URE TUTTE TSS TUTTE TaeThank you for purchasing one of our books. Please enjoy this complementary digital PDF. This PDF has been designed to be best viewed with Adobe Acrobat, which can be freely downloaded for Mac and PC here: https://www.adobe.com The default view is set to single pages. If you would prefer to view as spreads, this can be done by navigating the ‘View’ menu and then to ‘Page Display’. From here, select ‘Two Page Display’. Then also make sure ‘Show Cover Page in Two Page View’ is ticked. To revert back to single pages, simply go through the same process and tick ‘Single Page View’ instead. Please note that this PDF is the copyright of Bitmap Books Limited and should not be distributed without permission. All editing, copying and printing has been disabled from this file. We hope you enjoy! Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]First published in 2022 by Bitmap Books Lt Copyright © Bitmap Books Ltd. 2022 Copyright © Dave Cook 2022 ‘The tight of Bitmap Books Ltd. ond Dave Cook to be identified as the authors cof his work has been asserted in cecordance wah the Copyright. Designs and Patents Act 1988 sections 77 and 78. AIP catologue record for this book's avaliable from the British Librery. AllRights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or ‘transmitted in any form or by any means, er stored in any rotroval system of ‘any noture, without prior written permission, except for permitted foir dealing under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) or other ‘opplicable low. Application for permission should be made tothe publisher All games featured ore the property of the copyright owners. Their images have been used respectfully purely for review purposes. ‘Toget intouch, please emeil vs ot: [email protected] ‘Accept no imitations. we are the world's no, 1! SS) BITMAP SS) BOOKS Published by Bitmap Books Writing and original concept by Dave Cook Edited by Steve Jarratt Designed by Ryan Birse, Sam Dyer and Daniel Gruitt Additional writing by Steve Gregson, SEGA Lord X and Chris Scullion 1 Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]CONTENTS Introdvetion. 4 ona. 90 Foreword 7 Double dragon 3 Preface TW Double Dragon Wander ofthe Dragons 02 What is side-scrolling beat-'em-up? 15 Double Dragon I The Revenge. 58 ‘980-1909 23 Double Dragon Ill The Rosetta Stone: 708 1990-1999 YI Bovbie Dragon iv 414 2000-2009 BSS Double Dragon Neon 2 2010-2019 '381 Dragon BallGT. ronsfometion 352 2020-2021 “439 Dragon’s Crown 398 ‘The End ‘454 Dungeon Magic a4 ‘Credits and Thanks: ‘456 Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara 318 ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom 285 ‘Games Encyclopedia Dynamite Cop a ‘ath Strest A Datactive Ston WA Dynamite Dux Se 99Vides IO Dynasty Ware 36, ‘Abobo s Big Adverture ‘391 Eight Oregons a3? ‘Adventures of Bayou Bly TAS: 66 FightN Rage 46 After the War 98 Fighting Force m0 ‘Age of Heroes, The Sibrood 2 338 Final Fight 70 Alien Storm Tid Finol Fight 238 Alien vs. Predator 262 Final Fight 3 236 ‘Altered Boost 44 Final Fight. Strootwice 368 Altered Beast. Guardian ofthe Realms 347 Friends of Ringo Ishikawa: The 428 ‘Arabian Fight| 204 Goja Crusaders 330 {Arabian Magic 21 Gang Wass a [Armored Warners 290 Gekico Advance’ Kintera Revenge Es Asterix 21 Gekido. Urban Fighters 32 BRop Boys 206 Siadiator 32 Bod Dudes ve. DragonNing @ = GodHand Sod ‘Botmen Beyond: Return of the Joker BSP Golden Axe 3 Botman Forever Arcade 32 Golden Axel 16 jotman Returne 238 Golden Axl 234 Bottle Cireur S24 Golden Axe: The Ravenga of Death Adler 1as Bottietoads 134 Gourmet Sentoi Borayare 307 Bottletoade (2020) 448 Grow! i Bottletoads Arcade 292 Guardian Heroes 308, Bottletoads in Battiemaniaes 254 — Gvaréions: DenjinMakill 294 Bottlstoads/Double Dragon 254 Guarcions of the ‘Hood 209 Bebe Kids 273 Hachoo! e Blase Master 1a? Hoi 192 Bouncer, The 340 iron Commandle: Koutetau no Senshi 302 Bowl Brothers 195 Jackie Chan Adventures. Legend of the Dark Hand 345 Brute Foree 120 Jayond Silent Bob: Mall Brow 445 Bucky OHare 198 limLee’s WISCATS. 303 Bud Spencer and Terrence Hil Slapsand Beans 419 Jitsu Savad 444 Burning Fight 153 karen Rider 250 Cagillaes ond Dinosaurs 224 karate Blazers 150 Captain America and the Avengers 1e4 King of Orogons. The 132 Eoptain Commando 140 King of the Monsters 178 Castle Crashers ‘372 King of te Monsters? The Next Thing 220 C8 Chara Wars 191 Knights of the Round 160, Chorlie Murder 396 Knights of Valour 352 Clitthenger 223 knuckle Bash 2s? Code of Princess 390 kung FuKio 43 Coffee Crisis 418 Kung-Fu Master ea Combawibes, The 10? Legend ae Comix zone 298 Lethal Weapon 22 Cosme Police Galvan Ii Arrow of Justice 231 MadStoler 298 Crime Fighters 99 Mazin Saga: Mutant Fighter 252 Crows: The Battie Aetion 323 Metomorphie Force 282 Crystal of Kings, The 343 Michael Jockson's Meonwaiker 104 Gutthroat island 303 Mighty Final Fiaht 248 Gyborg Justice 236 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie 306 3. Crew 182 Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks ‘360 Dancing sword Senkou 348 Mother Russia Bloods 404 Dead island: Retro Revenge 42 Mug smasners 12 Death and Return of Superman The 274 Mutotion Nation 218 Death by Degrees: 358 Mystical Fighter 12 Deniin Mokot 288 Nekketsu Oyaio 2 Die Hare Arcadia SM Night Slashers 240 Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]Ninja Baseball Bat Mon 244 Spikeout- Bottle Street 380 Ninja Clowns I Splatterhouse 50 Ninja Combat Tos Splatternouse? 199 Ninja Geigen ‘54 Splottermouse 5 255 Ninja Kids, The: 13 Star Wars: Episode ll Revenge ofthe Sith 355 ‘Ninja Saviours. The: Retum of the Warriors H36 Stone Protectors 270 Ninja Warriors. The 42 Stroots of Fury eX 3a Ninja Warriors. The (994) 276 Streets of Rage 122 Oriental Legena 322 Strests of Rage? 184 POW: Prisoners of Wier 66 Streets of Rages 250 Panzer Bandit 323 Strots of Rage 4 448, Peace Keepers. The 249 Stts of Rod. Devils Dare DEIN 226 Phantom Greakar: aattie Grounds 403 Super Double Dragon 70 Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon 304 Tokeda Shingen 28 PuL.RuLe 174 TakeOver, The aS Punisher. The 250 Target: Renegade 67 Raging wstice ‘422 Tecmo Knight 38 Rostan 43 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 0 Renegade: $4 Tekken Force 327 Renegade i The Final Chapter ‘31 Three Dirty Owarves S16 Riot Ci 7? Tick the 295 Turf 195 TMNT 370 River city Tokyo RUMBIE 412 _ TMNTIif The Manhattan Project 166 River City Girls 452 TMNTIVTurtiesin Time 154 River City Ransom ‘92 TMNT. The Hypersione Heit 2a River Gity Ransom: Underground 417 Tough Turt 9 Robo Army 150 Toxic Crusoclers wm Rollergames 120 Treachery in Beatdown Ch a2 Scott Pilgrim ve. The World The Game $64 Two Crude Dudes. isi ‘Sengow 162 UFO Komen Yok sean’ Kettler no Kurot 2 Sengoku? 256 Undercover Cops. 210 Sengoku s 344 Vendetta 17S Shadow Force 228 Vigionte @7 ‘Shag Fu' A Legend Rebom ‘424 Violent Storm 260 ‘Shin Neldeteu Kova, Kunio Tachino Bonke 292 Warriors of Fate 194 ‘Shui Hu Feng Yon Zhwan’ SI? Wartiors, Te 354 Silent Dragon 208 Warriors, The: Street Brew 39 ‘Simpsons, The dd Way of the Passive Fist 430 ‘Skull & Crossbones 78 Wulverbiade 420 Sonie Blast Mon Ss XcMen 200 ‘Spider-Man ond Venom: Maximum Carnage 278 Zombie Revenge S31 ‘Spider-Man: The Video Game 12 lattorm Key Within the Games Eneyelopedia section, each game ists the various platforms.on which it has, ‘appeared. These platforms have been abbreviated os per the key below. Where possible, the ‘region-specific platform names have been used to differentiate multiole regionol releases, 2600 Atari 2600 Go SEGAGame Gear PSA PlayStation 4 360 Xbox360 ISM IBMPC/DOS PSS PloyStation 5 S00. 300 ios Tphone/iPaa/iPod Touch PSP. PlayStation Poreabi 305 Nintendo SDS LNX ‘Atari tyne PSV PlayStation vite: 7800 ‘Atari 7200 MAC Apple Macintosh SAT ‘SEGA Satur ant Commodore amiga MCD, SEGAMegaCD SCD SEGACD AND. ‘Andiroid MO SEGAMegaDrive SFC ‘Super Famicom Pi Appell MOB. Mobile SMS ‘SEGA Master System ARC ‘Arcade MSx MSX/MSX2_ SNES ‘Super Nintendo C64. Commedore 64 Nos ‘Nintendo 6a ST ‘Atari ST orc ‘AmstrodCPC NCD. NEOGEOCD TCD. TurboGratxCD oc SEGA Dreamcast NOS. NintendoOS Tow Turbosranicis Faw Nintencio Famicom — NEO. NEOGEO Wil wit Fos Famicom Disk System NES Nintende Entertainment System — WiIU wi FMT FM Towne Marty NSW Nintendo Switeh WIN Windows Ge. Nintendo Game Sey PCD POEngneCD WSC. WondierSwanColor Goa GameBoy Advance PCE PCEngine x8 Xbox Gac ‘Game Gey Color PSL PlayStation XI box One Se Nintendo GameCube PS PlayStation? 2x8 ZXSpectrum Geax SEGAGenesis PSS Playstaton 3 Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]INTRODUCTION RR Ce ee eS Ce eu See ee neni ete eer ta) most side-scrollers is walking from left Poe eae eed credits roll. And yet it's fascinating to ee ecu Ce ee eC memorable and genuinely exhilarating Se ee es Se eee ee ul bre) rene CR re Peace es aaa eae eee ett aed De Re lie enn) fete nate eee) ea Rano id in the late 2010s, side-scrollers have Saeco ence mn as Crean eee ga ale Co Rai aaah Ral ca ee ae SMTA] en Roe rarer lg Deere enient steaming roast chickens off the tarmac Sana eee eta eR) Renee ns eek ae Ora a Tae ete RnR aah eae sal ete eee Raed east aera OTR ae nas ieeeUo ohn ace Py ee Me aay ete nce ne cana ge us Sister Sea geek ene Renee Comets est) Seen kere nl gered Warriors and Devil May Cry ~ and you Rue Rn age ker ane is ee ara non ascot) ancestors. In this light, the genre truly eee oni ae ie Sv Reker oe Ren ants coun ee SN) Pee rece Re set aa coon carat Cece eee ce Peele ume OM ta SComhabioad ‘The originel Streets of Rage opens ce etd which perfectly sums up the gritty vibe of not just the game, but the Pee ea!Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]Prepared exclusively for Marcus) Kennedy? Ainken@knology netMee Rota NRO eee eee cee kel Beek oneal asco Pe eee meet en eran) Clee Rho lan eck ates eles! ieee Mee a Ronit) a ee een edo erect sD ige ca TERR can tcc) eee chelate ta Dragon, so he really was a superstar Tauck ete reais ese esa cee] eae tome etek eae DR eau) Peastomisiidy Meakto rc naiagy eee eu key Seer Mas: oreo a cy Pec Caan ancy Secs Oak key eRe Meh uC tected Seretececo May cane a Oot ee eet eo eee es Dred see ites eRe aaa a TT Nees Rees kM Co ere Rel Sonar ete aaa ed and pick up fallen items, like oil drums, to throw at your opponents. | love the eee Memes sees Rene) eee icra a eae ened een sal Aenea crs youve become the protagonist in a film. Pel eel a SRT} eee eee oss) eteke ae anes) eee Maan eae a eigenen Cas kurt Cee air ea a ante y Ree waa k min! Bers el eek sarod Renee ager scenic ou) eeM een acd [oso ee Rema scent Rot sag Cre R ar Ravage meat I Cree Ce age eee ei hed roan cen clea Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]fore rn Mae Pesca iy and technology, and it also put a lot eterna Kean cel lay Pease ne In the end I spent a decade at See oe eT eumela a eR I} Tamales (oli me a RoR aL eo eeu ieee R kr Fone elie ed eee) Peel nch sera Rae a) eee et ean} reread esacel ache ads cue) eRe gestae gel ao Sec M es el Ranto aig) games, having consulted on Double Peele Kee Eke Cet ren Aca lel Ske pee cea a Eure steacehgeeuetoimaen tion Pat toon ne aiceg ence) ere Fee eM tReet cele} iver aes muic easter) pera eon elas oer el moka LT BURT o Teles Ramee ae Ro RoR iate of the lasting legacy of games Celta eee ngs really important: | think it's good for SireMa same tal -igeleola Role Vale) st eae) continue the process of evolution in full Peete eae atk eater Meee alate RCA eny te a ean a) ee else ett carol a Cea earl Dacre Seno aes Cee Soe eee ee ee ae Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]Prepated exollsively'Yor Mar PREFACE SUC er isn) genre has a long history full of iconic franchises, laced with heaps of ee aed ke teac) his first brush with the genre as a kid CO ee ECC ee ee rea asxe) Mut P RRO outer ACM eR Rud Rae Re tema eetiat eae ese eee eRe te R sta pare mesures aie Rana ge eeem aee Pema scam eee aor Prag h seeker a Ck ir eee cae Over the next few months, | used pocket one Ke uae Reena Y Reece eu ae reer pee Cae roel eee Msc hme aus Aor] Denes ae tee aetna ree ttn RN Ae Lod Seneca nem Thankfully, my dad started something Caen an ee ste Regen Tang Tne ana eee a Nal work, he'd go into our local Ritz video nee MAR ae ee pedantic eae Rtg cats Cece ateaee gsc) Wella t Ce ee Lea ieee ee Reals gears) he'd rented. It meant that each week | Pelee tase ee erst RUC Moan acte Cel ane te1a Petal Omar te na eee aia -aRola Batol AML Ma Role oR COLL e MeN Renter rere RCa ga hard aae eka) Cee tie mao h Kec om Peteeeeee eel mud eer) Pie Reger a Roe ond See Ca en mv eed eee Re Serre arta hake cae clad thugs. It's still a striking image tothis day and wonderfully captures the Wiel ae tee seater ete eeecelale) Pen aaa a else hues eri eC Ta oma cece emo teehee corel The first stage opens with a banging Pela ecu ea ton cents ’Go Straight’, which immediately gets een ecet ae aia mar Pe Meek ag aa ae) eee ee Mesa ecu sated Reena eto Ro nucegy It's still my favourite game of alltime, Pea Sera ecia esa macnn encase k ents When | got a bit older, | started Rae R ot homer ee Reo Res acacia) ele leciese enact Reon Ue ene Keke eels Preller sca lente het ana siya Re etree rte einem gt Feet ters os Rae aR Peel eee nl eck odeto te sry and toasters. We also used to take Evan cet oS PRMmsanierc iliac ann =nel clare! er aan aah ec Arl De RCM ee aerate Relies em ao echt es case ec ges eTToRta eoicel oe Cole nae Ree ier Rant is of partnering with three random kids pekoout ee aeun Rese Toler ee ere el tess To Mets iel saiter ohn Rage Peseta ge ener R aa X:) Re R NE eeuehact en ciely Rae aa murs Reet kote was what made the side-scrolling genre Pere R ema ea aaa) Rea case mee CPT ere keeme Msi oc eae a pel Pee aa koa) iam core tang a a eure ola ere Cotas eMac eaters Pee ete eRe ey ped ees st Rte eee aN an RCC Rian Wea te pete cere efecto ei rl Paattu Sol Poa eee eee ee a 2eeu Rt Rakes ioare| Recent cies etoaat Rec etmek neared erie iad cece iy Peete ecto s cl eng Remmi ieats a Yee ice? iar s-B oOo RCL ata a ena Net Reha Recaro Na Pearcel teterereatete oCol aRelgh sot Fel aca Kama Ria) Peete Menara) peel eae Rea cck tae Cy eee ead te mae Cee ern acl ay Sees NR oN Mite hayes oad Geet eae eS eee renee eae Race Caan Master, right up to Streets of Rage 4, Mea ict NAP sooW cath ae og ete iene eee Pesca ke Wang cece lee merck ais Needham ete ee mC eee eth Cee ke seeks ea) een oacism nate esscol Rh laatcis eet Men ie lata les Recese cca cecil tems Creech mucin ee age Renn ec Ke natch ae cle) Cit Pole oath: ete ee ecu] Rieter em taesue Racks ay Scent Use uaa ell Ce Pyee a aval keds tay een de dee eg eee pace Maca allel allele ately oe aise ok EA a Rao RNC e Ru eer rol) Renee Chicumc cas erat gee gg ero ed efforts were a bit rocky, they paved the Ragas Toie hol ola ua Cea ate outs Reka clea] NSS Aol cs Teen enue ks Pete aseue heen Ma ony in your path has had such a profound Hess ceaecete Reid sie Iyer Nolord Pelee en eRe te ere eTelecare ae) Te eT a aS rePrepared exclusiVe A SIDE- SCROLLING BEAT-"EM-UP? Ce easy genre is that developers have found eee hee ecko Ce ear multiple genres. For examp! eee ee Lee has stages that are intercut with first- person shooting galleries that let you tear up convenience stores as you eer mesures ed See ee ei) Pee a ceca eres COC conn ht cs Te ea Re aR Re ote ea a) Cera rate am side-scroller to rank up there with the Pomona oc muri sis Reeeeh ok er hammer Cente eh teh comin) Sete kee tenn meet cac! Cor an eestor olsen e ic pekcuee sod ce or Seibel toc) ee ee ome ec Nae nae ete RCo Rit oh acs) eee htc Ch tts leone SOR aCe a aad erent hela sa saaagec Sy Pant umnac ders Peres Rer satis ecceslatel ae ee nce Ron occ] tans eC ely ae ae Mel ea eae eM met ete tes user o heel eas Ri Raat ade Rn ecla tren) that render your flying kicks useless. ee Rn ese Ton a Cust DRC Seach USC ra cs) reacting with quick reflexes Prepared exclusively for Marmel Reale hci el elas OMe Rare Ma Soler eas oli Pee Raed r en OeeT eee ean elle cee Rent a aa nara et ere Mae ac Naa Pere eta Misa heome (Aaa) Pee Aree cite Re enue ea ate gd erence ole inoue Bi Rel Mane rol Nana Seat See kaon ey ea Masaka n ce alg Sen aN se Lmao! Renee eects aceon measles eee mae A) Pee aan take nT) Rieck otis a ecita RRO ees ecient Ce aches mete k eit of side-scrollers that might seem a littie average at first, but that also reward Meta erences Recent amc Cer re eu eme Nac ocd Cree Ne eure aen ca has Metre eased ar aek arian ray tees eked ace may Cree iain eee ecrcry pearasec tT aaa) CONAN AS ke Cre etme ele tee Cloth geet Remo etna neared od ea ea aaa) esentutl rere ena telat Porta R iss ee aol el gainer eed rea Ch eae ora) Cee Mma Nc nae na St RUC AS oR Sola Cece a IN Capcom is perhaps the master at paced meat? lero et ee meee cos) and Shadow Over Mystara. These Pe a Remote eset Pena eerie estate Peer emcees iace ky Meena esse eal ay you can buy potions or weapons, and eta onetime as CeCe earn e tis] features, yet they still feel like classic Be eees co ttn ue am Stato Oem rah renee aaa nl eee eens oad caee great things tend to happen. lee ed ee ee ee cadIma ence ie imc tel ee oa ere ages) Cesta aM Denne Ps eaie cma uaa ere eee area eRe cereal ee M Rue Masel eikerig and Guy all share the same base move- eal ee eee egies are eey ea cnet ma gee eee Nee eae race esi) eee ean cee ea Meals to grab an enemy, then pull off either Cee aes as) Pie ame creme macakstscers RN aR am a ted CNN nro aN elt Sesto Pe peor eae ee aa eR Rng ctu coche emote lata eegecr uM tae a Bel epee emai can tel escas tet sigue aeiateia eke eaticcl a De Nema aS oR Croke see eee erate} Maa aa OMe eB RUA re) cacao ek el kelsts le eeu neg A ea ert eee Usama Racal) Pane ean eae ice wi ok So oe ee ee ns w Somme ecu ane C eat Sou haku ea monn hee Renee elena Us ane aetna emo aggee Maree hgte hence Coen ece etait m te ne retcear i Meteo ae sk ate eet Ree unm RO CM coisa Rene tate me se aR can ee eee eran} SCOR MCh nu! Pelee a cae Me age eeate ee Eaten Mae gece ars Tease Manel our ens Tera aaa ao agen aN oss te oe Parola hea ase osha eA tua kee ead eee Some te cee) eisjjddddededada 7 SESPSP SEP SE SP SESE Se Se seed Stee tee se odPe eee oe Me peed eec)ee ee ae Cs aTHE KEY INGREDIENTS While the beat-‘em-up genre is always changing, there are a few common gameplay mechanics and tropes that you'll find in most (but not all) side-scrolling games. Here's a breakdown of the most important, genre-defining ingredients ... 1 Walking in eight directions urate ean eee lay ceed eS Sinai ete rete ee eet ee eer yes Ree ye eure eel oe) giving players plenty of freedom to negotiate goons Cnet ecu cs] Poors eer aerated ont tea eee eared Eos See eer ee ceo este eer ceed Reece San eae cs Ere ce nes ee Cees een at oN ue oars eee rere eet Peete atari eer Pe ec! eae rere Rae can dea cae a health bars go down with each hit taken, but players can heal themselves by picking up food or first-cid ee eee eee ig eae ee yellow, turning to red as you lose health, Once the, Cea nmt ee Cet ccc) Ree end Cee an meen ng at ce Reread eRe en ogc ee uae Cee a a cee ico Pele ietseiecse eenet ise its enemy choracter has been knocked out (yay). ea eee eer ae) Cer anc ata cid have timers to add urgency to the battle, while Ce SL ens ee ecm Pies ear eu Career) typically lose a life, but you might be rewarded with bonus points for getting through o stage quickly. otonicn) Re Ley Pea anata SCE eee tenons Pea eee ne aclancos SN he aoes ball of chewing gum that can be eaten for a tiny aga eee ar eerie eect ey See ae ura Ly Ce esc ateu e tlc Bre eu Serer ete ea nel Neer eae cy ‘cost you some heaith. You might lose some health Resear aeae eee reese) Ue eC eed Penalise you for using the Lee brothers’ deadly See ees Ee ey ree ei ee eee eer enn er aes ee ea gad ee tae ees er oars eetee ted el eo ek ae ee tes Cer race er tg esate cleo ee ge Meike Rees tee ea) roerienns Oa Many modem games are open-world, but the side- scrolling genre typically sees players walking from eee Nar ce ei ad eee cue een en ears rooms to discover for added replay value. Ubisoft PEE ces sta md eee Uy Te hg eas ad Pee CeCe ue gaa ate ter) CN eee ue tua cares ed ea ae tee aa eee ‘Some gamers argue that having another player Ia act steerer ete sie ect eee) oer a ae eae aa eas eer ean rc) cee UC ae Many side-scrolling beat-'em-ups started out as. Cee ee tue Tes Cee mun ue pee iio tartar) find yourself earning extra lives after hitting certain nse iey re tena eer eee a eaterLT 1b 422d 1989 ARG eC tt nae i) Ceo aU RCo PoC me ay) ee elie) king their wounds and working on a DAM melt RRL) them bounce back stronger. BCU BUR le mcd in the United States, due to over-saturation with game Prater eae aliale Re aa ple UC flooding the market, and wavering interest in the hobby overall. Peer eee eee ea Rene reer ts pease eens Den rete eaeARR ama TLS Rh eee as eRe a eee eRe origin point of everything you're going to Pelee ema Sere Rego eee om ene a ene wet} Sea ee ast T te Dee cM Rei] Colao After making video game machines eugene Det eet kno otal RA ean nea eT ee UM ee mec a eles ama m eee Rela Rea Macey ee eee eee aor Pee ae el stellar home port on Nintendo's NES, the Del ae Rea ol Role RCD Cea eM cc amar pas us eee ere ay) anche aR) eh ee Sr uence cao) @ treasure trove of big-hitters. It was a heck ieee Maal Ra Reel) Clee eeeKeue lees re eee ese ecu from Namco and, of course, the game chem uC for es a age Maen a DUT Dea eee oe Soe Rn urs eet see Rome ar] pera ea heehee Rent Peet a et Palen eR Te ao ena ker eee ere a MCR Caney action classic Rastan might not be classed eee eee ae a ae be silly not to include it here, as it took the cele aed i ean ena ean aa nsteol ecole retea erect) eee ce. tote ee Ane ao SRR Ce Corral al teeter React o Crt Regs oo remo ceils eet Ree Rae ge Perel ane ues Rus cu) See each eae aa se Pm seeckein kok ean) Sa NT Ras Sr ree See Ree See ieee eedeel terd eo a hg We eas eae a Pe Rue Rn kgs Ne aera} EM Rs oR a) start to get a new-found appreciation for Seen eaaie eon hieets ROE u eee etal Seed ats tuted Mere ceca ks) Coreen Reig eon ord SR ree er eau ena CO eee tel Mn Ryo rueriai PCM hearers koe Ue Kereta eso) eeelstete eather ence enna race eee kanes poe tee ee malay Cem ey As a whole, the '80s was a decade that thrust the concept of home gaming into CMa Alle AeA Aa aaloroRoR Rola a) North America, the NES redefined what a fea eee eee ek Ll oe Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda made consoles of the previous era feel simplistic and outdated. More importantly, studios were thinking more about how to Sn a RCo R ere ad Oahu keate a Se cal Raita neu Seleeace lela) eae ech ee a Fe a oka Rater em ee aoc Geog en unk Cun soled eR elo Pn Ree ater oa Ss a naa) PN Ae ea Rac ge) Ceaser Mag Pea Mose Rake Se Rea cng Peer ed erate Reid ad Rae esac ace hace Cael gene Re Re CO eee aN kerala Decks aaa eMac co eee a core Oe a ene eet eensDEVELOPER RELEASED PLAYABLE FORMATS rem 988 2600, 7800, API, ARC C64, CPC, OB, MSX, NES, 2xS, b i ) rs x q |* ‘The very first game in our odyssey through the history of seroling beat-'em-ups comes from Irom, o Japanese developer you're going to see alot of throughout this book, Ithas released some truly great scrolling beat-'em-ups ove the years, but few have had such a profound Impact on the genre as 1984's Kung-Fu Master. twas originally released in Jopan as Spartan X.a licensed tie-in to the Jackie Chan movie Wheels.on Meals. But, aside from tna heroin both the game and movie being called Thomas, there were barely any similorities. To avoid confusion, the North American version was distributed by Date East os Kung-Fu Mostor, ‘while the Nintendo Entertoinment System home port is simply known as Kung Fu Both the Japanese ond Western editions open with ¢ quickintro thet sees Thomas and his Girflene Syvia getting beaten up by a gong fof thugs. Ourhero then gets a written invitation 10 the perilous Devil's Temple, where his skis will be tested by tive grand mastersin bottle, 6 Atthe top woits Mr X, the gang leader who kidnapped Sylvia for reasons that ore never fully explaines [As threadbare as the story is, you can see some similrities with Bruce Lee's 1973 movie Gameof Death, in whicha martial artist must fight his way up through the floors of @ pagoda each ‘guarded by a skilled warrior. While nowhere near as deep as Lee's movie. Kung-FU Master {does manage to ramp up the challenge and tension of each floor very wal art of that tension comes fram the game's Unrelenting speed. Bog-standard enemies rush ‘Thomas rom both sides and if any manage to slip pastyour attacks, they'latch onto you and rain your entire heaith bar in seconds. The idea Isto quickly dispatch enemies before they have {@ chance to reach you. The danger of being ‘grabbed by multiple enemies makes this avery strossful game indeed. but ofter & few retries you should get used tots pace, Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]FET JL LLL Thonkfuly, Taomos can punch, kick, swesp and Uunlaash o jumping strike to the foce of enyone Unlucky enough to get in is way. You realy do need tolearn the range of each ottack and when they're most effective, Some enemies, suchas the sithering serpents on the second floor, con only be token outwith a low sweep, hile magie orbs can only be shattered with jumping kick ‘Some foes ore particularly challenging. such {0 the knife-throwing goons who alternate between high and ow attacks. There are even fire-breathing dragons to contend with demanding that players quickly duck beneath ‘their flame jets then counter-attack with @ aulek eg sweep, Learning these pattems is enother loyer of, ‘Kung-Fu Master's simple yet brillant gameplay. olmost feels like youre ploying a rythm= fection game os you punch jump. kick, duck ‘ond sweep your way through the waves of fenemies in your path, Originally released as an orcade game, Kung-Fu Master has clearly been designed to hoover up the coins of newcomers its truly savage unless you have the time to learn how al the enemies attack. Thankfully Nintendo's home port for the NES is far more forgiving, ‘The NES port, simply called Kung Fu. is an obsolite clascic. While the visvale are for simpler, the port features smooth scrolling slick gameplay and a neat soundtrack by Super Mario Bros. composer Koji Kondo, One of the hardest ospects of the arcade version ishow cifficult it con be to shake off enemies when Thomas gets swarmed. Thanktully, seems e lot easier in the Nintendo version.as you ean break free quiekly by rocking the D-pad ang ‘mashing buttons for o moment. But don't bbe fooled: this is still o punishing litle gem that takes time, patience and quick reflexes to master. Over 5.5 millon copies were sold worldwicie, making the originel cartridge easy and affordable to pick up today. ey Prepared exclusively for Marcus Kennedy / [email protected]