Beat 'em up / action-RPG hybrids..... Name 'em!

[BoneSnapDeez]

I really love this style of game. Trying to find some I haven't played - but Google/GameFAQs searching is tricky as these games are generally listed in one category or the other. Here's a brief list of the "obvious" ones, most of which I have played. Any other notable ones? Wanna discuss these games further? Let's get rollin' fam.

The King of Dragons

Knights of the Round

Gate of Doom
Wizard Fire

Dragon Valor

Dungeon Magic

Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom
Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara

Guardian Heroes
Advance Guardian Heroes

Princess Crown
Odin Sphere
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Dragon's Crown

Code of Princess

[MrPopo]

The Dungeons & Dragons games are super borderline on their RPG elements. Your experience level means nothing as it comes at fixed points in the game, so the game is presumably balanced around it. You do have the random drops which can be money for attacking items between stages or spells, and the spells are more interesting than your standard beat 'em up pickups or even the magic in Golden Axe. And the second game also has equipment that randomly drops. I'd say they utterly miss the stat aspect of RPGs but the extensive item and magic system puts them far above a standard beat 'em up.

[isiolia]

Possibly outside of the scope of what you're looking for, but Jade Empire is basically the Bioware RPG structure grafted onto a 3D beat 'em up.

Otherwise, hm, Dungeon Fighter Online?

[Xeogred]

The Dungeons & Dragons games are super borderline on their RPG elements. Your experience level means nothing as it comes at fixed points in the game, so the game is presumably balanced around it. You do have the random drops which can be money for attacking items between stages or spells, and the spells are more interesting than your standard beat 'em up pickups or even the magic in Golden Axe. And the second game also has equipment that randomly drops. I'd say they utterly miss the stat aspect of RPGs but the extensive item and magic system puts them far above a standard beat 'em up.

I grabbed these off the Capcom Steam sale recently, they look pretty cool.

[strangenova]

River City Ransom. It's a beat em up with stats. You grind for money to buy items to increase said stats and unlock new attacks. Also the world is open to you at the start and has humorous dialogue peppered in.

[MrPopo]

The Dungeons & Dragons games are super borderline on their RPG elements. Your experience level means nothing as it comes at fixed points in the game, so the game is presumably balanced around it. You do have the random drops which can be money for attacking items between stages or spells, and the spells are more interesting than your standard beat 'em up pickups or even the magic in Golden Axe. And the second game also has equipment that randomly drops. I'd say they utterly miss the stat aspect of RPGs but the extensive item and magic system puts them far above a standard beat 'em up.

I grabbed these off the Capcom Steam sale recently, they look pretty cool.

Oh, they're very cool. The most involved traditional beat 'em up you'll ever play.

[PartridgeSenpai]

What about the Scott Pilgrim game? That has River City Ransom-ish elements, yes? Does that count as RPG enough?

[BoneSnapDeez]

Yeeeaaah I should clarify that I do indeed mean retro (or "modern retro") 2D stuff.

My hatred of Scott Pilgrim the movie is so strong that I doubt I could ever stomach the game.

I knew there was an old ass one I was forgetting: River City Ransom. Never cared for Technōs stuff much, but I could probably give it another shot.

[Xeogred]

I'm not even sure how easy the Scott Pilgrim game is to come by nowadays, I think it got removed on some digital stores for some reason.

[Fragems]

Some people hate them but the Dragon Ball Z Legacy of Goku games on the GBA are decent RPGish brawlers.