Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups

Above
Short cutscenes show your
champion transforming into his
various animal forms. They’re a nice
little reward and adrenaline kick to
tee up your vastly superior forms.

49

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Namco 1988 360, ARC, FMT, IOS, MOB, NSW, PCE, PS3, PS4,
PSP, PSV, TG16, WII, WIN

SPLATTERHOUSE These aquatic ghouls pop like water balloons if Each area is thick with gore and fleshy horrors.
you smack them with a plank. Beware of sneak attacks here!

Inspired by some of the most iconic horror when he’s suddenly resurrected by the Terror
movies ever made, Splatterhouse was really Mask, which is basically a knock-off of the
violent by games industry standards in hockey mask Jason Voorhees wears in Friday
1988, but it was great fun too. The game’s the 13th Part III. With his new-found energy, Rick
popularity led to two sequels that are well picks himself up off the rotten floorboards and
worth seeking out, as well as a decent reboot starts his journey through the hellish mansion.
from 2010 that was panned on release but
still deserves a try today. Splatterhouse is actually a 2D fighter, and
plays more like Irem’s Kung-Fu Master, with
The game opens with an eerie cinematic that players navigating left and right on a flat
shows students Rick and Jessica hiding from a plane. The grotesque residents of West
lightning storm in the mysterious and isolated Mansion rush at you from both sides, which
West Mansion. As the doors close behind them, can really test your reflexes once flying
Jessica lets out a piercing shriek that tells the enemies and scuttling creatures start
player there’s something dreadful inside the attacking at different heights. You’ll take
house. Things fall silent as the rain continues damage unless the accuracy of your attacks
to pelt down while piercing bolts of electricity is dead-on, so you’ll need a few playthroughs
crackle in the air. You know you’re in for a to learn how each enemy behaves and to
creepy time within the first few seconds, as the work out which strategies work best.
atmospheric intro sets the scene wonderfully.
Handily, Rick can use a variety of weapons
We never actually get to see what happens to to splatter his enemies. The wooden plank is
Rick, but we do know that’s he’s very much dead. primitive but brutal, with a real weight that
Luckily for him, he gets a shot at redemption causes enemies to burst on impact or explode

50

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Bubbles aren’t usually deadly, but these ones Save your rifle ammo on this stage for the boss;
are! Stay patient and wait for an opening. you’ll really need it!

against the background wall. The hunting rifle The bosses are where things get painfully
is gloriously powerful, with a satisfying kick tough. Stage one’s boss is basically a pile of
as you decapitate enemies with each pull of blood and guts that hides a pack of ravenous
the trigger, while the meat cleaver produces a giant leeches. They leap at you without warning
wonderful ‘thwack!’ sound effect as you hack from all angles with their snapping, razor sharp
your enemy’s head off in one swipe. teeth. With only four starting hit points between
you and death, you might need several retries
There’s something sadistically satisfying about to get these boss patterns down, particularly
tearing through each wave of zombies and during stage two’s unforgiving haunted house.
freaks with your powerful arsenal as you fight
to save your sweetheart. The gnarly, gore- The original Splatterhouse wasn’t released on
splattered vibe of the weapons just captures many formats, but it did find a home on the PC
the spirit of horror B-movies wonderfully. The Engine in 1990, also known as the TurboGrafx-16.
power trip you get from each weapon doesn’t The game has also surfaced on various mobile
last long, however. formats over the years and was even included
as an unlockable extra in the 2010 remake for
Things get double-intense when environmental PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The remake had a
hazards start to appear. One section of stage two particularly troubled development, which is well
sees Rick wading through a flooded basement documented online, but despite its brush with
as he fends off slimy water creatures that can development hell, the game isn’t actually that bad.
drain your small life bar in moments. If that isn’t Just go in with low expectations and you’ll be fine.
bad enough, you also have floating spiky balls
to leap over at the same time. You really need As for the arcade original, it’s essential if you’re
laser focus and quick reflexes to survive. a horror fan but keep that difficulty in mind.

51

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

MONSTER SQUAD

The creatures of West Mansion will test your

skills and nerve. Here are some ghastly ghouls

you’ll have to slay to see the end credits …

BODY EATERS POLTERGEIST
The first boss room has piles of guts that hide All the furniture in the boss room has been
giant leeches. Watch for them wriggling in the possessed by a pesky phantom. The key to
background, then move aside to dodge their surviving this gruelling fight is to quickly work out
leaping attacks. Wiggle the joystick to break the angle and height of each piece of furniture
free if they grab you. then attack at the right level to defend yourself.
The painting is quick, so be careful!

MIRROR RICK GHOST MAIDEN
Rick’s reflection comes alive in stage three’s hall Stage five is brutal and these ghostly nuisances don’t
of mirrors. He has the same attacks as you, so be make it any easier. They fly overhead and drop skulls
prepared to duck under punches or leap over his onto Rick as they pass by, so the trick here is to keep
pesky sliding kicks. Try to goad him into attacking, then moving left or right to dodge them. Jump-kick them in
counter once he’s finished. Good luck; he’s tough! their phantom faces when you get chance.

BIGGYMAN INVERTED CROSS
This guy has chainsaws for arms and can quickly This fight starts off as a chase that sees you pursuing
make your life a total misery. You get a rifle earlier a floating cross down a chapel’s hallway. It’s tempting
in this stage, so it’s wise to keep it to help you whittle to rush here, but concentrate on taking out all the
down Biggyman’s health. Get close to goad him flying heads carefully. Wait for the cross to hover low,
into attacking, then kick him before retreating. then get some hits in before taking on more heads.

52

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

SECRET MUTANT THE HEART
Whenever this ferocious beast lands after a jump it You’re in the belly of the beast! The heart can’t
lashes out with its expanding claws. Move away as attack you, but it has a lot of health, so be sure to
far as possible to avoid getting stabbed, and only hit it as many times as possible when you get a
attack with a jump-kick if you’re sure you have time chance. Shift your focus to the bubbles that start
and space to get away to a safe distance. to appear, then go back to the heart.

BRAIN BEAST WATER DEMON
This freakish fellow doesn’t have his head screwed You’ll face these briny blighters in the second act
on properly – after you manage to hit him once, of stage two, which takes place in the mansion’s
his head falls off. Don’t relax just yet, though, as flooded basement. These guys pop up from the
the head flies right at you in a straight line after water without any notice, so be ready to react
a few seconds, so be ready to counter it! and use the wooden plank’s superior range to
manage your distance.

NECROMANCER HELL CHAOS
This guy can raise the dead, so it’s wise to always This is the final boss in the game. After Rick makes
take out his zombies before jump-kicking him in the it through a burning forest, this abomination rises
face a few times. The Necromancer raises his arms from a grave and swipes at him with its decayed
before he reanimates the corpses, so try to stand arms. Fans have speculated for years that he is a
next to them and start kicking to defeat them. reanimated version of the mansion’s owner, Dr. West.

53

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Tecmo 1988 AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, IBM, NES, NSW, PS4, ST,
WII, ZXS

NINJA GAIDEN The arcade and NES editions had early Enemies can also jump between platforms, so it
examples of detailed story cutscenes. pays to stay alert at all times.

Known for its blistering difficulty, the Ninja From low-level goons to brutal stage bosses,
Gaiden series has gone through many all of the enemies in Ninja Gaiden are capable
successful iterations over the years. It all of killing you in just a few hits, so you really do
started with this innovative side-scrolling need to keep moving to avoid getting stuck
arcade beat-‘em-up, in which a nameless ninja in an enemy’s combo string. The best way to
fights an evil cult led by a descendant of approach bad guys is to stand above or below
Nostradamus. It wasn’t until the NES follow-up them and hit punch until they walk in front of
(known as Shadow Warriors in the West) that you, right into the path of your attacks. This is
the ninja would be renamed as Ryu Hayabusa. also a sure-fire way of defeating most bosses.
And with that, a true gaming legend was born.
What really sets Ninja Gaiden apart from other
Supporting one or two players, the arcade brawlers are its slick platforming mechanics and
original takes you across major American cities your character’s athletic abilities. For example,
as you battle psychos, thugs and martial artists you can wall-jump to reach higher ground,
across complex stages full of verticality and flip to avoid danger, and latch onto poles and
hazards. The combat is simple enough, with hand-holds. Once attached to the scenery
standard melee attacks and a neat backflip you can shimmy from left to right, while kicking
throw that you can use to hurl enemies through enemies below you, or use the technique to
destructible scenery, such as crates, street signs skirt around dangerous foes for a sneak attack.
and other objects that shatter and explode There are so many possibilities on offer, but you
violently on impact. If you’re lucky, the broken really do need to be clever about how you move
objects will drop much-needed health pills, time about the environment and react during
limit extenders or katanas, which drastically combat if you want to survive long.
improve your attack power.

54

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Use poles to your advantage to swing down and Bosses are tough, but you can get cheap wins
kick enemies in the chops. by abusing their big hit-boxes.

It’s not just the enemies that are tough, as you Look out for neon signs and other destructible
also have to worry about hazards, like the busy objects to throw enemies into.
highway that you have to cross in the New York
stage. You need to move fast and smart to avoid If straight 2D platforming is your bag, then check
the speeding vehicles during this section, making out the sublime NES trilogy, or if you prefer 3D
it feel closer to Frogger than a fighting game. hack ‘n’ slash games you should give Team
These little challenges help keep the gameplay Ninja’s modern trilogy a whirl. Either way you
fresh, while giving you a welcome breather from can’t lose with this slick, challenging franchise.
the constant onslaught of enemies.

Ninja Gaiden is an interesting game that really
challenged what a side-scroller could be in 1988.
While it has sections of belt-scrolling combat,
the slick platforming mechanics make some
areas feel closer to games like Capcom’s 1989
classic Strider – another game that let players
climb, flip and shimmy around complex
environments. Tecmo has to be applauded for
breaking the mould so early in the genre’s
existence, and for pulling it off so wonderfully.

In any of its forms, the Ninja Gaiden series
is simply essential if you’re a fan of scrolling
beat-‘em-ups or action games in general.

55

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
SEGA 1988 AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, SMS, ST, ZXS

DYNAMITE DÜX The weird intro story is worth watching just for Make short work of the flame boss by pelting it
being totally bonkers. with your water cannon.

Throughout the ‘80s there were many scrolling cast of weird animal opponents, including sumo
beat-‘em-ups that featured urban settings, wrestler pigs, mortar-wielding foxes and boxing
street gangs and vigilantes out for justice. alligators. The dynamic duck duo can fight back
Developed by SEGA’s AM2 team, the vibrant with moves that can be deployed in all eight
Dynamite Düx was the polar opposite of the directions, instead of just left or right. This
seedy back alleys and denim-clad punks gamers multi-directional combat mechanic was unique
were used to. Produced by Out Run director Yu in the genre at the time, and it adds more depth
Suzuki, the game took the genre’s fundamentals to the gameplay overall.
and infused them with cute characters and a
colourful art style, making it one of the most You can dish out some major hurt by holding
unique brawlers of the decade. down the attack button to wind up a huge
punch. Once released, the punch makes your
The game ran on SEGA’s System 16 arcade duck’s fist grow massive, which you’ll need to get
board, which helped the developer produce good at when trying to break down armoured
lavish character sprites, six rich environments to enemies made of rock. There are also many
explore, and some catchy music that bops along varied weapons to be found in each stage,
with the action. There was nothing else like it in including a flamethrower, which is ideal for
1988, so the AM2 team deserves props for trying clearing large mobs of enemies, bombs that can
to give gamers something fresh. be lobbed a great distance, and heat-seeking
rocket launchers. It’s fair to say that these
Dynamite Düx stars two ducks called Bin waterfowl are packing some serious heat.
and Pin, who must fight a cast of weird and
wonderful bad guys to rescue their owner Lucy There aren’t many fighting games that look and
from the evil sorcerer Achacha. It’s a cartoony feel like Dynamite Düx, and that’s testament to
adventure that pits players against a strange the wild imaginations of the team at SEGA AM2.

56

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Fire the flamethrower while tapping up and Don’t fight the stampeding dragon-bearers
down for a bigger area of effect. head-on – dodge them, then react!

It controls wonderfully, and the rich variety of Charge then release your power punch to knock
enemies and weapons will keep you entertained enemies back for extra space.
from start to finish. You’ll also have an absolute
blast with a second player, especially when the If you want to try a truly unique beat-‘em-up
screen gets utterly chaotic, with many enemies that will make you laugh, then partner up with
attacking you at once. a friend and give Dynamite Düx a shot. It might
not be the most challenging game in the genre,
It’s nice to know that the game was a hit back but it does many things that few others do.
in the day. SEGA even took the time to develop
a nice little port for the Master System a year
later. This version scales things back due to
the technical limitations of the 8-bit hardware,
with less fluid animation, fewer on-screen
enemies at one time and fewer weapons to
discover. Despite being scaled back, it’s still
worth trying this version to judge for yourself.
It’s not a bad effort and manages to capture
some of the arcade original’s magic.

The Amiga and Atari ST ports of Dynamite Düx
are notorious for having secret alternate intro
sequences. They reframe the evil sorcerer
Achacha as a pimp who turns Lucy’s outfit into
something a little more saucy before whisking
her away. It’s definitely not one for the kids.

57

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Technōs Japan 1988 3DS, AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, GEN, IBM, MD, MSX,
NES, NSW, PS4, ST, TCD, WII, WIIU, XB1, ZXS

DOUBLE DRAGON II: Marian is shot and killed in the intro this time, The uppercut instantly knocks down enemies to
THE REVENGE which is really dark. give you breathing space.

The arcade build of Double Dragon II started One of the most interesting changes is that
life as a simple technical upgrade of the 1987 you now have a button for attacking left
original before becoming a fully fleshed-out, and another for attacking right, as opposed
standalone sequel. It’s a good thing Technōs to the first game’s punch and kick buttons.
Japan took the project further, as it ended It takes some getting used to at first, but the
up being a vast improvement over the first system helps you pull off life-saving back-
game in every single way, with slicker combat, attacks at speed whenever someone tries
challenging enemies and one of the best to get the drop on you, which saves time as
soundtracks of the era. you don’t have to manually turn around. It’s a
simple change that makes the combat more
Brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee are back as ferocious and tense when facing a big pack
playable characters, but the game world feels of thugs.
even more post-apocalyptic than it did before.
Some enemies, like the stage one boss Burnov, Unfortunately, the arcade edition of the game
with his kinky leather harness and weird suffers from horrendous slowdown whenever
welding mask, look like they were ripped right there are two or more enemies on screen.
out of a Mad Max movie, while others seem It makes what could have been a slick and
to have technical augmentations like robotic frenetic combat mechanic feel like a tedious
limbs. It’s not clear exactly when the game slog, especially when you’re contending with
takes place, but it certainly has a darker vibe, the input delay that occurs when everything
as it starts with a cutscene of Billy’s girlfriend starts grinding to a crawl. Most frustrating of
Marian being shot dead by the Black Warriors all, you have to input your jump-kicks really
gang. It was quite a shocking way to open early to make sure they find their mark.
a game in 1988.

58

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Your standard kicks are good for keeping tough Use the left and right attack buttons to hit
enemies at a safe distance. swarming enemies on both sides.

These issues persist throughout the whole Just as in the first game, the final stage is a test
game, but it’s something you can adapt to with of patience and skill.
some patience. It’s a pain point, as Technōs
Japan really did improve every aspect of the the enemy types. You don’t have to look far to
original in Double Dragon II. You just need to find videos of players completing the whole
stick with the game and bear with its problems game with just a single credit, which is proof it
a little to fully appreciate the effort they put in. can be done. The game might not have aged
gracefully, but it’s still testing the skills of new
It’s also a brutal game, with enemies that can players to this day.
hit you back through your own attacks. You can
sometimes stun them to the spot with punches,
but this is an inconsistent mechanic that only
works some of the time. All of this means there’s
no sure-fire strategy to take down enemies
without taking damage, so you just have to
think on your feet, keep moving and adapt
to what’s happening. If you like a challenge,
you’ll certainly get one here.

This, for many players, is where the beauty
of Double Dragon II lies. It’s like a tricky puzzle
box that has the power to beat you up every
time you fail to decipher it. Many players over
the years have risen to the game’s challenge
to work out the best strategies for each of

59

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

CRUSH THE BLACK
WARRIORS GANG!

The enemies of Double Dragon II are a nasty
bunch who will test your fighting skills to the
max. Here are some tips to help you out …

BURNOV O’HARA
He’s big and burly, but thankfully Burnov’s not as This guy is one of many Double Dragon II enemies
difficult as he looks, as you can easily get him into named after characters from the 1973 movie Enter
a loop of repeated jumping kicks if you line him up the Dragon. He acts quite similarly to Abobo from
correctly. You can also approach him from above the first game, with a big straight kick and crushing
or below and get in a punch combo. punch combos. Use flying kicks or combos from
above or below to defeat him.

BOLO ABORE
This guy is basically the same as O’Hara, but Blatantly styled on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
tends to be far more aggressive. Bolo can duck Terminator, Abore is another variation on O’Hara
under your flying kicks then unleash a vicious and Bolo, but far more difficult. His big wrestler-like
counter-attack on you. He can also knock you arm-chop can cut right through any of your attacks,
down instantly with a colossal two-handed slap. so you can’t rely on jumping kicks. Goad him to
Combos are your friend here. attack then counter from above or below.

60

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

LINDA WILLIAMS
The Black Warriors gang’s only female member, This guy is the most basic enemy you’ll face during
Linda is a mohawked punk who often carries a knife Double Dragon II. He might seem weak, but can
that she can hurl across the screen for huge damage. utterly destroy you if there are lots of enemies
Walk up or down to avoid her projectiles and get in onscreen, causing you stress. He can also cartwheel
close for a melee combo or grapple attack. through your attacks and throw weapons. Get in
quick and combo him.

ROPER DOUBLE ILLUSION
This eyepatch-wearing thug is a more aggressive For some reason you have to fight through illusion
and deadly version of Williams. He can bear-hug clones of Billy and Jimmy. They come packing the
you from behind and leave you exposed to attacks same moves as our heroes, so keep your distance
from his friends. Simply waggle the joystick and and wait for a safe opening to strike. These guys
hammer the buttons to escape. Use back attacks really are the perfect example of lazy palette-
to keep him at bay. swapping in the genre.

JEFF CHIN TAIMEI
This guy could maybe be part of the same dojo as This skilled martial artist guards the Black Warriors’
Billy and Jimmy, as he uses some of the same lair. Chin often jumps towards you with a flying kick
moves. He has a powerful uppercut that can send that you can avoid by walking up or down, and he
you flying, so try to either avoid standing in front can also swipe you with his batons. Trigger his baton
of him or use the reach of your back kick. combo then walk around him for a quick attack.

61

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Data East 1988 AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, MSX, NES, NSW, ST, WIN, ZXS

BAD DUDES Look at them there, shouting and flexing like a Your standard kick is great for taking out groups
VS. DRAGONNINJA pair of truly bad dudes. of goons in one swift blow.

President Ronnie has been kidnapped by ninjas Okay, so all joking aside, this game is a little
– are you a bad enough dude to rescue him? rough around the edges, and you might even
That’s basically the entire plot of Bad Dudes find the controls and combat mechanics pretty
vs. DragonNinja, the 2D brawler equivalent clunky to begin with. The home ports are also
of a bad ‘80s action movie that went straight a bit of a failure, especially the choppy and
to VHS. Whether they meant it as a parody or unenjoyable NES edition, which handles worse
they were being genuine, the team at Data than a busted shopping cart on ice. The arcade
East basically used a warped view of American version performs best, and it’s one of many side-
culture and action flicks to create a game that scrollers that actually gets better if you persevere
is both quaint and unintentionally hilarious. and take time to rise to its challenge.

You can see it in both of the game’s playable Each stage is locked into a flat 2D perspective,
fighters, Blade and Striker: these titular bad similar to that of games like The Ninja Warriors
dudes are hulking meatheads who look like (p42) and Two Crude Dudes (p151). You’ll be
they could have played henchmen in an Arnold assaulted by enemies on both sides constantly,
Schwarzenegger blockbuster. They wear radical so you’ll need to react quickly to the onslaught
hi-top sneakers, bodacious workout tops and of thugs and ninjas trying to take you down. You
guzzle refreshing all-American cola to regain can also leap up and down between platforms
health. They also scream ‘I’m bad!’ whenever to dodge incoming attacks and to get the drop
they beat a boss, courtesy of some grainy voice on bad guys from above. There are even a few
sampling. All said, they are quite literally the useful weapons you can pick up to get a damage
baddest dudes our planet has ever seen or will boost, such as nunchaku and a pair of ninja sai,
ever see again. Don’t let any chump try to tell as well as a power punch you can charge up to
you different. hit multiple enemies at once.

62

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

The forest is a gauntlet of enemies leaping down The final battle takes place on a chopper trying
at you. Tread carefully! to extract President Ronnie.

You’ll need all the help you can get while facing Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja is an easy game
the gauntlet of tough enemies standing in your to write off at first glance, as it doesn’t leave
way. The action gets especially hectic once the a great initial impression. It’s something of an
screen fills up with multiple enemy types, each underdog that’s gained a cult following due to its
with their own signature attacks. Grey ninjas can hammy intro sequence, as well as a crazy ending
hit you from a distance with thrown kunai, and cutscene that shows Blade and Striker joining
even litter the ground with spiky caltrops that President Ronnie on the White House lawn for an
cause a chunk of damage if you step on them. all-American burger. Amazingly, the NES version
Blue ninjas are pretty simple, but they can also lacked all mention of Ronnie, as Nintendo of
unleash their katana and leap into the air to America didn’t allow games on the format
slash you with a downward strike. to contain political content.

The bosses can also be a handful, each with their Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja is a scrappy little
own attack patterns, and hard-hitting moves game that actually has a lot to offer if you’re
that can sap your health in just a couple of hits. willing to give it a fair chance. Give the home
The forest boss is an iron-clad raider who looks ports a miss and stick with the arcade original
like an extra from Mad Max. He can hit you with instead. Luckily, this version is available cheap
a spinning drop kick that utterly devastates your on several modern consoles, so it’s easy to get
life bar, so knowing when to back off and when your own copy.
to advance is the key to survival. The sewer’s
ninja boss is also a total git, as he’s capable
of morphing into many shadow clones that
all attack you at once. Jumping between the
arena’s two levels is a solid tactic here.

63

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

64

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

CLASSIC MOMENT

Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja – burger time
If you’re bad enough, you’ll survive to the end
of the game and rescue President Ronnie from
the evil DragonNinja. The plucky prez invites the
Bad Dudes onto the White House lawn for an
all-American hamburger and some much-
deserved praise. What a guy.

65

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Konami 1988 FAM, NES, WIIU

THE ADVENTURES This is the first area. Good luck getting past it Jumping past the crocodiles is a real pain,
OF BAYOU BILLY without losing a life. thanks to some dodgy platforming.

Clearly inspired by the 1986 movie Crocodile Every enemy hits hard, sometimes taking
Dundee, The Adventures of Bayou Billy stars multiple chunks of Billy’s health bar away
a survivalist vigilante from New Orleans who with just a single punch. It makes the game
sets out into the perilous bayou to take down a frustrating, tedious slog from the very first
a ruthless crime lord. The game is notorious moment. It doesn’t help that it suffers from
for its brutal, unforgiving difficulty level, as disappearing sprites once the screen gets too
even the most seasoned beat-‘em-up fans busy. Fighting aside, Konami innovated here,
could find themselves losing a life to the very thanks to shooter stages that use the NES
first enemy. You’ll need a truckload of skill, Zapper light gun, and driving sections. But do
patience and luck to make it past the first yourself a favour and avoid this backwater
stage. It really is that unbalanced. bungle of a game.

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
SNK 1988 ARC, NES

P.O.W.: While it’s not exactly Metal Slug, the gunplay in The neutral jump-kick is great for knocking
PRISONERS OF WAR P.O.W. has a decent kick. down enemy soldiers to make space.

This explosive military brawler follows a pair The violent military setting is also a nice
of captured soldiers as they stage an epic change from the urban street brawlers of
prison break. You and a friend can team up to the late ‘80s, with plenty of army bases, tank
punch, kick and shoot your way through each depots and dingy bunkers to fight through.
of the four action-packed levels, which are While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, P.O.W.
teeming with highly-skilled troopers trying gives a glimpse of SNK’s early years before it
to take you down. P.O.W. only has a few enemy unleashed its classic side-scrollers, such as
types, but SNK shakes things up occasionally the Sengoku trilogy (p162, p256 & p344) and
with troopers on motorbikes, demolition Robo Army (p130), onto the world. It’s still a
experts who lob grenades, and knife- solid game that’s worth checking out.
wielding assassins.

66

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Ocean Software 1988 C64, CPC, NES, ZXS

There aren’t many enemy varieties, but the Send these rampaging bikers toppling with a TARGET:
game is still a laugh. well-placed flying kick. RENEGADE

This sequel to Renegade shakes up the formula The combat has standard punches and kicks, a
a little by moving away from the original’s handy leg sweep and a duck move that lets you
arena-based environment and adopting a dodge incoming attacks. There’s also a jumping
traditional side-scrolling format, as in Double kick that can be tricky to pull off at speed, but
Dragon (p36). This time, the Renegade’s you can get used to it. Target: Renegade is a
brother has been kidnapped by a crime lord pretty simple brawler when compared to more
called Mr. Big, and you have to fight his army complex games in the genre. The NES edition
of minions to get him back. The first thing that is pretty stingy, too, as it only gives you one life.
hits you is the game’s banging soundtrack by You might enjoy the challenge that it presents,
composer Tim Follin, who made some of the though, so why not give it a try?
best game tunes of the ‘80s era.

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Irem 1988 AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, MSX, NSW, PCE, PS4, ST,
TG16, WII, WIIU, ZXS

The nunchaku give you a massive damage boost Just like in Kung-Fu Master, the kick has great VIGILANTE
against packs of tough enemies. range and stopping power.

This 2D brawler is considered a spiritual sequel Enemies can latch onto you then choke you out
to Irem’s Kung-Fu Master (p26). Once you start if you come into contact with them, so you have
playing, you’ll start to feel the similarities to wiggle the joystick to shake them loose. This
between them almost immediately. You’re can get especially stressful when your health
cast as a skilled martial artist who must fight is dangerously low. While its core mechanics
the Skinheads gang across New York City to are the same as Kung-Fu Master’s, Vigilante is
rescue his girlfriend, Madonna. a drastic improvement over the original. Irem
tweaked it just enough without losing the core
Like Kung-Fu Master, Vigilante’s gameplay is gameplay, with fluid animation, slick controls
set on a flat 2D plane and features endless and detailed backdrops. All of this makes it an
waves of enemies that rush you from both sides. essential experience for fans of the original.

67

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Jaleco 1988 PCE, TG16

TAKEDA SHINGEN Flail and polearm troops can really hurt you at It’s a great-looking game, but walking slowly
range. Try flanking and moving behind them. over empty areas makes it a slog.

Takeda Shingen was a real general in feudal The game’s text hasn’t been localised, but
Japan during the nation’s Sengoku period. In buying food to restore health is advised.
this game you control the titular swordsman
as he travels across the country battling has one life. Instead, you have to spend your
invading foot soldiers and enemy generals. hard-earned yen on sushi to refill your health
bar. This mechanic provides a balance between
There isn’t really much to the combat here, risk and reward, as you can farm enemies for
as Takeda only has one simple sword swipe money to spend on health, but you might be
and walks as slowly as if he’s wading through killed if you’re careless. This makes Takeda
superglue. He also has a jump, but it’s largely Shinden a game for anyone looking for a
just for show as he can’t even attack in mid-air. real challenge.
While your options are limited, fights can still
be intense as you have to know when to go
in for a sword strike and when to hang back
and let the enemy give you an opening.

Combat aside, the game has a few features
that were quite advanced for beat-‘em-ups in
1988, such as a currency system and experience
points that you earn by defeating enemies.
It’s primitive, but gives you a nice sense of
progression as you slog through the game.

Incredibly, Takeda’s health doesn’t refill
automatically between stages and he only

68

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Jaleco 1989 ARC

The sprite scaling used in the screen-throw Your kick has good range, but, rather HACHOO!
looks incredible in motion. annoyingly, it can still miss enemies.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a beat-‘em-up about
sneezing. It’s a quirky game that pioneered a
visual trick that has appeared in many brawlers
over the years: you can grab enemies and hurl
them towards the screen, causing their faces
and bulging eyeballs to smack against it.

The most famous side-scroller to use this trick This boss is savage. Expect to continue here
is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time many times before he drops.
(p154). You have to use the screen-throw to
defeat Shredder in the Technodrome, which with the instant-death pitfalls, you’ll find much
was a genius move from developer Konami. to get annoyed about here.
So if anything, the genre owes Hachoo! for
introducing this neat mechanic into the mix. Hachoo! is still worth checking out for its quirky
That’s basically where the innovation ends, vibe and tough challenge, and the foreground
though, as the core game is a plodding little throw move should also be experienced by
affair that can get quite frustrating. everyone at least once. So do give it a shot
but keep your expectations low.
It’s often hard to line your martial artist up with
enemies to hit them correctly, and it doesn’t help
that enemy hit boxes give them a ludicrous and
unfair reach. You’ll really find yourself in a world
of hurt and rage once the enemies start hurling
rocks at you with lethal efficiency. These issues
mean you can be flattened in moments; along

69

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Capcom 1989 360, AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, GBA, IOS, NSW, PS3,
PS4, SCD, ST, WIIU, WIN, XB1, ZXS

FINAL FIGHT All the characters have both big and subtle The car-smashing mini-game from Street
differences that set them apart. Fighter II first appeared here.

This is it: the game-changer. Final Fight is for the genre, moving forward. Aside from the
considered by many gamers to be the greatest usual standing combos and jump-kicks, you can
scrolling beat-‘em-up ever made, and it’s easy also press both buttons together to unleash
to see why. Since Kung-Fu Master (p26) hit the a crowd-breaking special, but at the cost of
arcade scene in 1984, no game in this genre some health, which makes you think twice
offered graphics so dense with detail and before spamming it recklessly. Haggar’s
gameplay as fluid and satisfying as Capcom’s spinning lariat special is particularly savage
juggernaut. Everything from the sprites and great for taking out packs of thugs.
and animation to the characters and
soundtrack still holds up today, making You can also grab enemies by simply walking
this a true timeless classic. into them, which is another mechanic perfected
by Capcom. Once you have a foe in your grasp
Originally called Street Fighter ‘89, Final Fight you can either smash their face in with a
whisked players to the crime-infested streets of combo, or hurl them through the air into a pack
Metro City. In an attempt to bring mayor Mike of thugs. The latter is great for clearing the
Haggar to heel, the evil Mad Gear gang kidnap screen once the action heats up, allowing you
his daughter, Jessica, to gain his co-operation. some extra breathing space. Overall, the melee
Enraged, the former street fighter teams up combat feels satisfying and chunky, with many
with Jessica’s partner, Cody, and his martial bone-breaking attacks at your disposal.
artist buddy, Guy, to rid the city of the gang’s
influence once and for all. Weapons are also a huge part of Final Fight’s
genius, as each character uses them a little
The gameplay here is simple, but its fluid differently. For example, Cody is skilled with
simplicity helped set a best-in-class standard knives, so gets to attack a few times with a

70

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

This fight against two Andores (based on Haggar’s drop kick has superb range. Hold
André the Giant) will test your skills to the limit. down and attack for a frog splash.

blade before throwing it, while Guy and This guy spits out some bubblegum. Pick it up
Haggar can only throw them. There are other for a sliver of health (ew!).
variations between the characters that make
them feel unique, affecting walk speed, attack years, including its stunning Alien vs. Predator
strength and combo strings. Compare this tie-in (p262) and the glorious Cadillacs and
to the completely identical Lee brothers in Dinosaurs (p224).
Double Dragon, and you can see why this
variation is important.

Final Fight didn’t just refine and perfect
everything scrolling beat-‘em-ups had achieved
up to this point, it also laid down the roadmap
for the genre’s future. Even seemingly small
things, like yellow and red life bars, would go
on to appear in many games over the years. It
also gave us our first glimpse of Street Fighter
characters Rolento, Abigail and Sodom, who
all featured as Final Fight boss characters.

Along with Double Dragon (p36) and Streets of
Rage (p122), Final Fight is simply one of the most
important scrolling brawlers in the history of
the genre. The game’s success gave Capcom
the confidence to make similar titles for many

71

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

WELCOME TO METRO CITY

Join us on a quick tour of Metro City’s districts
and pick up some helpful hints on how to defeat
Belger and his Mad Gear gang.

STAGE 1

SLUM
Your battle to save Jessica begins with
a short scrap on the streets, which is a
chance to get used to how the combat
works and the way enemies behave.
Watch out for the charging guys in the
basement storage room, and try to use
throws against the stage boss.

STAGE 2

SUBWAY
The action intensifies, with a long gauntlet
through a speeding subway train. This is
also your first encounter with Andore, who
can completely drain your health with just
a few running strikes. When the screen
gets crazy, try throwing enemies into
each other to deal damage and break
up crowds.

STAGE 3

WEST SIDE
Metro City’s entertainment district is full
of neon lights and classy bars. Halfway
through this stage you’ll be forced to fight
a wrestling ring full of Andores. Use the
weapons to defeat them, then get ready
to fight the stage boss. Walk up and
down to dodge his pistol fire.

72

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Above
More than just a map screen,
Final Fight’s depiction of Metro
City charts your progress through
each gruelling stage, as you fight
seemingly endless waves of punks
to reach Mad Gear’s leader, Belger.

73

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

74

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

STAGE 4

INDUSTRIAL AREA
The biggest challenges in this area are the

flame jets that burst from the floor. Try to
avoid them as best as you can, and throw

enemies into them for extra damage.
The stage ends with an elevator fight
against Rolento. Keep moving to dodge

his grenades.

STAGE 5

BAY AREA
This is potentially the hardest stage in the

entire game, as it has an eye-watering
number of enemies that will test your

mettle. Watch out for rolling barrels from
both sides of the screen and take them

out with jump-kicks. Use jumping attacks
and specials to defeat Abigail.

STAGE 6

UPTOWN
Your assault on Belger’s Headquarters
begins with a scrap on the street followed
by a rooftop rumble. The knife-wielding
El Gados are a pain here, so walk up and
down to avoid their leaping slashes. Use

throws and jumping kicks to take out
Belger and save Jessica.

75

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

CLASSIC MOMENT

Final Fight – Belger’s downfall
The last moments of Final Fight are iconic. At the
very end of the game, you’ll face the Mad Gear
gang’s kingpin, Belger. It’s a tough fight, but
eventually you’ll land the killer blow, which sends
a screaming Belger smashing through a window
and down to the tarmac below.

76

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

77

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Atari Games 1989 AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, NES, ST, ZXS

SKULL & CROSSBONES Sword fights can be intense, but pick your Jumping is automatic, but beware of swooping
moment to land a killer blow. hazards, like this bat demon.

By 1989 standards, this swashbuckling twist, you have to press a button to turn your
brawler was actually quite innovative for the character around, which means you can stay
way it blended platforming, fighting game facing your opponent as you clash swords and
mechanics and contextual set pieces. It could duel to the death. It’s easy to get back-stabbed
be seen as a straight-up platform game, but at first, as you’ll probably forget that you can’t
there are side-scroller elements here that switch direction with the joystick, but you’ll
make it worth examining a little further. quickly get used to it. Your sword’s attack power
Either way, Atari Games was definitely is actually based on your pirate’s wealth, so you
thinking outside of the box with this one. should take time to dig up some booty before
launching your attack. Digging up treasure
Skull & Crossbones supports up to two players, takes time, however, so you’ll want to make
casting you as heroic pirate captains One- sure the coast is clear first.
Eye and Red Dog. The princess of their land
has been kidnapped by a wizard and, to make This does mean that you have to be strategic
matters worse, they’ve had all of their precious with spacing and make sure you’re always
pirate booty stolen. Together, they must defending yourself while digging up treasure.
pillage rival ships, battle mythical creatures in Enemies can also block – adding a bit of
cavernous dungeons, and rumble with lethal challenge and tension when facing multiple
ninjas. So yeah, this game has pirates fighting opponents – so it feels good to break through
ninjas, which is pretty awesome all on its own. their defences and land that killer blow. You
get a nice level of feedback from the combat,
Both pirates can attack enemies with their and it’s slick enough that you should have great
cutlasses using close-range swipes and longer fun clashing with the game’s cast of weird and
lunges that deal more damage. In a neat wonderful enemies.

78

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Walk backwards here to avoid Medusa’s stony The ninjas are skilled fighters. Keep moving and
stare, then land a finishing strike. attack with accuracy to beat them.

On top of the combat, you also get to partake Some enemies can parry your sword – keep
in some light platforming, but there’s no jump hammering attacks to break through.
button so it’s basically scripted. You’ll notice
markers on the ground that let you know if part gameplay to see you through to the end of the
of the scenery is interactive; all you have to do game’s short running time. Give it a try with a
is touch the icon to jump over gaps, swing on friend and see what you think.
ropes, climb ladders and more. It’s a simple
system, but it does give stages a nice degree
of verticality and removes the danger of
instant death pitfalls as it’s nearly impossible
to fluff a jump. Anyone who has made it to the
vanishing platform section in Double Dragon
II: The Revenge (p58) will know that unforgiving
platforming can really kill a side-scroller’s
sense of fun.

Looking back now, it’s easy to write this game
off as unpolished and primitive, but you have
to keep in mind that it was fairly ambitious for
its day, and came at a time when studios were
getting to grips with what powerful arcade
technology could do. Atari’s commitment to
the pirate theme is actually kind of charming,
with fun environments and decent enough

79

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Konami 1989 360, AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, MSX, NES, ST, WII, ZXS

TEENAGE MUTANT The opening cutscene is superb and features The flying kick is weak, but its knock-back is
NINJA TURTLES the show’s classic theme song. great for crowd control.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a pop long before a video game adaptation would
culture powder keg that exploded when the emerge. Konami had the great honour of
cartoon’s pilot episode debuted in 1987. It was bringing the Turtles into the gaming world,
called ‘Turtle Tracks’, and it gave kids around producing a superb arcade debut that
the world their first glimpse of Leonardo, supported four players.
Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo fighting
the villainous Shredder and his clan of Foot The game’s plot was based on the show’s first
ninjas. The impact on kids and grown-ups season. It opens with the Turtles rushing to
everywhere was near-instantaneous. save master news reporter April O’Neil from
her burning apartment building, which has
You couldn’t move in the late ‘80s for Turtles been overrun by Foot Clan ninjas. The plot then
merchandise: from action figures and clothing unfolds into a grand battle against many of
to bubble bath and skateboards. The series the show’s weird and wonderful villains across
also received one brilliant, surprisingly dark, New York City.
live-action movie version and two less-
awesome sequels. There was simply no You can play as any of the brothers, who each
escaping the Turtles craze when it hit. have different attacks. Donatello’s bo staff
You really had to be there. offers unmatched reach, while Raphael’s sai
have limited range but offer faster swipes. Aside
There was also no way the original comic’s from standard melee combos, you also have
creators, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, jumping strikes, throws and specials to help you
could have known just how big their creation make short work of Foot Clan thugs, Mousers,
would become, but as with all huge licensed and other enemies in your path. While the base
properties back in the ‘80s, it wouldn’t be combat feels simple, you can use a number of

80

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

If you get stun-locked like this, use one of the Avoid standing parallel to these robots and
two-button specials to break free. you’ll dodge their electric lasso.

strategies to get the drop on certain enemies. Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a
For example, you can use Raphael’s two-button great game that feels satisfying to play solo or
special to roll under boomerangs thrown by with friends. It’s got weighty combat, chunky
yellow Foot ninjas, then kick them. sprites and hectic action that crams multiple
enemies onto the screen at once. It’s no wonder
Konami really knocked it out of the park with the game is regarded as an icon of the side-
the slick gameplay, but it does stumble a little scrolling genre today.
whenever your Turtle gets knocked down by
enemies. There’s a huge delay while they fall Konami would later take this winning formula
over, stumble, then get back up, which just and apply it to future games in the Ninja Turtles
breaks the flow of combat. But this a minor series, including The Manhattan Project (p166),
complaint compared to some of the bosses the outstanding Turtles in Time (p154) and even
that feel designed to gobble up the pocket a superb port of the arcade game on NES that’s
money of unsuspecting kids. well worth seeking out.

The stage design is colourful and detailed, One of the lesser-known Ninja Turtles games
with several hazards and interactive elements that you absolutely must play is Ubisoft
thrown into the mix, like rolling iron balls that Montreal’s incredible TMNT (p370), based
can crush you, and parking meters that you can on the 2007 CGI movie. It’s by the same team
hit towards enemies like projectiles. Detailed that made the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
backdrops combine with fluid character tie-in (p384), but we’ll get to those games
animation to give everything a cartoon vibe. The a little later …
banging music is also upbeat and catchy, with
a tense boss battle theme that will make you
sweat when your health is running low.

81

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

MEET THE CAST

Konami stayed true to the Turtles licence by including a

rogue’s gallery of villains from the show. Here’s an introduction

to the heroes and some helpful enemy strategies.

DONATELLO RAPHAEL

LEONARDO MICHELANGELO

PURPLE FOOT NINJA PINK FOOT NINJA

82

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

ORANGE FOOT NINJA YELLOW FOOT NINJA

WHITE FOOT NINJA MOUSER

ROADKILL RODNEY ROCKSTEADY

83

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

BEBOP GRANITOR

GENERAL TRAAG BAXTER STOCKMAN

SHREDDER KRANG

84

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DONATELLO ROADKILL RODNEY
Good old Donnie is a solid pick for your first playthrough, These robots are hard to hit, as they zip around quickly.
as his bo staff gives him the best attack range among the Every so often they’ll stop and an arm will come out, which
brothers. This lets you stun-lock and destroy enemies at means they’re about to shoot a laser across the screen.
a safe distance, while reserving your two-button special If you see one spin on the spot, walk up or down to avoid its
for crowd control when things get heated. electric lasso.

RAPHAEL ROCKSTEADY
The hot-headed Raph has the shortest attack range of Rocksteady is a former street thug who was transformed
the brothers, but he’s been balanced wonderfully, thanks by the same mutagen that made the Turtles. This horned
to his unique two-button special. Hit attack and jump hellion lets rip with his machine gun while running around
together and Raphael will pull off a rolling kick that bowls like crazy. Keep moving to dodge his bullets, and only
over anyone unfortunate enough to be in his path. move into the attack after he’s done firing.

LEONARDO BEBOP
Ever the dependable leader, Leonardo is the all-rounder of Bebop is from the same street gang as Rocksteady
the bunch, with a neat dual katana combo and medium and has a pretty similar attacking cycle. Use the
attacking range. Just like those of the other turtles, his same strategies and you should be fine. Things get really
two-button special will kill most standard Foot Clan ninjas tough when you fight them both together. Good luck!
in a single strike, so it’s great when swarmed.
GRANITOR
MICHELANGELO While he looks intimidating, Granitor can easily be
The loveable party dude Michelangelo attacks quickly with defeated by landing a quick hit then backing off before
his nunchaku, giving him a slight speed advantage over he gets a chance to counter-attack. Just be careful to
his slower brothers, Donatello and Leonardo. Raphael is wait until his flamethrower jet dies down before moving in.
still the fastest turtle of the bunch, but his short attacking Beat him to save your sensei, Splinter.
range makes him more risky than Mikey.
GENERAL TRAAG
PURPLE FOOT NINJA Traag might be made out of rock, but he’s really a
These standard Foot Ninjas usually fight bare-handed and big softie. He rarely fires his rifle, so just use the same
tend to get a cheeky few punches in when you’re caught technique as for Granitor, and don’t get too cocky with
off guard. They can also hit you from a distance with your attacks. Repeatedly hit him with a single blow from
spears, flying kicks or shurikens. If you see these attacks above or below before backing off, and he’ll crumble.
coming, just walk up or down to avoid them.
BAXTER STOCKMAN
PINK FOOT NINJA This crazy snivelling scientist scoots around in a hovercraft
These guys walk around holding giant hammers that can while dropping Mouser attack robots. Watch out for his
take off a serious chunk of your health bar with just a flying pattern and hit him with a jump-kick at the right
single hit. Thankfully, the weight of their hammers means time. Be sure to take out the Mousers with a special when
they have a generous wind-up, meaning their move is there are too many of them.
clearly telegraphed. Move out the way to avoid damage.
SHREDDER
ORANGE FOOT NINJA The final boss is Splinter’s old master, the villainous
These guys will hold either ninja stars or an automatic Shredder. He appears with a shadow clone while attacking
cannon. They’ll only fire their deadly projectiles once with his katana, and lightning blasts that will revert you
they’re standing parallel with you. They can even do this back to a normal baby turtle. Flying kicks are your friend
when they’re right across the other side of the screen, here. Beat him to complete the game. Cowabunga!
so stay sharp and watch your surroundings!
KRANG
YELLOW FOOT NINJA Krang is Shredder’s boss, and the freaky alien overlord
The yellow Foot Ninja lets rip with disorientating from Dimension X who commands the Technodrome.
boomerangs that fly along a wider arc than ninja stars or Stand slightly above or below him and give him a quick
throwing knives. They’ll reach behind their heads to grab a slap before retreating to dodge his kick. Walk up and down
boomerang first, so look out for this tell, and get well clear to avoid his rocket punch and laser eyes.
by either retreating or walking vertically.

WHITE FOOT NINJA
Masters of bladed combat, the White Foot ninjas hold
throwing knives that they can hurl horizontally across the
screen. They can throw their blades really quickly and
without any real telegraphing, so try to avoid standing
parallel to them and use jump-kicks to break them up.

MOUSERS
Developed by Baxter Stockman, these pesky mouse-
hunting robots can make your life difficult if you’re
careless. They can lunge at you and bite your arm, which
will root you to the spot and leave you vulnerable. Use
jump-kicks or your two-button special to hit them safely.

85

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
SEGA 1989 360, AMI, AND, ARC, C64, CPC, GEN, IOS, MAC,
PCE, PS3, SMS, ST, TG16, WII, WIN, WSC, XB1, ZXS

GOLDEN AXE Each player has the same base moves, but Smash an imp quickly to make it drop health
they possess different magic spells. and magic vials.

From the mind of Altered Beast’s lead weapon combos, running charge attacks and
designer, Makoto Uchida, Golden Axe was jumping swipes. The magic system was a real
a huge smash when it launched in arcades. innovation and set Golden Axe apart from the
Running on SEGA’s powerful System 16  crowd. Along the way, you’ll encounter pesky
hardware, the game whisked players away imps that drop blue magic vials and health-
to the dark fantasy world of Yuria, which has restoring meat when you hit them, although
become oppressed by an evil warlord called they can be a real handful to catch as they dart
Death Adder. The game was well received by around the screen. If you hit the magic button
most game critics at launch, and it spawned when you only have a few vials, your fighter uses
a trilogy (p86, p168 & p234) as well as a a weaker spell that only does a bit of damage to
few questionable spin-offs, such as the all enemies on screen, but if you save up enough
Saturn’s one-on-one tournament fighter, vials to max out your magic meter, you can
Golden Axe: The Duel. unleash a larger spell that absolutely wrecks
most standard enemies in one blow. It’s well
There are three playable fighters to choose worth saving up as much magic as possible for
from, starting with the hulking barbarian Ax each stage boss, as it’ll help you defeat them
Battler, who, despite his name, doesn’t use more quickly.
an axe in combat but can deploy a range of
earth-based spells. You can also play as You’ll need the help, too, as Golden Axe
Amazon pyromancer Tyris Flare, who can has a wicked difficulty curve that ramps up
summon her colossal dragon to ravage the significantly as you progress through the game.
battlefield with flame, and Gilius Thunderhead, Standard enemies range from mace-wielding
an axe-wielding dwarf who zaps enemies with raiders to skeleton warriors that burst forth
lightning spells. Magic spells aside, each from the ground to challenge you, but the
character handles the same, with standing bosses are a whole other story. One of

86

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Hit an enemy to stun-lock them, but watch your It’s worth saving up your magic vials to hit the
back for sneak attacks! boss with your strongest spells.

the trickiest encounters pits you against two
towering brutes with war hammers who charge
at you. They can quickly flank you from both
sides unless you keep moving, but you should
be able to keep the pressure up using dashing
attacks of your own.

Some enemies attack you with rideable mounts Bizzarians are strong, but make you a bigger
called Bizzarians, which you can commandeer. target. Keep moving to avoid attacks.
These creatures can really help you turn the tide
of battle, but they’ll run away if you fall off too game that has a superb dark fantasy vibe.
many times, so there’s definitely a sense of The magic spells feel great to use, the game’s
tension when trying to keep a mount for as long soundtrack perfectly matches the overall tone,
as possible. Perhaps the most famous mount is and there’s a fun time to be had in two-player
Chicken Legs, which first appeared as an enemy mode. Later releases would sour the franchise,
in Altered Beast (p44). It can whip enemies with but the first few entries are still magical.
its club-like tail from a decent range; there’s
also a pair of dragons that spew fire for huge
damage. The Bizzarians were the basis for
Golden Axe: Beast Rider – a disastrous 2008
reboot that effectively killed the franchise, as
there hasn’t been a new entry since.

While Golden Axe’s sluggish and simplistic
combat hasn’t aged too well, it’s still a fun

87

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

CLASSIC MOMENT

Golden Axe – going beyond the game
The ending of Golden Axe arcade is bizarre. After slaying
Death Adder, you’ll see a couple of kids playing the game
in a modern-day arcade. The game’s enemies suddenly
burst from the cabinet and flood into reality. Our heroes
then give chase to save the world once again.

88

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

89

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Kaneko 1989 ARC, GEN, MD

DJ BOY

The bosses are really random and odd, like this Even though the game is ropey, it does have a
male stripper. wide range of enemies.

This hip-hop-inspired brawler from Japanese Larger enemies and bosses will eat up your lives
studio Kaneko has interesting ideas, but it’s unless you practise fighting them.
an unfortunate case of style over substance.
You control a breakdancing rollerblader called tongue-in-cheek American culture gags to
Donald J. Boy as he skates through Cigaretch make DJ Boy stand out from the pack, but
City to save his sweetheart from the Dark they just come off as weird and unfunny. With
Knights gang. forgettable combat, irritating enemies and
savage difficulty, DJ Boy is a weak brawler
DJ Boy sounds simple enough on paper, but it that pales in comparison to the heavy-
was poorly executed. Much of the frustration hitters of 1989.
comes from the floaty movement, which makes
it hard to hit enemies, meaning you’ll spend
much of the game punching thin air. It doesn’t
help that enemies move too quickly and certain
bad-guy types can grab you with an unblockable
throw that drains most of your health.

Donald’s attacks also feel pretty janky. Enemies
can break free from your combo strings and
skate away, which goes against the fundamentals
of the genre. Your jump-kick also makes you
leap far too high, making it tricky to aim. You’ll
find yourself circled by foes who won’t stand
still long enough to hit, which is just as much
fun as it sounds. Kaneko tried to inject some

90

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Imagine Software 1989 C64, CPC, MSX, ZXS

Have you ever wanted to deck a dinky You can climb between levels to dodge rocks RENEGADE III:
Tyrannosaurus rex? Now you can. thrown by pesky cavemen. THE FINAL CHAPTER

Oh boy, where to begin with this one? This is has pitiful attacking range. It’s also unclear
where the Renegade series truly jumped the exactly what the heck you’re meant to do.
shark. The plot casts you as a random vigilante You’ll likely spend most of your first playthrough
who has to fight through different eras of time wandering back and forth between the first
– to save his girlfriend, obviously. Stage one has few screens, desperately trying to make
you battering dinosaurs and cavemen to death something meaningful happen.
in prehistoric times, which would surely alter
the future in catastrophic ways. Crazy time travel plot aside, Renegade III’s
core mechanics are absolute bargain bin
The sluggish and frustrating gameplay quality. You should probably still try this
is borderline non-existent, thanks to the game once to experience it, but you could
vigilante’s useless jump-kick that never seems always just watch a gameplay video online
to connect, and a short, stubby punch that and spare yourself the pain.

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Alpha Denshi 1989 ARC, PS3, PSP

The flamethrower is overkill, so be careful not to The combat is similar to Double Dragon’s, so you GANG WARS
waste it on low-level goons. can approach it the same way.

Gang Wars is part of an overdone tradition or give yourself more defence at the cost of
in side-scrolling beat-‘em-ups, as it stars everything else. Between each stage you’ll have
a martial artist who fights gang members the option to customise your build by spending
and other baddies to save their kidnapped skill points, which improve your fighter’s base
girlfriend. It’s not a bad game by any stretch stats. This exact mechanic later appeared in
of the imagination, but it’s quite average and other brawlers, like Guardian Heroes (p308).
doesn’t do many things you could call unique.
However, it does have one trick up its sleeve. Although Gang Wars suffers from having
basic core mechanics, the stat progression
At the start of each new game you get to pick system, odd cutscenes, weird translation and
what kind of character build you want. You can janky digitised speech might still provide you
choose to be fast but weak, strong but slow, with a chuckle or two.

91

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Technōs Japan 1989 3DS, GBA, NES, NSW, PS4, TCD, WII, WIIU, XB1

RIVER CITY RANSOM Spend your coins at shops to boost your stats Shopping districts are safe zones, so you can’t
and unlock new moves. be attacked here at all.

Can a side-scrolling beat-‘em-up also be a There’s a deep character progression
role-playing game? Technōs Japan certainly mechanic at work here that really sets River
made gamers think twice about what the City Ransom apart from the competition. You
genre could be when it unleashed River City can collect coins from downed gang members
Ransom on the world. Known as Street Gangs then spend them at shops found around the
in PAL regions, the game follows two high- game’s colourful open world. Each item you buy
school guys called Alex and Ryan (Kunio and has a unique property that either buffs your
Riki in the Japanese edition) as they fight character or increases their stats, from tasty
various high school cliques to win back Ryan’s burgers and special interest magazines
kidnapped girlfriend, Cyndi. Over the years, to nourishing vitamins and delicious pastries.
some cast members appeared in other Kunio
games on NES, such as Super Dodge Ball Depending on what you buy, the items can
and Crash ‘n’ the Boys: Street Challenge. extend your life bar, improve your attack
strength, increase your movement speed, and
As you battle across River City, you’ll scrap with much more. This might sound like a gimmick,
the wonderfully-named Generic Dudes gang, but you really can feel a genuine sense of
the meathead Jocks, and the violent Frat Guys. empowerment as your hero gets noticeably
Each gang has a different look and difficulty stronger over the course of the game. You can
level, so you have to be extra careful when even buy and read books to learn new fighting
entering turf owned by stronger gangs early in techniques, such as the Grand Slam, which
the game, as they’ll roll right through you with lets you use a three-move weapon attack
ease. You really need to level-up your hero if combo for extra damage.
you want to stand a chance against each crew,
and this is where the true depth of River City
Ransom comes into play.

92

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Weapons, like the lead pipe, can give you Areas like this have pitfalls that will sap your
greater attack strength and range. health. Tread carefully!

In a weird way you could compare the currency Certain areas off the beaten path, like the park
and stat increase mechanics to those in toilets, hide tough encounters.
FromSoftware’s Dark Souls trilogy, as you can
easily spend a lot of time running around the scrolling genre. It’s enjoyed a growing cult
same areas to farm enough coins for your following over time and many great sequels,
next stat boost. There’s an element of risk and such as the incredible River City Girls (p432).
reward here, as you’ll lose half of your hard- It was even a direct inspiration for the brilliant
earned coins if you get knocked out, which is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (p384), making this
just as painful as losing a ton of souls in Dark a highly influential and much-loved release.
Souls. Knowing when to head back to a shop
and top up your life is a must.

One major criticism of the game is that it really
doesn’t explain how many of its items will improve
your stats, or in some cases, what those stats
even mean. There’s also a real lack of signposting,
which can get you lost really easily, so there’s
a high chance you’ll be searching for an online
walkthrough pretty early on. Honestly, there’s no
shame in it, given how cryptic the game can be.

With colourful visuals, a fun sense of humour
and deep gameplay, River City Ransom is one
of the most interesting releases in the side-

93

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

SHOPPING SPREE!

River City Ransom doesn’t do a great job
of explaining how its stat progression

mechanics work. Here’s a crash course

to help you get stronger …

MONEY MAKIN’ WHAT’S IN A NAME?
You should spend some time early on in the game When you enter a gang’s turf, the name of its crew will
grinding coins. Simply walk into an area controlled by a appear at the bottom of the screen. This actually tells you
gang, beat them up, grab the coins, leave the screen then how difficult they’ll be to fight, as they all have different
re-enter to make them all respawn. Saving up money power levels. The Generic Dudes are easiest at the start
early will help you buy more items. of the game, so try farming them.

94

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

KNOW YOUR STATS IMPULSE BUY
You can visit the status screen by hitting pause. Some of Now that you know what each stat does, it’s time to start
the stats might seem obvious, but you really do need to buying some goodies. The only problem is, the game
know how each attribute works. For example, Will Power doesn’t tell you what each item does before you buy it.
determines the chance of you getting back up after being The effect of each item is only shown to you afterwards,
knocked out, while Defence is your blocking ability. so it’s worth memorising these as you go.

READ ALL ABOUT IT KITTED OUT
Book shops are different to fast food joints and drug You can see what items you have equipped in the
stores. When you buy a book you can equip it in the inventory, and even swap them about to change up your
inventory to give your fighter a new move or ability. For fighter’s skill set. This is where you can consume medicine
example, the Stone Hands book changes your single for permanent and temporary stat boosts, and eat some
punch into a burst of three rapid strikes. takeaway food when you need some more health.

WILD IN THE AISLES ORDER TO GO!
Once you have plenty of money saved up, it’s time to hit Some fast food joints let you eat your meal straight away
the shops. It’s possible to just run away from gangs and if you need a health top-up or stat boost, while others
sprint to the nearest mall if you’re worried about being let you take away your food. This is helpful if you need to
knocked out. Each mall is a safe zone where you can’t be regain health while on gang turf. Other items can only
attacked, so don’t worry. be used from the inventory.

95

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Capcom 1989 AMI, ARC, C64, CPC, PCD, ST, TCD, ZXS

DYNASTY WARS The occasional cutscenes look great and help The floating barge stage is a true gauntlet that
to set the war-torn vibe. will test your skills.

Not to be confused with the popular Dynasty Dynasty Wars is quite different to most scrolling
Warriors series by Omega Force and Koei, beat-‘em-ups in that the player-characters are
this inventive brawler was a sign of things always on horseback. You have two dedicated
to come from Capcom. It’s the first example buttons for attacking left and right, which you can
of the studio injecting its fighting games hold down for a while to unleash a power strike,
with RPG-style progression mechanics, as well as a button for tactical war strategies.
thanks to the appearance of experience This is where things get interesting, as you can
points and some light character upgrades. call in support troops to help you in battle.
The developer went on to fine-tune and
expand these ideas in future side-scrollers, For example, Shang Fei starts off with the
such as Knights of the Round (p160) and ability to summon four archers, who run on
its two outstanding Dungeons & Dragons screen then unleash a volley of flaming arrows.
adaptations (p286 & p318). It’s not a screen-clearing smart bomb attack,
so you do still have to aim the move with
The game is based on a 1983 manga called precision for it to be effective. The tactical
Tenchi wo Kurau, which is set during the moves aren’t just useful for when you need
Romance of the Three Kingdoms period of help; they also add to the game’s war-torn
Chinese history. The country is ravaged by war, atmosphere, with plenty of friendly and
as the states of Western Shu, Eastern Wu and hostile troops running around the screen. It’s
the Northern Wei Empire battle for dominance a chaotic vibe that fits well with the setting.
over China. In the middle of the chaos, four
skilled generals ride out on horseback to Along the way you can collect golden orbs
crush a growing rebel uprising. that are dropped by fallen enemies or found
inside chests. Gather enough of them and your

96

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

Always be mindful of guarding your rear when Avoid the flame walls and move slowly to pass
fighting large packs. these rolling hazards.

general gains a rank, rewarding him with You can call in a powerful mortar strike to
more health and greater attacking power. destroy large groups of enemies.
Keep levelling up and you’ll eventually add
elemental effects to your weapon swipes, such Dynasty Wars deserves a second chance at
as powerful flame bursts or electricity that zaps a fan base. The visuals might look crude now,
enemies with each hit. It’s not the deepest but the game’s military-style battles give you
progression system in the genre, but it was a sense of scale rarely seen in side-scrollers
definitely quite ambitious for a brawler in 1989. today. It’s definitely worth seeking out.

Interestingly, the game predates the arcade
launch of Final Fight (p70) by a few months. But
while Final Fight ended up being a celebrated
juggernaut that set a new level of excellence in
the side-scrolling genre, Dynasty Wars is often
overlooked, despite bringing many new ideas
to the table. It’s also quite striking to compare
the visuals of both games side-by-side, as Final
Fight has some truly wonderful chunky sprites,
while Dynasty Wars went for a zoomed-out
perspective with tiny characters. It was a wise
move, though, as it meant Capcom could fit
many more enemies on screen, making each
battle feel even more epic.

97

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Tecmo 1989 ARC

TECMO KNIGHT Attack the giant ape’s hands and he’ll eventually Smokeman’s dragon has a great laser blast that
leave you alone. rips through parallel enemies.

Known as Wild Fang in Japan, this dark If you have enough transformation power, you
fantasy brawler gets incredibly violent by can swap out Smokeman and ride a giant tiger
‘80s game standards and has plenty of instead. While on the tiger, your human knight
neat twists to keep things fresh. You play attacks with a chained mace, which he can
as a normal-sized human who rides one of whip at enemies from long range. It’s a great
three colossal mounts, starting with a giant choice for keeping enemies held back. The third
warrior called Smokeman. He’s capable of mount is a red dragon, which can evaporate
punching the heads off other mythical beasts beasts with its electric laser breath. Tecmo
and eviscerating lizard men in showers Knight doesn’t have the most fluid gameplay,
of pixelated blood. The violent gameplay but its chunky sprites, hulking bosses and dark
and gory cutscenes inject Tecmo Knight’s tone warrant a playthrough.
otherwise simple combat with a fun factor
that keeps it interesting.

DEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS
Dinamic Software 1989 AMI, C64, CPC, MSX, ST, ZXS

AFTER THE WAR The Escape From New York vibes are pretty Don’t rush ahead after beating an enemy, as
blatant in this game’s storyline and visuals. you might run into some dynamite!

The planet has been ravaged by nuclear It’s a tricky game to master, though, thanks
conflict and New York City has descended to sticks of dynamite that get thrown at you
into a lawless war zone overrun by savage through windows and from behind bits of
criminals. After the War plays like Kung-Fu scenery. You’ll have to restart the stage if
Master (p26), with 2D stages full of enemies you get hit by just one explosion, which is as
that rush you from both sides. The chunky tedious as it sounds. The first stage boss is
hero and enemy sprites are impressive on also utterly relentless, giving you little time
the ZX Spectrum hardware, and some of the to form a strategy as he melts through your
background detail is awesome, such as the life bar faster than a family pack of butter
Statue of Liberty’s decapitated head. balancing on the rim of an active volcano.
It’s a tough game, but one you can beat
with enough practice and patience.

98

Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]