This video tries to reflect the early history of side-scrolling, multi-plane beat 'em ups, also known as brawlers, before Final Fight made the genre take a big step further. Also, I must note that I haven't included one-plane beat 'em ups because then I would have had to focus on an extremely big library of games, including games which could be classified more as "platformers" but which have a "beating your opponent" element, thus generating some conflict. I have included, however, games in which your main/only weapon is a sword, because they are generally considered beat 'em ups by most of the gaming community and also employ almost the same gameplay as any other beat 'em up.

I got the inspiration to make this video from Hardcore Gaming 101's "Pre-Street Fighter II Fighting Games" article. It's true that pre-Final Fight beat 'em ups aren't as obscure as the fighting games that preceded Street Fighter II, but still, I'm sure you will find this timeline interesting from an historical point of view on how the genre began/evolved.

Hope you enjoy this video. Also, feel free to suggest any beat 'em up game I might have left behind, I'm always glad to discover new stuff.

List of games included:

Renegade / Nekketsu Kouha: Kunio-Kun (Japan) - Technos Japan
City Adventure Touch: Mystery of Triangle - Compile
Double Dragon - Technos Japan
Kozure Ookami - Nichibutsu
Target: Renegade - Ocean
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War - SNK
The Adventures of Bayou Billy - Konami
Kabuki Z - Kaneko
Samurai-Fighter Shingen - Jaleco
Dynamite Dux - Sega
Double Dragon II: The Revenge - Technos Japan
Ninja Gaiden - Tecmo
Tough Turf - Sega/Sunsoft
River City Ransom - Technos Japan
Crime Fighters - Konami
Wild Fang - Tecmo
Renegade III: The Final Chapter - Ocean
Dynasty Wars / Tenchi wo Kurau (Japan) - Capcom
Golden Axe - Sega
Gang Wars - Alpha Denshi
DJ Boy - Kaneko
Hachoo! - Jaleco
Skull & Crossbones - Atari
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Konami
S.P.Y. Special Project Y - Konami

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