Difference between revisions of "Beat 'em up"

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(Created page with "A '''''beat-em-up''''' is a genre of video game where the player controls a character who uses close-combat to defeat a multitude of opponents to achieve a goa...")
 
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A '''''beat-em-up''''' is a genre of [[video games|video game]] where the player controls a character who uses close-combat to defeat a multitude of opponents to achieve a goal. These games began as 2D side-scrollers and make heavy use of martial arts, but over the years, the genre has expanded. Some gaming databases make a distinction between a beat-em-up and hack-and-slash. Hack-and-slash games usually have a fantasy setting and the player's character has weapons, but the play mechanics are effectively the identical, so I group them together. Beat-em-ups differ from fighting games because they put less emphasis on complex individual character battles and more emphasis on defeating many basic opponents.
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A '''beat-em-up''' also spelled '''beat 'em up''' or called a '''brawler''', is a genre of [[video games|video game]] where the player controls a character who uses close-combat to defeat a multitude of opponents to achieve a goal. These games began in the mid-1980s as 2D side-scrollers and make heavy use of [[martial arts]]. Pioneers of the genre include ''[[Karateka]]'', ''[[Kung-Fu Master]]'', and ''Jackie Chan no Project A'', Over the years, the genre has expanded to include 3D environments and have incorporated many other game mechanics.
  
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In general, I find the classic beat-em-up to be a flawed gaming idea. It was good for draining quarters in the arcade, but it doesn't create a very rewarding experience. Some beat-em-ups place less emphasis on developing perfect timing and player control, and more on the game's environment and story-telling, which I prefer. My favorite beat-em-up is ''[[River City Ransom]]''.
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Beat-em-ups are similar to several other video game genres like [[fighting games]], which put more emphasis on complex individual character battles than on defeating a multitude of generic opponents, and [[scrolling shooters]], which predominately use ranged weapons which changes the mechanic. Beat-em-ups which have a [[fantasy]] theme are often referred to as a hack-and-slash, and some gaming databases make a distinction between the two, but, since the play mechanics are effectively identical, I group them together.
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I really loved beat-em-ups when I first saw them in the late-1980s, but now I find the classic beat-em-up to be a flawed gaming mechanic. It was great in the 1980s for draining quarters in the arcade, but it doesn't create a very rewarding gaming experience. While I like the idea of beating the crap out of a bunch of thugs, I dislike having to develop perfect timing and character control which is mandatory for a lot of beat-em-ups. Instead, I prefer those which have growth and story like my favorite beat-em-up, ''[[River City Ransom]]''.
  
 
==Examples==
 
==Examples==
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|-
 
| ''[[Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja]]'' || 1988-04-?? || [[Data East]]
 
| ''[[Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja]]'' || 1988-04-?? || [[Data East]]
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|-
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| ''[[Battletoads]]'' || 1991-06-?? || [[Rare]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''[[Double Dragon]]'' || 1987-07-?? || [[Technos]]
 
| ''[[Double Dragon]]'' || 1987-07-?? || [[Technos]]
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|-
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| ''[[Double Dragon II: The Revenge]]'' || 1988-??-?? || [[Technos]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''[[Golden Axe]]'' || 1989-05-?? || [[Sega]]
 
| ''[[Golden Axe]]'' || 1989-05-?? || [[Sega]]
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|-
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| ''[[Final Fight]]'' || 1989-12-?? || [[Capcom]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''[[Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu]]'' || 1990-12-?? || [[Now Production]]
 
| ''[[Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu]]'' || 1990-12-?? || [[Now Production]]
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|-
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| ''[[Renegade]]'' || 1986-??-?? || [[Technos]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''[[River City Ransom]] || 1989-04-25 || [[Technos]]
 
| ''[[River City Ransom]] || 1989-04-25 || [[Technos]]
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|}
 
|}
  
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==Links==
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{{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/genre/sheet/beatemup-brawler}}
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{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_%27em_up}}
  
 
[[Category: Video Game Genres]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genres]]

Revision as of 10:30, 23 August 2019

A beat-em-up also spelled beat 'em up or called a brawler, is a genre of video game where the player controls a character who uses close-combat to defeat a multitude of opponents to achieve a goal. These games began in the mid-1980s as 2D side-scrollers and make heavy use of martial arts. Pioneers of the genre include Karateka, Kung-Fu Master, and Jackie Chan no Project A, Over the years, the genre has expanded to include 3D environments and have incorporated many other game mechanics.

Beat-em-ups are similar to several other video game genres like fighting games, which put more emphasis on complex individual character battles than on defeating a multitude of generic opponents, and scrolling shooters, which predominately use ranged weapons which changes the mechanic. Beat-em-ups which have a fantasy theme are often referred to as a hack-and-slash, and some gaming databases make a distinction between the two, but, since the play mechanics are effectively identical, I group them together.

I really loved beat-em-ups when I first saw them in the late-1980s, but now I find the classic beat-em-up to be a flawed gaming mechanic. It was great in the 1980s for draining quarters in the arcade, but it doesn't create a very rewarding gaming experience. While I like the idea of beating the crap out of a bunch of thugs, I dislike having to develop perfect timing and character control which is mandatory for a lot of beat-em-ups. Instead, I prefer those which have growth and story like my favorite beat-em-up, River City Ransom.

Examples

This is a list of beat-em-ups that are important to me.

Title Released Developer
Altered Beast 1988-08-?? Sega
Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja 1988-04-?? Data East
Battletoads 1991-06-?? Rare
Double Dragon 1987-07-?? Technos
Double Dragon II: The Revenge 1988-??-?? Technos
Golden Axe 1989-05-?? Sega
Final Fight 1989-12-?? Capcom
Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu 1990-12-?? Now Production
Renegade 1986-??-?? Technos
River City Ransom 1989-04-25 Technos
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989-??-?? Konami

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png 

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