side-scrolling beat’em ups are almost a lost art and in our opinion they’re
lost art and in our opinion they’re
lost art and in our opinion they’re overdue for a comeback welcome to
overdue for a comeback welcome to
overdue for a comeback welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be redux
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be redux
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be redux in our countdown of the top pen
in our countdown of the top pen
in our countdown of the top pen side-scrolling beat’em ups for this list
side-scrolling beat’em ups for this list
side-scrolling beat’em ups for this list we’ve selected the best and the most
we’ve selected the best and the most
we’ve selected the best and the most iconic side-scrolling beat’em ups of all
iconic side-scrolling beat’em ups of all
iconic side-scrolling beat’em ups of all time sticking to our usual one entry per
time sticking to our usual one entry per
time sticking to our usual one entry per franchise number 10 river city ransom
barf okay so the first best thing about
barf okay so the first best thing about River City ransom are the awesome Batman
River City ransom are the awesome Batman
River City ransom are the awesome Batman style exclamations that fatties give off
style exclamations that fatties give off
style exclamations that fatties give off when you’re pummeling them including
when you’re pummeling them including
when you’re pummeling them including repeatedly yelling barf and Wham on top
repeatedly yelling barf and Wham on top
repeatedly yelling barf and Wham on top of the hilarious graphics and style
of the hilarious graphics and style
of the hilarious graphics and style River City ransom is still an insanely
River City ransom is still an insanely
River City ransom is still an insanely fun co-op brawler and one of the most
fun co-op brawler and one of the most
fun co-op brawler and one of the most underrated games on the NES as one of
underrated games on the NES as one of
underrated games on the NES as one of the first of its genre River City ransom
the first of its genre River City ransom
the first of its genre River City ransom incorporated RPG style character
incorporated RPG style character
incorporated RPG style character leveling mechanics and an open-ended
leveling mechanics and an open-ended
leveling mechanics and an open-ended exploration system placing it firmly
exploration system placing it firmly
exploration system placing it firmly ahead of its time
number nine golden axe golden axe is a
number nine golden axe golden axe is a fantasy themed brawler with lots of
fantasy themed brawler with lots of
fantasy themed brawler with lots of magic and mystical creatures you are
magic and mystical creatures you are
magic and mystical creatures you are tasked with hacking through legions of
tasked with hacking through legions of
tasked with hacking through legions of baddies in an effort to reach dark adder
baddies in an effort to reach dark adder
baddies in an effort to reach dark adder an evil sorcerer that is unleash chaos
an evil sorcerer that is unleash chaos
an evil sorcerer that is unleash chaos upon the land golden axe was an early
upon the land golden axe was an early
upon the land golden axe was an early example of an arcade port done right
example of an arcade port done right
example of an arcade port done right with solid graphics and ever-important
with solid graphics and ever-important
with solid graphics and ever-important co-op mode intact plus the game features
co-op mode intact plus the game features
co-op mode intact plus the game features a barbarian character known as axe
a barbarian character known as axe
a barbarian character known as axe battler who for some reason doesn’t use
battler who for some reason doesn’t use
battler who for some reason doesn’t use an axe but rather uses a sword so that’s
an axe but rather uses a sword so that’s
an axe but rather uses a sword so that’s kind of funny right number eight
kind of funny right number eight
kind of funny right number eight Battletoads
Battletoads follows two anthropomorphic
Battletoads follows two anthropomorphic toads rations it’s as they embark on a
toads rations it’s as they embark on a
toads rations it’s as they embark on a quest to save their buddy pimple and his
quest to save their buddy pimple and his
quest to save their buddy pimple and his girlfriend Angelica in case you didn’t
girlfriend Angelica in case you didn’t
girlfriend Angelica in case you didn’t know this is probably one of the hardest
know this is probably one of the hardest
know this is probably one of the hardest games ever created but there’s nothing
games ever created but there’s nothing
games ever created but there’s nothing more satisfying than working together
more satisfying than working together
more satisfying than working together with your friend to get past that damn
with your friend to get past that damn
with your friend to get past that damn hover bike level and finally lay the
hover bike level and finally lay the
hover bike level and finally lay the smackdown on the Dark Queen an
smackdown on the Dark Queen an
smackdown on the Dark Queen an additional fun fact is that Battletoads
additional fun fact is that Battletoads
additional fun fact is that Battletoads was an early game for rare who would go
was an early game for rare who would go
was an early game for rare who would go on to create some of the most revered
on to create some of the most revered
on to create some of the most revered games for the SNES and n64 number 7
games for the SNES and n64 number 7
games for the SNES and n64 number 7 x-men arcade the x-men with their varied
x-men arcade the x-men with their varied
x-men arcade the x-men with their varied powers and skill sets make up the
powers and skill sets make up the
powers and skill sets make up the perfect cast of selectable characters
perfect cast of selectable characters
perfect cast of selectable characters for a side-scrolling beat-em-up
that combined with the unique and
that combined with the unique and awesome six player co-op arcade cabinets
awesome six player co-op arcade cabinets
awesome six player co-op arcade cabinets makes x-men a mainstay at the arcades
makes x-men a mainstay at the arcades
makes x-men a mainstay at the arcades even to this day faithfully recreated
even to this day faithfully recreated
even to this day faithfully recreated characters and tight gameplay made this
characters and tight gameplay made this
characters and tight gameplay made this the ultimate comic book game for years
the ultimate comic book game for years
the ultimate comic book game for years to come x-men arcade also features some
to come x-men arcade also features some
to come x-men arcade also features some classic hilarious localization problems
classic hilarious localization problems
classic hilarious localization problems including when magneto says I am Magneto
including when magneto says I am Magneto
including when magneto says I am Magneto master of magnet
master of magnet
master of magnet number six alien versus Predator todd
number six alien versus Predator todd
number six alien versus Predator todd todd alien vs. predator is filled with
todd alien vs. predator is filled with
todd alien vs. predator is filled with crazy action screen filling brawls and
crazy action screen filling brawls and
crazy action screen filling brawls and probably the nicest graphics and sound
probably the nicest graphics and sound
probably the nicest graphics and sound quality of any old-school brawler a VP
quality of any old-school brawler a VP
quality of any old-school brawler a VP has the honor of being the best alien
has the honor of being the best alien
has the honor of being the best alien versus Predator crossover ever and that
versus Predator crossover ever and that
versus Predator crossover ever and that includes the PC titles and those movies
includes the PC titles and those movies
includes the PC titles and those movies which are best not mentioned the only
which are best not mentioned the only
which are best not mentioned the only problem with a VP is when your friends
problem with a VP is when your friends
problem with a VP is when your friends both pick predator characters you get
both pick predator characters you get
both pick predator characters you get stuck using one of the humans no matter
stuck using one of the humans no matter
stuck using one of the humans no matter how many fancy toys the humans might
how many fancy toys the humans might
how many fancy toys the humans might have they will never be as badass as the
have they will never be as badass as the
have they will never be as badass as the Predators number 5 The Simpsons arcade
Predators number 5 The Simpsons arcade
Predators number 5 The Simpsons arcade game quick named the best Simpsons
game quick named the best Simpsons
game quick named the best Simpsons videogame okay so assuming you didn’t
videogame okay so assuming you didn’t
videogame okay so assuming you didn’t say hit and run the other thing you
say hit and run the other thing you
say hit and run the other thing you would have said is the Simpsons arcade
would have said is the Simpsons arcade
would have said is the Simpsons arcade game after Maggie is kidnapped by mr.
game after Maggie is kidnapped by mr.
game after Maggie is kidnapped by mr. burns and Smithers the iconic family
burns and Smithers the iconic family
burns and Smithers the iconic family heads out to get her back clobbering
heads out to get her back clobbering
heads out to get her back clobbering their way through hundreds of cronies
their way through hundreds of cronies
their way through hundreds of cronies and thugs The Simpsons is not the first
and thugs The Simpsons is not the first
and thugs The Simpsons is not the first franchise you might think of when it
franchise you might think of when it
franchise you might think of when it comes to brawling yet somehow the
comes to brawling yet somehow the
comes to brawling yet somehow the vibrant animation style and sense of
vibrant animation style and sense of
vibrant animation style and sense of humor works perfectly in Konami’s arcade
humor works perfectly in Konami’s arcade
humor works perfectly in Konami’s arcade masterpiece number four final fight
final fight took the formula established
final fight took the formula established by the games like Double Dragon and
by the games like Double Dragon and
by the games like Double Dragon and improved upon everything with better
improved upon everything with better
improved upon everything with better graphics and tighter controls final
graphics and tighter controls final
graphics and tighter controls final fight is difficult but somebody needs to
fight is difficult but somebody needs to
fight is difficult but somebody needs to clean up the streets of Metro City and
clean up the streets of Metro City and
clean up the streets of Metro City and save Jessica the mayor’s daughter final
save Jessica the mayor’s daughter final
save Jessica the mayor’s daughter final fight co-stars a giant muscle-bound
fight co-stars a giant muscle-bound
fight co-stars a giant muscle-bound professional wrestler Hagar who is also
professional wrestler Hagar who is also
professional wrestler Hagar who is also the mayor of the city and that’s just
the mayor of the city and that’s just
the mayor of the city and that’s just plain awesome beyond hag our final fight
plain awesome beyond hag our final fight
plain awesome beyond hag our final fight is chunk full of memorable capcom
is chunk full of memorable capcom
is chunk full of memorable capcom characters including guy cody poison and
characters including guy cody poison and
characters including guy cody poison and hugo who all became mainstays in
hugo who all became mainstays in
hugo who all became mainstays in Capcom’s classic street fighter series
double dragon is the granddaddy of
double dragon is the granddaddy of side-scrolling beat’em ups hundreds of
side-scrolling beat’em ups hundreds of
side-scrolling beat’em ups hundreds of games imitated double dragon including
games imitated double dragon including
games imitated double dragon including the sequel double dragon – but the
the sequel double dragon – but the
the sequel double dragon – but the original stands out as a great co-op
original stands out as a great co-op
original stands out as a great co-op roller in its own right the concept is
roller in its own right the concept is
roller in its own right the concept is simple
simple
simple choose a brother Billy or Jimmy and
choose a brother Billy or Jimmy and
choose a brother Billy or Jimmy and clobber your way through legions of gang
clobber your way through legions of gang
clobber your way through legions of gang members using kung fu and even a few
members using kung fu and even a few
members using kung fu and even a few weapons in order to save your girlfriend
weapons in order to save your girlfriend
weapons in order to save your girlfriend Marion from big boss Willy the later NES
Marion from big boss Willy the later NES
Marion from big boss Willy the later NES port of Double Dragon was immensely
port of Double Dragon was immensely
port of Double Dragon was immensely popular for home gamers even though the
popular for home gamers even though the
popular for home gamers even though the crucial co-op mode was unfortunately cut
number two Streets of Rage 2 the
number two Streets of Rage 2 the original Streets of Rage was Sega
original Streets of Rage was Sega
original Streets of Rage was Sega cashing in on the white-hot arcade
cashing in on the white-hot arcade
cashing in on the white-hot arcade beat-em-up market
though it wasn’t a bad game the sequel
though it wasn’t a bad game the sequel is where Sega struck gold Streets of
is where Sega struck gold Streets of
is where Sega struck gold Streets of Rage 2 was the perfect storm of brawling
Rage 2 was the perfect storm of brawling
Rage 2 was the perfect storm of brawling perfection combining slick animation
perfection combining slick animation
perfection combining slick animation spectacular music interesting characters
spectacular music interesting characters
spectacular music interesting characters both good and bad and one of the deepest
both good and bad and one of the deepest
both good and bad and one of the deepest combat systems seen in the genre up
combat systems seen in the genre up
combat systems seen in the genre up until that point will you be the one to
until that point will you be the one to
until that point will you be the one to stop the dastardly mr. X and his legions
stop the dastardly mr. X and his legions
stop the dastardly mr. X and his legions of street thugs before we unveil our top
of street thugs before we unveil our top
of street thugs before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
number one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
number one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles four turtles in time
what happens when you combine two of the
what happens when you combine two of the hugest sensations of the early 90s the
hugest sensations of the early 90s the
hugest sensations of the early 90s the Ninja Turtles and side-scrolling beat’em
Ninja Turtles and side-scrolling beat’em
Ninja Turtles and side-scrolling beat’em ups why you get turtles in time the most
ups why you get turtles in time the most
ups why you get turtles in time the most iconic brawler in gaming history turtles
iconic brawler in gaming history turtles
iconic brawler in gaming history turtles in time combines perfect gameplay with
in time combines perfect gameplay with
in time combines perfect gameplay with the classic poopy turtles humor and
the classic poopy turtles humor and
the classic poopy turtles humor and style the time-travel concept also
style the time-travel concept also
style the time-travel concept also allows for some rad level design one
allows for some rad level design one
allows for some rad level design one second you’ll be beating up Dino riding
second you’ll be beating up Dino riding
second you’ll be beating up Dino riding foot soldiers in the prehistoric age and
foot soldiers in the prehistoric age and
foot soldiers in the prehistoric age and the next you’re in the far future
the next you’re in the far future
the next you’re in the far future fighting Krang on a high-tech hoverboard
agree with our list
agree with our list did we forget any face puddling
did we forget any face puddling
did we forget any face puddling beat-em-ups for more butt-kickin top 10s
beat-em-ups for more butt-kickin top 10s
beat-em-ups for more butt-kickin top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe
published every day be sure to subscribe
published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
”
Be First to Comment