r/BeatEmUps

I have played some games of the genre before, but none of them quite hooked me enough to keep playing it after the first clear. I liked the visuals of TMNT SR and I liked that characters have different stats, but I only played through story mode twice, thinking it would be too long and boring to do an arcade run.

Then I saw Absolum and thought that it would probably be a good match, as I like roguelites and bought it, but before I could play it, this Subreddit made sure to let me know from several posts that SoR4 was a great game to also take into consideration.

That kept me thinking, what can a "pure" game in this genre do to appeal more than others? I always thought that the genre was some kind of reskin over the same formula, but I was willing to be proven wrong.

When I was about to download Absolum I checked my game library and noticed I already had SoR4 there (PS Plus game). I decided to check why this game receives so much praise, and it was amazing!

From the get-go, the music was amazing, I liked the visuals of the game (Although I know some people prefer the pixel art of the classic games) and I loved how the characters play very different, more than just a "stat change".

I have beaten story mode 3 times already, normal and hard solo, and normal co-op. And have beaten arcade normal and hard too. I think all these things together, plus the skill expression through combos and the reward system through scoring, make this an addictive game.

Thanks to all the people who insisted on other posts about this game. It is great!

Now, if you made it this far, I have a couple of questions:

1. I recently bought the DLC and tested out Shiva. Felt he had too many options to perform long combos vs base SOR4 Characters, and I'm aware you can unlock new moves for everyone. Does this mean that "vanilla" characters are "obsolete" if I want to play harder difficulties?

I don't mind unlocking new moves, but it's a bit disappointing if you need to purchase the DLC to make vanilla characters as strong as the new ones.

2. What is the greatest beat'em up for you? Don't want to start a war here, but I want to play more games that feel this good.

I own a Pandora Box that lets me enjoy the retro beat 'em ups with the classic arcade-like feel, but for the modern beat 'em ups, I've to stick to the console at the moment. An arcade stick and setup are on my wish list, but at the moment, I have to enjoy the modern beat 'em ups on console. It isn't a bad experience, but the arcade-like experience is just next-level entertainment. Well, I grew up in the arcade era, and beat 'em-ups and fighting games were the soul of arcades. So, you know what I am talking about.

Till the time I do not have an arcade-like setup, I am enjoying the beat 'em ups with what I have. Once I have my dream setup ready, I'll relish both classic and modern beat 'em ups with the arcade-like feel. I really like it when I see gamers enjoying the modern beat 'em ups on either Arcade 1Up (customised) or other customised arcade cabinets. Now, let's hear what you have to say about this.😇

A well‑known OpenBoR game from the recent past — Dynamic Edge, created by Scarlet Lupercalia — has finally received its completed version. A great beat ’em up with a story that became almost legendary during its development.

Download and Info: https://www.speedallonlinegamessiteshere.com/openbor-page-3/de

The original project was released as an unfinished version, clearly marked as 7.5 stages, with no plans for completion. Despite this, players enjoyed the gameplay and hoped for a long time that Scarlet would change her mind. That never happened — the project was abandoned and left without an official place for preservation. Over time, Dynamic Edge 7.5 became an iconic name within the OpenBoR community.

Today, however, a new developer — KennaSmoke — appears to have finished what was started. This OpenBoR project has finally reached its full form.

I present to you Dynamic Blade — now with a completed eighth stage and an overall improved edition.

Enjoy — OpenBoR is free for everyone.

This game was created by our friend and colleague Jeremiah Cuff, known for his work on Knights of the Round: Revenge. His projects stand out for their deep and engaging gameplay that feels like an interactive story.

Download and Info: https://www.speedallonlinegamessiteshere.com/openbor-quick-view-a-z-mods

Version:
This is a beta version with a polished look and over two hours of gameplay.

Plot:
The divine being Susanoo travels across the land seeking the sword Uesugi, guarded by the mythical serpent Orochi. With its help, he will descend underground to confront the Shinto goddess Izanami.

Gameplay:
The game draws inspiration from Japanese mythology and folklore, yet keeps the classic beat ’em up style alive. The battles are filled with magic, intensity, and realism — a hallmark of OpenBOR projects.

Genre:
Fan-made, non-commercial OpenBOR project created for entertainment and exploration of mythological themes.

Enjoy the game!

Have you tried the Warriors of Fate OpenBoR demo? I came across a pretty interesting demo version of Warriors of Fate OpenBoR — a fan‑made, completely free project coming from China. Unfortunately, the developer’s name isn’t known, but the overall style shows a lot of effort and attention to detail.

Full Info + Download: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlDXj6sJgjM

🎬 What does this fan version include?

1. A huge cinematic intro
   Right from the start you get a long animated cutscene that explains the story and the historical setting. It’s not something you see often in OpenBoR projects and it makes a strong first impression.

2. Reworked characters

New abilities for the existing heroes

Additional buttons for special actions

Adjusted stats for some weapons All of this makes the gameplay more dynamic and varied.

3. Three separate gameplay modes
   The game is split into three parts, each representing a different chapter of the story. They’re presented as three standalone modes, almost like mini‑campaigns.

🎮 Who will enjoy it? Fans of classic beat ’em ups

OpenBoR enthusiasts

Anyone looking for inspiration for their own project The game has a lot of atmosphere and personality — something rare for a demo.

⚠️ Note The project is still only a demo. No complete version has been found in recent years. Some missions are missing, others are just teased, but the potential is huge. Maybe a new developer will get inspired to create a full experience with similar gameplay.

Hi, not sure if this is off-topic here I'm looking for advice. I'm trying to create music that sounds like it could be from an NES beat-em-up game. Like Double Dragon, River City Ransom, TMNT.

If anyone here is familiar with older beat-em-ups (or music from other NES action games) would you give me your thoughts? I'm trying to capture that kind of crunchy energetic lo-fi sound.

I've been doing this for a few years but I haven't gotten any feedback from fans of these types of games so I appreciate anything you've got, thanks <3