative take on the genre, it's a shameNinja Baseball Bat Man didn't catch on in America quite as it did in Japan.
Heavily inspired by tokusatsu programs, the color-coded heroes face off against villains that look straight out of Super Sentai and Power Rangers, especially the monsters that resemble The Pumpkin Rapper. Players control the robotic bat-wielding ninjas who are each adept with distinctive skills and a vast array of combos and specials.Ninja Baseball Bat Mantakes a lot of big swings, but the loving commitment to its absurd premise knocks the ball out of the park.
Four summoned warriors are entrusted with transformative abilities from the Greek goddess Athena when an evil emperor rises from the grave. Despite not being as popular as Konami'sX-Men, Metamorphic Forceimproves upon the similar mechanics employed in the forenamed Marvel-licensed brawler.
Unleash the inner beast against an army of anthropomorphic animals with the werewolf, Claude, the were-minotaur, Ban, the werepanther, Max, and the werebear, Ivan. Along with metamorphosis, each character has a unique skill setwithin their human forms. Being one of the last Konami released beat-em-ups, Metamorphic Forcecontains colorful, polished sprite animations, smooth and inventive gameplay, and a ferociously cool soundtrack.
NEXT:The 10 Best Classic Arcade Games, Ranked
