Waht??? Beat 'em ups came first!

Today we struggle to keep the distinction between beat-em ups and fighting games. But the line was blurred from the beginning. To be sure beat-em ups came first (back in 1984!) and popularized the notion of an arcade fighting game. Check out the wikipedia article on beat-em ups and fighting games. Very very informative for those that want to know the history, and the relationship between beat-em ups and fighting games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_'em_up


In fact at one time they both were referred to as beat-em ups From the Wikipedia article:

Beat 'em ups are related to but distinct from fighting games, which are based around one-on-one matches rather than scrolling levels and multiple enemies.[11] Such terminology is loosely applied, however,[11] as some commentators prefer to conflate the two terms.[12] At times, both one-on-one fighting games and scrolling beat 'em ups have influenced each other in terms of graphics and style and can appeal to fans of either genre.[11]

However, they were differentiated by a specific prefix; games like Double Dragon or Final Fight were called "scrolling beat 'em ups"[15] and games such as Street Fighter II or Mortal Kombat were referred to as "one on one beat 'em ups".[16] Fighting games were still being called "beat 'em up" games in the UK gaming press up until the end of the 1990s.[17]

For those of us who are truly fighting game enthusiasts this wikipedia article is a good read and has a ton of good references at the end.

Overall I think the FG community is better off if we embrace both genres of fighting game and appreciate the value that each offers to the other. I really believe current state of the art and the future of fighting games will be a combination of one-on-one beat-em ups, and the multiple enemy beat-em up variety. Games such as

• Judgment & Lost Judg
• Judgment
• Absolver & SIFU
• Shemue III

represent the state of the art in modern fighting games. If you look at the move list for Absolver ,SIFU and the Judgment games they are extensive. Training modes are available. SIFU has a dojo mode and arena mode. These games are clearly hybrid concepts. And I think represent the future. Absolver even has online 2 player and online team battle. Rather than dismiss beat-em ups as not fighting games. Maybe we should do a little research and reconsider

 

Bad Dudes bro.

 

Yea, Judgment and Lost Judgment are beat-em-ups and RGG has already included
similar hit effects from Judgment into VF5US and customizations from Yakuza

Maybe it would be a good idea to just combine VF6 with Lost Judgment sequel

What a lot of VF fans want is a back story, significant single player content, character profiles etc. One of the J6 corporations could definitely be in the Lost Judgment world

And there are definitely characters from Lost Judgment (the beat-em up) that can be added to VF6.. Sega already owns all of the IP involved so why not

It would be a good match Hell Shenmue III left the door open Let's get
Lan DI, RYO, Takayuki Yagami , Kazuma Kiryu together with VF characters for the World Martial Arts Tournament 6. Have it all go down in Kamurocho where one of the J6 corporations has a hideout and Lan Di has a connection with it all. Problem Solved!

That would give Virtua Fighter the complete environment for its backstory, resolve the unfinished ending of Shenmue III and create a future world where Virtua Fighter and the Judgment series can evolve

Virtua Fighter 6 + Judgment Beat-em up = Modern Day Fighting Game complete with story mode, plenty of single player content, and e-sports components

C'mon Sega/ RGG this would totally work. Sure there are few licensing agreements to iron out with Yu Suzuki., but in the end this would be a win/win for everyone

 

Speaking of beat em up type games, I definitely have to check out that Sifu game.