What happened to beat em' ups?

[alienjesus]

Let's settle it. None of these are as good as Shadows over Mystara and Tower of Doom.

I can't get behind this. The only beat-em-up that comes close to Streets of Rage 2 in my eyes is Guardian Heroes

[Ack]

You guys need more Battle Circuit in your lives.

[BogusMeatFactory]

Let's settle it. None of these are as good as Shadows over Mystara and Tower of Doom.

I can't get behind this. The only beat-em-up that comes close to Streets of Rage 2 in my eyes is Guardian Heroes

Haha too true! When it comes to them all being excellent games, who am I to split hairs.

[ExedExes]

You guys need more Battle Circuit in your lives.

We all do.

with a side of Armored Warriors.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Final Fight is just so sluggish and boring compared to Streets of Rage. Streets is dripping with pure 90s charm and atmosphere. It's brilliantly crafted. Not to say Final Fight is "bad." But comparing those two games is like comparing Pitfall! to Super Mario Bros. or something. It's not even close.

Guardian Heroes is pretty much the best the genre has to offer.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Guardian Heroes is pretty much the best the genre has to offer.

+1

Guardian Heroes is so much better than any other beat 'em up, and I am surprised that in the roughly 20 years since its release, it still hasn't been topped.

[Exhuminator]

I can understand not being crazy about Final Fight 1 & 2, but Final Fight 3 holds its own against Streets of Rage 2 or 3, IMO.

And why doesn't anybody ever mention this one?:

Let's settle it. None of these are as good as Shadows over Mystara and Tower of Doom.

I agree with you. Not only are those my favorite beat 'em ups ever, but they are my all time favorite arcade games. Playing those 4 player is just a whole other level of awesome.

I probably have a thing for medieval beat 'em ups though. I think Golden Axe > Final Fight > Streets of Rage, which is debatably insane but is what it is.

[BogusMeatFactory]

It isn't too crazy a thought. Golden axe 2 in the arcade is very cool....except for the one hit kill tentacle pits that can trap you indefinitely and end your game for good. Blu and I came across that problem when we almost beat the game at a meetup. Game over for us.

[marlowe221]

As much as I love a lot of the games you guys have mentioned, there's one that tops the list for me:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (SNES).

Even my beloved Streets of Rage 2 falls in second place behind that glorious half-shelled masterpiece.

[Sarge]

And why doesn't anybody ever mention this one?:

I think you forgot your sarcasm tag.

(Seriously, though, it'd be great to find one of those carts in the wild.)