One on One Beat Em Up
Here we have all the games in the One on One Beat Em Up Section.
GameBoy Original
One on One Beat Em Up
Smashing little Capcom scrapper with silky roster of special moves as pugilists take on fellow robot fighters. Some tidy character designs as you might expect from Capcom with a giant skulled robot and simply a giant robot. Backgrounds make clever use of the hardware limitations to still conjure a futuristic feel, such as the robotic plans of the samurai armour in the temple level. Good use of combos too.
Sega Saturn
One on One Beat Em Up
Risque girl on girl fighting game originally on the Super Famicom, all aspects of the title have been improved as you’d expect. The developers have also tweaked the saucy-ness factor in the move away from Nintendo with it now warranting a yellow over 18’s badge from Sega.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Tough guy fight title that uses elbows, knees and no holds barred as pugilists become wrestlers when bouts crumble to the floor with a submission as good as a knock out. The legendary Brazilian Gracie features alongside Japanese wrestler Sakuraba with a lot of work having gone into making a great resemblance only for players to bash away at their chiselled features. But its not just the players features that have been carefully mapped out: each individuals moves add a lot of depth and make for a very well rounded fight fest.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Mixed martial arts groups are very popular and Pride is the appropriately named leader of the pack. Plenty of footage to get you in the mood with the music and announcer cranking up the tension, pugilists stroll out as player characters as they would in a real bout. A wealth of camera angles ensures not a single feint is missed with intelligent switching as the action progresses and you land on your opponent with a sharp knee. Brutal but mightily impressive and essential for fans of the movement.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Quite a unique feel to Psychic Force’s anime themed fights with psychic projections being used to attack, hence the title, often with spectacular graphical extravagance. Arenas are quite cramped in making for tacit battles taking place inside a cube where the players levitate a la DragonBall Z. Solid play mechanics make for an unusual, but worthy fighting frenzy.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
Absolutely crazy fighter with some of the maddest moves in manga martial mayhem the video gaming world has seen. An absolute must for fans of Rumiko Takahashi san’s gender bender and well worth a look for those after something graphically different to the usual Street Fighter II clone. Genki is a fan of the father transformation who turns into a panda and can only communicate with signs.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
As interesting as a game as a cultural study having been given a makeover to Street Combat for the Western audience. The subtle martial artists were transformed into robots and rejects from an Arnie movie. But the original has plenty going for fans of fight titles with a Japanese slice of lime of the side with an unusual control system with the buttons being used for jumping and blocking and all the wacky manga characters.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
As interesting as a game as a cultural study having been given a makeover to Street Combat for the Western audience. The subtle martial artists were transformed into robots and rejects from an Arnie movie. But the original has plenty going for fans of fight titles with a Japanese slice of lime of the side with an unusual control system with the buttons being used for jumping and blocking and all the wacky manga characters.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
One on One Beat Em Up
Excellent cinematics make this a must for fans of Takahashi’s mad Ranma universe. All the favourite characters are present with their unusual, incredibly wacky special moves. Starts off innocently enough at the local public bath before mayhem breaks out battling a bath stool tossing Jiisan, then its off to the gym to take on sempai’s sister in a gymnastic martial fest. All nicely interspersed with animated sequences. Just steer clear of gambling with the King of Hearts who pops up – he knows the cards too well.
Neo Geo AES
One on One Beat Em Up
Plays with the second fighting plane, so attacks can be averted by leaping up the screen. Also includes ring outs so you can smash your opponent into a glass lift or even onto a departing train.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
An excellent version – moving backgrounds such as the underground station (and outdoor scenarios with appropriate sunshine in the day and lights at night plus interactivity where you can send your opponent through the stage barrier to meet their maker), blood will please the SNK fans of uncensored Japan version gaming and intelligent AI that seems to not take too kindly to a pummelling. Add to this the tight control aspect and you have a winning formula.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
One on one fighter released in a area of CG effects becoming de rigueur for a CD format release. The clanking robots have good variety and the riffs inspire a bit more perseverance with the fight engine.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Very solid 3D fight characters with ginormous weapons and seamless cuts to the anime it is based upon. With a full complement of the voice actors, the setting of the game is done perfectly. Gamreplay is like a more forgiving Bushido Blade with shadowy, candle lit levels.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Rendered sprites to give the femme fatale fight fest a fell of pseudo 3D, but it is just eye candy for a 2D engine. Plenty of chit-chat to make the most of the license, including the obligatory pre- and post-bout banter.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Based on the anime series with loose connections to Greek mythology, this plays a very solid battle with some sparkling visual effects worthy of the over the top specials. Destructable backgrounds add to the manga mayhem too. The Japanese version contains the original soundtrack and a few excellent, high tempo tracks which were sadly remixed for the European version due to copyright reasons. It also has more in game speech and katakana sound effects just like a manga book.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Translating as ‘Bloke’s Training School’ there are plenty of tough fights ahead complete with vicious weaponry and even sharper tongues as insults are traded. Takes its inspiration from the Fist of the North Star series in terms of graphical appearance of the cel shaded protagonists capable of launching immense martial manoeuvres. Little known title but worthy of much more with such intensive styling and bold graphics.
Super Famicom
One on One Beat Em Up
Absolute treat of a game with atmospheric backgrounds from kabuki theatre, snowy Ainu inspired Hokkaido to Mount Fuji. The giant ‘Earthquake’ character is still jaw dropping even today. A very classy conversion from Saurus. Known as Samurai Shodown in the West.
Neo Geo AES
One on One Beat Em Up
Genki can still recall the incredible atmosphere generated by this monster one on one scrapper from SNK. Taking a distinctly Nihon-centric approach to the fight genre, right from the off we are clear this game positively oozes Eastern atmosphere as the lone samurai sits under the cascading sakura blossom. Creating a feel of life and death being on whim of a falling petal, we are soon treated to sea spray from island backdrops to the fires of hell themselves. Absolute treat of a game with atmospheric backgrounds from kabuki theatre, snowy Ainu inspired Hokkaido to Mount Fuji. The giant ‘Earthquake’ character is still jaw dropping even today.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
A very popular compilation on the PSX with the first two parts of the Samurai Shodown series looking just as savvy as the AES versions. Weaponry adds an extra element to the fighting in this exciting series with all the drama of Kabuki theatre.
NEO GEO CD
One on One Beat Em Up
Darker third installment from the Garapagos team with many new characters and more damaging specials. Loved by some, others resented the increased damage level decreasing bout time. Still slicing an opponent brings a worrying degree of satisfaction.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Darker third installment from the Garapagos team with many new characters and more damaging specials. Loved by some, others resented the increased damage level decreasing bout time. Still slicing an opponent brings a worrying degree of satisfaction.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Spine tingling atmospherics set by the excellent oriental orchestral score with tumbling leaves or snow falling. There are some pretty gruesome moves to add a bit of colour to the snow, including self inflicted seppuku. Big, bold sprites make this an SNK winner. Subtitled Amakusa’s Revenge Special, the series is also known as Samurai Shodown.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
A host of crazy characters, almost as many as there are in game modes and health bars to keep track of your layers well being, temperament, weapon etc. Samurai Spirits Zero is not shy on a drop or two of claret either – all in the proper red colour unlike the Western versions of some SNK titles. But unfortunately SS Rei never made it out of Japan. Extra pugilists have been entered over the arcade versions and there’s a practise mode too to help hone that samurai like timing. A superbly solid scrap and slicer.
GameBoy Original
One on One Beat Em Up
Super shrunk down versions of the Hiryu no Ken series fighters with caricature faces and over the top expressions. Not taking itself too seriously, SD Hiryu still manages to pull a few punches and fight its corner well with interesting backgrounds such as cityscapes with Big Ben all adding to the intriguing of the character roster of nineteen characters. Good, clean fighting fun.
PS Vita
One on One Beat Em Up
Here is the formula: play as a pretty lady with some serious weaponry, such as pigtails with rotating blades. Clear a small section of the stage by taking on hordes of adversaries, often fellow ladies. Progress through the level to meet the boss. Power up and reveal (via an anime sequence) a skimpier outfit and seemingly boosting your stats other than your vital stats. Give boss a good beating and cause her to lose items of clothing (again via anime sequences.) Defeat boss, end level. Stylishly done with a real aplomb and an appreciation of the mass market as much as the doujin title. Hats off (and not just to protect the boss’ modesty.)
PS4
One on One Beat Em Up
The spirit of traditional Japan with low lying roof eaves and narrow streets meets the kawaii obsession of modern Japan with Puyo Puyos taking the brunt of the shinobi ninja girl power. Intense action and more speed lines than a copy of Shonen Jump manga.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
Developed from an anime series, Shaman King sees you being able to charge up a spirit meter through pressing the correct button when urged to do so by your spirit persona. When the meter is full the persona can be summoned to unleash a frenzied assault on your unexpecting opponent in true over the top anime style. Exquisite presentation as you’d expect from Bandai with full bodied voice acting and silky smooth cut scenes. Masses of unlockable characters too.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Arcade port is almost perfect with stirring orchestral score and dazzling, fluid special moves and combo’s. Still remains one of the finest fighters ever to grace the console scene.
Gamecube
One on One Beat Em Up
Arcade port is almost perfect with stirring orchestral score and dazzling, fluid special moves and combo’s. Still remains one of the finest fighters ever to grace the console scene.
PS3
One on One Beat Em Up
Doesn’t seem fair that Darth Vader can elevate an opponent whilst strangling them remotely, but it certainly is a pleasure to be able to test his lightsabre skills against the Soul Calibur crew, complete with the swishing hum sound effect. Happy days.