Introduction Golden Axe II was developed and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1991 as a direct sequel to the original arcade-style fantasy beat ’em up, once again letting players choose between a barbarian swordsman, an Amazon warrior, and a dwarf axe-fighter as they battle through a sword-and-sorcery kingdom overrun by the tyrant…
Introduction Sengoku 3 was developed by Noise Factory and published by SNK, released for arcades in 2001 as a return to the Sengoku series after a lengthy gap since Sengoku 2, blending side-scrolling beat ’em up combat with time-travel transformations tied to feudal Japanese mythology. Players fight through waves of enemies with combos and special…
Introduction Comix Zone was developed and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1995 as a beat ’em up starring comic book artist Sketch Turner, who gets pulled inside his own creation after a villain named Mortus escapes into the real world through one of his drawings. The game’s defining gimmick has Sketch fighting…
Introduction The Adventures of Batman & Robin was published by Konami and developed by Clockwork Tortoise, released for the Sega Genesis in 1995 as a tie-in to the animated series of the same name rather than the live-action films of that era. Players fight through side-scrolling stages as Batman, or Robin in two-player mode, using…
Introduction Alien Storm was developed and published by Sega, originally released as an arcade game in 1990 before being ported to the Genesis, blending run-and-gun shooting with beat ’em up combat across a campaign fighting off an alien invasion of Earth. Players choose from three members of the Alien Busters team, each with a distinct…
Introduction Sengoku 2 was developed and published by SNK, released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade system in 1993 as the direct sequel to 1991’s Sengoku. The game preserved the original’s core premise of fighting through supernatural, folklore-inspired enemies across a Japan menaced by dark magic, while refining the combat with a more varied moveset…
Introduction Sengoku was developed and published by SNK, released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade system on February 12, 1991, as a side-scrolling beat ’em up set in a fantastical version of Japan’s Sengoku period. Players fight through waves of undead samurai, ninja, and other supernatural enemies raised by an evil sorcerer, using standard punches…
Introduction Streets of Rage 3 was developed and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in Japan in 1994 as the third entry in the Streets of Rage series, continuing directly from the story of Streets of Rage 2. The returning cast of Axel, Blaze, and Skate face off against the criminal syndicate boss Mr….
Introduction Streets of Rage was developed and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1991 as the first entry in what would become one of the system’s most celebrated beat ’em up series. Players choose one of three former police officers, Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, or Adam Hunter, who resign from the force to…
Introduction Golden Axe was developed and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in 1989 as a home conversion of the studio’s own 1989 arcade beat ’em up. Players choose from three warriors, the barbarian Ax Battler, the Amazon Tyris Flare, or the dwarf Gilius Thunderhead, each with different attack speed and strength, fighting through…
Introduction Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time was developed and published by Konami, released on the SNES in August 1992 as a home conversion of the studio’s own 1991 arcade game of the same name. Up to two players simultaneously control Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, or Raphael, fighting through waves of Foot Clan soldiers…
Introduction Kung Fu was developed by Irem and published by Nintendo, released on the NES in 1985 as a home conversion of Irem’s own 1984 arcade game, known outside Japan as Kung-Fu Master. Loosely inspired by Jackie Chan’s film Wheels on Meals, the game has players controlling martial artist Thomas fighting his way up five…