Best Lesser-Known Beat-'em-Ups

[Frogacuda]

ALSO! Bucky O' Hare. Same guys who made The Simpsons arcade.

Different team than Simpsons, but notable for having several guys who would go on to Treasure (most obviously the enemy artist, who is the Guardian/Gunstar Heroes guy, and the music composer who did like 90% of Treasure's games)

[Yoshi]

More

[Tain]

Denjin Makai II might be the best game in the genre, not even a case of obscurity fetishism. Awesome satisfying movelists, awesome cast of enemies and bosses, branching stages, lots of little background touches that give it a lot of personality. This guy does massive combos the whole time so it might not be the best example video (you don't need to dig into the combo system that much at all, obviously), but whatever:

[George]

Different team than Simpsons, but notable for having several guys who would go on to Treasure (most obviously the enemy artist, who is the Guardian/Gunstar Heroes guy, and the music composer who did like 90% of Treasure's games)

Really? They came out relatively close together, and the graphical style, sounds, and level design are incredibly similar. Well at least they're both still Konami.

[Korly]

Do you guys prefer beat em ups where your guys have a movelist (D & D , Guardian Heroes) or do you like the mash the attack button style (Final Fight, Streets of Rage)?

And, does anyone like Charlie Murder?

[Some Stupid Japanese Name]

Omg, I'm so confused.
On the one hand, I'm elated that that wasn't a Death B Degrees post, on the other, I was totally sure it was going to be.

Some good stuff on this list, Tain's game is at the top.
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/the-b...ed-beat-em-ups

[dave is ok]

Mzocraft

EDIT: Sorry I read the thread title as 'beat em offs'

[Melf]

It's more of a hack-'n-slash, but Shui Hu Feng Yun Zhuan on the Mega Drive is awesome. It's an unlicensed game from China.

[MechDeus]

Battle Circuit is a for-sure Capcom classic.

I don't think I've heard of Denjin Makai before but now I'm super intrigued.

[alan_fatima]

Yeah, I'd start with Sengoku 3/Denjin Makai 2/Battle Circuit, if you haven't played them. I really like Ninja Warriors Again, myself. And I've always wanted to play the Bucky arcade game.

I know Double Dragon is far from lesser known, but you need to play Double Dragon Advance if you haven't.