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Added by ape on 11 Oct 2012 12:37
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Brawlers - ranked by preference

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People who added this item 25 Average listal rating (13 ratings) 8.5 IMDB Rating 0
Guardian Heroes - Sega Saturn
Release Date: January 26, 1996 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Treasure
Genre: Action - Brawler

Ever play a brawler like Final Fight, but wish is played more like a fighting game, like Street Fighter? Well, mix the two together, and toss in some Treasure charm, and you've got Guardian Heroes - quite possibly the best brawler ever made. Not only is it a blast when playing solo, you've got the option to play with five of your closest friends, so the six of you can pummel anything and everything that pops up on the screen. Most folks who play this game fall in love with it...And with its recent release on the Xbox 360, a whole new generation of people can enjoy the wonders of this gem.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 42 Average listal rating (23 ratings) 8.3 IMDB Rating 0
The Warriors - Xbox
Release Date: October 17, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Toronto
Genre: Action - Brawler

I'm a pretty huge fan of the film, so when Rockstar released this game based off of the cult classic, I was very much looking forward to it. It didn't disappoint, either. The Warriors has everything you'd want and more, like countless gangs to encounter, including the popular Baseball Furies. It also was the first game to successfully bring a similar, quality experience of games like Streets of Rage and Final Fight into a 3D world. It's definitely a personal favorite of mine.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 19 Average listal rating (14 ratings) 7.9 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: October 11, 2011 (EU/AU)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom Vancouver
Genre: Action

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record successfully blends the best of the original Dead Rising with the best of the second Dead Rising to create the absolute best game in the series to date. More than a simple re-telling of the story found in Dead Rising 2, Off the Record is very much its own game with new psychopaths to kill, new areas to explore, and a new final boss to battle that results from an interesting twist of the story up to that point. I enjoyed Dead Rising 2 a lot. I enjoyed Off the Record a lot more.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 83 Average listal rating (41 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
Lollipop Chainsaw - PlayStation 3
Release Date: June 12, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Genre: Action

Lollipop Chainsaw is everything I wanted it to be - a cheesy B-movie-like game that actually plays well. The Onechanbara games came close to that, but fell a little short in the gameplay department. Not so with Lollipop Chainsaw, which I enjoyed my time with so much that I wanted to start a new game immediately upon beating it. The game does begin to get repetitive after a while, but the game is at a near perfect length of 4-5 hours and ends once that feeling of repetition begins to appear. The jokes are also pretty comical now, but nearly all of them are based on today's pop culture, so folks playing this ten years from now will likely not get many of the references. All that said, I'm a huge fan of this game and I'm hoping that this isn't the last time we get to help Juliet murder hoards of zombies.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 131 Average listal rating (97 ratings) 8.1 IMDB Rating 0
Streets of Rage 2 - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

From what I've seen, Europe LOVES Streets of Rage 2. Retro Gamer, a magazine in Europe, allowed its readers to vote to compile a list of the 25 best Genesis (or Mega Drive as it's known as over there) games of all-time...and this game appeared to have won the number one spot by a pretty large margin. While I don't believe that it's the best game on the system (my choice, Gunstar Heroes, came in at number 3), it is pretty amazing all the same. It's easily one of the best side-scrolling brawlers of all-time...and according to many, it IS the best. If you haven't played it yet, give it a try and decide for yourself.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 29 Average listal rating (11 ratings) 6.4 IMDB Rating 0
Code of Princess - Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: April 19, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Agatsuma Entertainment
Genre: Action - Brawler

Code of Princess is one of the better brawlers that I've played in a long time...It plays kind of like Guardian Heroes, with a gameplay style that mixes brawler-style gameplay of battling numerous foes at once with Street Fighter-like button commands and Fatal Fury-like multi-plane fighting. Code of Princess also tosses in an RPG-ish leveling-up system, allowing you to boost the stats of whatever character you're playing as from the roster of 50+ unlockable folks. With plenty of characters to unlock and the ability to play with up to three others both locally and online, Code of Princess provides plenty of replay value for brawler fans.
ape's rating:
Release Date: 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler


The Revenge of Death Adder is probably my favorite game in the Golden Axe franchise. The enemies and locations have such variety to them, and the branching pathways, and playable characters that play completely different from each other...There is plenty here to keep you coming back for seconds and thirds....or hundredths. I'm also a huge fan of Dora, the female centaur, whom I've proudly used to donkey-kick Death Adder to oblivion on more than one occasion. But anyway, as far as brawlers go, I consider this game near the top of that list.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 90 Average listal rating (32 ratings) 6.9 IMDB Rating 0
Dead Rising 2 - PlayStation 3
Release Date: September 24, 2010 (EU/AU)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Blue Castle Games
Genre: Action

I liked the original Dead Rising, but for some reason or another, I just could never get myself fully invested in the title. I was afraid that Dead Rising 2 would end up with the same results. I was incorrect. I found myself loving just about every minute of this game. The story was pretty fun to follow along, but the beauty of this and the other Dead Rising games is that when you're sick of following the story, you can just run around and mindlessly kill zombies...And be rewarded for your efforts with stat bonuses and the like. The only aspect I missed from the original Dead Rising was the photography gimmick...But Capcom later remedied that with Off the Record.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 29 Average listal rating (16 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
Golden Axe III - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: June 25, 1993 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

It's pretty disappointing that the best Golden Axe game on consoles never made it out of Japan. Golden Axe III introduces new characters, new enemy designs, improved graphics, improved controls, improved sound...It's the definitive Golden Axe game on the Genesis. If you're a fan of brawlers, I highly suggest tracking a copy of Golden Axe III down and playing it. You may need to purchase a converter to go with it (unless you already have a Japanese Mega Drive) but it's totally worth it.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 95 Average listal rating (72 ratings) 7.7 IMDB Rating 0
Comix Zone - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: August 2, 1995 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

From the first time that I played Comix Zone, I fell in love with it. The concept of fighting your way through the panels of a comic book is rather neat, as is the awesome graphics that accompany the journey. This game just oozes personality nearly every minute that you play. The only thing really holding it back from a higher score is that, like many brawlers, it does get pretty repetitious as you play. That minor gripe aside, if you haven't experienced Comix Zone yet, give it a try. If you don't, you're a Comix Bone-head. Yeah, I went there.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 214 Average listal rating (154 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: July 24, 1992 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action - Brawler

Turtles in Time is a fun, interesting brawler with a unique take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe, having the heroes in a half-shell traverse various time periods in an effort to take down that Shredder fellow....Not too unique, I suppose given the movie with the similar theme, but still a little unique...It's still time travel with mutant reptiles that know martial arts, that's pretty unique, isn't it? Anyway, Turtles in Time is one of the better side-scrolling brawlers ever released and still fun to play today...Just don't play that horrible remake that Ubisoft put out a few years ago. Play this one instead.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 75 Average listal rating (51 ratings) 7.1 IMDB Rating 0
Golden Axe II - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: December 26, 1991 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

Golden Axe II is basically the exact same game, but with a few minor tweaks to improve on the original formula. While that sounds like I'm knocking it, I'm not. The original Golden Axe was a blast, so some gameplay tweaks to make it better and graphical tweaks to make it prettier are very much welcome. Unfortunately, this is mostly the same cast of characters as before as well...enemies and playable characters. There are a few exceptions, of course, but a tad more new content would have been welcome. But, for what it is, Golden Axe II is still a pretty fantastic brawler if you're into the genre.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 156 Average listal rating (114 ratings) 7.4 IMDB Rating 0
Golden Axe - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: December 22, 1989 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

I adore the Golden Axe series. The games in this franchise are among my very favorite brawlers that I've ever played. The first Golden Axe is a strong start to the series, with three playable characters, plenty of brawling, various creatures that you can ride and attack with, magic spells, AND the opportunity to kick annoying gnome-like things by a camp fire while catchy music plays in the background. Later games refine everything, but the original Golden Axe is still a delight to play to this day.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 139 Average listal rating (70 ratings) 7.9 IMDB Rating 0
God Hand - PlayStation 2
Release Date: September 14, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Clover Studio
Genre: Action - Brawler

God Hand is just about everything I could ask for in a video game - high difficulty, humor, and bizarre situations. If the gameplay was a tad smoother and the camera a tad better, I probably would give it an even higher score, but much of the score I've given God Hand is based on pure entertainment value - something that makes you continue to play even after dying over and over and over again. That entertainment drives you to overcome the difficulty so you can see what happens next. With it currently available on the Playstation Network as a PS2 Classic, if you've got a PS3 and are up for an entertaining challenge, purchasing God Hand is money very well spent.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 13 Average listal rating (10 ratings) 8.2 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: May 20, 1994 (ALL)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action - Brawler


Alien vs. Predator is your basic brawler with some nifty little gimmicks tossed in, like the guns that each playable character has. The guns are pack quite the punch, but if you use them too much, they'll overheat. This forces the player to use them strategically to avoid lengthy cool-down times when they need the fire power most. While the action itself is mostly pretty basic for a brawler, this element with the guns adds a little something extra to the gameplay, making it worth playing for jaded fans of side-scrolling brawlers.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 620 Average listal rating (352 ratings) 7.3 IMDB Rating 0
Dead Rising - Xbox 360
Release Date: August 8, 2006 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action - Horror

Dead Rising was a technical achievement when it came out for not only the sheer number of zombies that often appear on screen with you at once, but also for the number of items that you could grab and use from the environment...Just about everything you saw, you could use as a weapon. It also had a unique leveling-up mechanic that allowed you to build up your stats, making the game easier to beat the more you played. Can't beat a certain boss fight? Kill some more zombies, rescue more people, beat more psychopaths, and you'll level up and potentially gain a new ability or another slot to your health meter. It could get repetitive at times, but it was also very, very fun.
ape's rating:
Release Date: 1994 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action - Brawler


I find it ironic that the best games in the Dungeons and Dragons universe, that I've played anyway, as side-scrolling brawlers rather than RPGs. That said, Tower of Doom is your average brawler with some RPG elements like leveling up and buying items for your journey at stores between levels. The branching levels also help add quite a bit of replay value, enticing folks who have beaten the game already to come back for more. It also contains one of the toughest boss fights of all time in the Red Dragon - a boss obviously placed in the game to suck quarters out of the pocket of the player. As a side-scrolling brawler, it's not perfect, but it's still quite fun and well worth playing through if you come across a cabinet...Especially if you've got a few friends to form a party to navigate your way through this brawler.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 36 Average listal rating (32 ratings) 8.1 IMDB Rating 0
X-Men - Arcade
Release Date: 1992 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action - Brawler

X-Men is a plausible brawler, but take away the X-Men licence that is likely to grab the attention of folks and it's not really anything special. It's a fun, well done game...But there isn't anything here, aside from the X-Men licence, that really makes it too different from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game that came out three years prior. If you wanted to play TMNT as Nightcrawler of Wolverine, then this game will be right up your alley. Otherwise, you might be thinking that you basically played the same game a few years ago with a different set of mutants that were heroes in a half-shell.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 54 Average listal rating (33 ratings) 6.9 IMDB Rating 0
Battletoads In Battlemaniacs - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: June 1993 (NA)
Publisher: Tradewest
Developer: Rare
Genre: Action - Brawler

Battletoads in Battlemaniacs may have fancier graphics with beautiful-looking, large characters on the screen to both beat up and do beating up with...But it's still a small step down from the original Battletoads on the NES. It's still got a charming difficulty to it that will crush your spirits, yet still call you back for more. It also still has some memorable characters, good comedy spots, and a decent variety in the levels, which makes it a worthwhile brawler to play...But if you can only play one game in the series, the 8-bit original is definitely the better option.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 75 Average listal rating (40 ratings) 6.7 IMDB Rating 0
Final Fight - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: December 21, 1990 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action - Brawler

I'm a big fan of the Final Fight franchise, but let's face it - the Super NES version of the first game is the weakest version. Removing support for co-op play and eliminating one of the three playable characters (Guy) resulted in a game that was still fun, but not nearly as fun as what you'd experience in the arcades, or later on the Sega CD. It's still a solid brawler, but not what it could have (and should have) been.
ape's rating:
Release Date: December 13, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action - Brawler

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project is a very long name...But long name aside, this is more of the same in regards to TMNT 2: The Arcade Game. It's a side-scrolling brawler with new enemies to battle, new environments to traverse, mildly improved gameplay and graphics, and just an overall enjoyable time whether you're playing solo or with a friend. If you weren't a big fan of the Arcade Game, then you'll probably not enjoy this game, either...But, on the flip side, if you liked the Arcade Game, then you'll find plenty to love here. In my opinion, it's one of the better brawlers on the NES.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 19 Average listal rating (9 ratings) 3.6 IMDB Rating 0
Silent Hill: Book of Memories - PlayStation Vita
Release Date: October 16, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: WayForward
Genre: Action - Brawler

Silent Hill: Book of Memories made a lot of Silent Hill fans pout and trash the game even though most of them had never played it, simply because it took the series to a new genre...Ah, the internet. Anyway, Book of Memories is a hack-n-slash dungeon crawler with Silent Hill characters showing up like Pyramid Head and the Mailman. It's actually pretty well done. As you kill enemies, there are two different colored types of blood they leave behind. Each color represents "blood" and "light" in relation to your "karma" or alignment. If you collect enough of one color to fill your karma meter to one side or the other, enemies of the same alignment will actually attack other enemies in the room instead of you. It's a neat little concept to incorporate into all the hacking and slashing. But anyway, I recommend giving this game a chance. It doesn't poo-poo on the Silent Hill franchise like a lot of folks think - it's a one-off game to the side that isn't part of the lore of the series. There's nothing wrong with that.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 149 Average listal rating (118 ratings) 7.8 IMDB Rating 0
Streets of Rage - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: August 2, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

I recall having arguments with a friend and co-worker back in college over what brawler was better - Streets of Rage or Final Fight. He insisted Streets of Rage, while I stuck with Final Fight. Since then, I've come to appreciate Sega's brawler a bit more. Granted, I still prefer the Arcade version of Final Fight to Streets of Rage, but the gap has closed considerably. That said, I'm probably in the minority with that opinion - I think the general gaming public prefers Streets of Rage. This was one of Sega's most beloved franchises during the days of the Genesis...And one that I think would be really neat to be revived in a style similar to Rockstar's The Warriors on Xbox and Playstation 2. But, if a revival never happens, the 16-bit brawlers are more than enough to put a smile on the face of any fan of the genre.
ape's rating:
Release Date: December 7, 1990 (JP)
Publisher: Ultra
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action - Brawler

With the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the arcade, Konami decided to port it to the NES. Since the NES already had a game with the same name published on the system, the arcade Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles then became Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game...Long explanation for something not important, right? Oh well, this arcade port is quite good. It obviously doesn't look as nice as the arcade version, or play quite as smoothly, but it gets the job done just fine anyway. It's one of the better brawlers on the NES and still pretty fun to brawl through the levels to this day.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 32 Average listal rating (17 ratings) 6.6 IMDB Rating 0
Killer is Dead - PlayStation 3
Release Date: August 1, 2013 (JP)
Publisher: Xseed Games
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Genre: Action - Brawler

Killer is Dead is getting a lot of negative press due to how women are portrayed in the game. Really? If this was a game that was realistic, maybe I could see their side of things...But this game stars a man with a gigantic, robotic arm that goes to the moon wearing only a helmet. It's clearly fiction. If it's obviously a fictional story, and the women (not all of whom are seen in a negative light, mind you) are part of that story, then what's the big deal? With that out of the way, Killer is Dead is a decent game. It's nice and weird. The downside to it is that it tends to get repetitive with its hack 'n' slash gameplay. The rest of the game is its upside. From its strange story to its amazing graphics, Killer is Dead is definitely worth checking out...Just be prepared for some repetitive action along the way.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 27 Average listal rating (16 ratings) 6.9 IMDB Rating 0
Splatterhouse 2 - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: August 4, 1992 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Now Production
Genre: Action - Brawler

Splatterhouse 2 seems extremely easy and boring at first...And at times it can be. However, as you get near the end of the game, especially at the frustrating final stretch of boss fights, this can become a pretty difficult game. You'll need some pretty quick reflexes unless you're planning on using a lot of continues along your road to the ending. That said, this game is better than the original Splatterhouse in just about every way, but still falls a little short in regards to well-known, well-loved brawlers like Final Fight and Streets of Rage.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 57 Average listal rating (39 ratings) 7.7 IMDB Rating 0
River City Ransom - Famicom and NES
Release Date: April 25, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Technos
Developer: Million
Genre: Action - Brawler

River City Ransom is a different kind of brawler for its time - it's one with RPG elements. Basically, as you beat up gang members, they drop money. With that money, you can go buy stuff that increase your power, health, etc. To further add RPG elements, River City Ransom isn't a linear game - you can wander around and explore any area at your leisure. These elements help River City Ransom stand out in the 8-bit brawler genre...Well, those elements and the amusing things enemies say when you beat them. BARF!
ape's rating:
People who added this item 13 Average listal rating (9 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
Rollergames - Famicom and NES
Release Date: September 1990 (NA)
Publisher: Ultra Games
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action - Brawler

Rollergames was a roller derby television show, and an arcade game called "Rollergames" was, in fact, a roller derby game. The NES version of Rollergames, however, was a brawler where you choose a member of one of three teams from the Rollergames show and take on, apparently, the entire team of several different teams from the show in various environments....Why they're roller skating on dirt roads in the jungle has always been a mystery to me. Anyway, the game is surprisingly good. It's not perfect, and it could be better, but the skating aspect adds a little something to make it different from your average brawler. It's well worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre or the show.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 117 Average listal rating (79 ratings) 6.5 IMDB Rating 0
Altered Beast - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: November 27, 1988 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

While I've always loved the concept of Altered Beast, I've never really been a fan of the execution. Over the years, I've come to appreciate it more...but even with that appreciation, let's face it, the controls do feel a little off and the brawling gets very repetitive very quickly...But, then you transform into one of several beasts and the feeling of repetition feels a little delayed. While I've never been a huge fan of Altered Beast, there's no question that it was a system-seller for the Genesis in the beginning and that it's a game that many folks have very fond memories of.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 18 Average listal rating (12 ratings) 7.3 IMDB Rating 0
Punisher, The - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1994 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Sculpted Software
Genre: Action - Brawler

The Punisher is a passable brawler that Capcom published. While it has some unique additions, like areas where the Punisher (or Nick fury) pulls out a gun and shoots away at the enemy instead of just brawling with them, it gets pretty tedious after a few levels...Besides, if they always have a gun on them with unlimited bullets, why aren't they just shooting everyone all the time? Anyway, if you're a fan of the Punisher comic books, this may be worth playing through...otherwise, there are better brawlers on the Genesis than this.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 9 Average listal rating (3 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
Growl - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: November 15, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Taito
Developer: ITL
Genre: Action - Brawler

Growl is your average brawler, except with a little more variety in terms of weaponry and a bit more forgiving as far as your health goes. In other words, it's a bit on the easy side...But that doesn't hurt the game much. The plot of the game involves you trying to take down a bunch of poachers. By saving wildlife like hawks and elephants, they'll help you out. Watching an elephant destroy a tank was rather amusing to me. The ending game me some Indigo Prophecy deja vu as it really comes from nowhere and seems unnecessary...But that aside, this is a decent brawler that you'll likely enjoy if you're a fan of the genre.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 3 Average listal rating (2 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
King Fighter III - Android
Release Date: July 24, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: LeTang, Inc.
Developer: LeTang, Inc.
Genre: Action - Brawler

King Fighter III is a pretty good brawler that seems to be an Android exclusive title. The game plays pretty well, though the touch-screen controls are a bit over-sensitive, resulting in you often wandering places you don't wish to go. In a brawler, that's not a major issue, but it's still an annoying problem. When the controls aren't acting goofy, you've got a solid little brawler that's pretty fun to play if brawlers are your thang. With a level-up system and skills to unlock, there's plenty here to help prevent the game from feeling too repetitive as you play on. It's nothing worth going out of your way to play, but you're probably not gonna feel like you wasted your time if you downloaded it, either.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 12 Average listal rating (8 ratings) 6.5 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: February 26, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: KOEI
Developer: Omega Force
Genre: Action - Brawler


If you miss the glory days of brawlers, you'll probably find at least a little bit of enjoyment here. Samurai Warriors Chronicles, is a brawler set in Japan in the 1500's with a focus on how wars used to be fought -- a bunch of folks from each army running in and fighting in hand-to-hand combat. It's a decent enough of a game, and when I'm in the mood for it, it's quite fun, but it can also get very repetitive very quickly. If you're a big fan of the console Samurai Warriors games, this handheld version would be perfect for you, though.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 19 Average listal rating (8 ratings) 7.4 IMDB Rating 0
Guilty Gear Judgment - PlayStation Portable
Release Date: August 24, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Majesco
Developer: Arc System Works
Genre: Action - Brawler

Guilty Gear Judgment is a side-scrolling brawler with several playable characters from the Guilty Gear fighting games....And while the mechanics and controls of the brawling are fun...The level layouts and repetition of opponents really hinders it to the point where you're likely to get bored very quickly. However, this game has a saving grace in the form of the full version of Guilty Gear X2 #Reload, a very good fighting game, packed in the disk. You're probably much more likely to spend plenty of time with that fantastic fighter than you are the sub-par brawler that is the focus of this game. That said, if you're a fan of brawlers, this is still worth a shot...Especially since you've got a quality fighter to make up for any disappointments you may have.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 21 Average listal rating (7 ratings) 5.6 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: December 14, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: D3
Developer: Tamsoft
Genre: Action - Brawler

Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad, like the Wii game in the series, is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. This game is a bit better than the Wii one, however, due to the fact that there aren't any unresponsive motion controls to hold it back. That said, Onechanbara plays just fine...It's the repetition that holds the game back as it gets very repetitive very quickly. But for a game to pop in your 360 for a few minutes every now and then for some cheesy entertainment, it's quite nice.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 83 Average listal rating (50 ratings) 6.5 IMDB Rating 0
Kung Fu - Famicom and NES
Release Date: June 21, 1985 (JP)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Irem
Genre: Action - Brawler

I never saw the big deal about Kung Fu, to be honest with you. The collision detection isn't always the best as you traverse through the levels - particularly when battling the level-end bosses, and while there are slight variations in enemy designs and tactics, you're still essentially just doing the same thing over and over through each of the five levels. It's a passable game for the time it was released, but unless you grew up with this game as a favorite, you probably won't be too enthralled with playing it today.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 66 Average listal rating (44 ratings) 7.2 IMDB Rating 0
Final Fight 2 - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: May 22, 1993 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Action - Brawler

I liked Final Fight a lot. Final Fight 2...I don't like that one so much. It's a so-so brawler that doesn't really add much to the original to stand out, and somehow seems more boring and bland in the process. Capcom turned the series around a bit with the really good third entry into the Final Fight series, but this second entry isn't really worth your time unless you're obsessed with the brawler genre of games.
ape's rating:
Release Date: June 29, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Developer: Tamsoft
Genre: Brawler

The Oneechanpon is basically The Oneechanbara 2: The Special Edition. It's essentially the same game but with more characters added in to join in on the fun. There's not enough new content or improvements here for me to justify raising the score any higher, but the extra stuff added to the still-passable game makes it the game to pick if you want to import some B-movie, zombie hack-n-slash action for your Playstation 2.
ape's rating:
Release Date: December 22, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Developer: Tamsoft
Genre: Brawler

The third game in the Onechanbara series is actually called The Oneechanbara 2, and it's actually a decent improvement over the previous games. Yeah, it still gets repetitive after a while, but with multiple characters to play as and the same, charming B-movie storytelling, the repetitive gameplay is much more tolerable. Also, while it doesn't have an effect on the gameplay, it's interesting to note that blood color strangely changed from red to purple for this game. Apparently, when a bad zombie game becomes passable, its blood gets some blue mixed in with the red. No idea where I was going with that, but I'll leave it in. Anyway, this game was a nice step forward in the series.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 7 Average listal rating (6 ratings) 5.7 IMDB Rating 0
Ultimate Fighter - Super famicom and SNES
Release Date: December 11, 1992 (JP)
Publisher: Culture Brain
Developer: Culture Brain
Genre: Action - Brawler

Ultimate Fighter is a hybrid of several game types. First and foremost, it's a brawler - walk around and beat people up. There's also a mode that is essentially a one-on-one fight between your character and an enemy of your choosing. The final game type is the most interesting...Animation mode is what it's called. Essentially, this turns the brawler into an RPG, skipping out all of the unnecessary brawling and focusing purely on the boss fights, with an emphasis on turn-based strategy rather than action gameplay skill. With all of these features, the title Ultimate Fighter seems to be the perfect fit...Except much of the game isn't done the best. The controls are choppy and much of the between-boss-fights brawling feels more like a chore than it feels fun. There's enough innovation here to justify me giving it a passable score...But just barely. There are some really good ideas here...Unfortunately, they're accompanied by poor execution.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 4 Average listal rating (3 ratings) 5.3 IMDB Rating 0
Onechanbara Special - PlayStation Portable
Release Date: March 31, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Developer: Tamsoft
Genre: Action - Brawler

Here in North America, we got two of the Onechanbara games - Bikini Zombie Slayers and Bikini Samurai Squad. Both were games that definitely had flaws, but had enough B movie charm within them that they won me over and became guilty pleasures to pop in every now and then for some mindless zombie hack-n-slash action. Onechanbara Special is much of the same in that regard. You'll definitely find plenty of flaws when you play, but if you're a fan of cheesy, B-movie goodness that you'd see from studios like Troma, the cheesiness and weirdness of it all could potentially win you over. The gameplay itself is okay and passable, but it does get repetitive very quickly. In that regard, it's perfect for a handheld as you can play a little bit every now and then instead of playing in one, giant block. But anyway, if you've played and enjoyed any of the previous games, you'll love having this on the go. If you weren't impressed with the previous games, there's nothing here that will make you change your mind.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 4 Average listal rating (4 ratings) 6.5 IMDB Rating 0
Release Date: March 24, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Dimps Corporation
Genre: Action - Brawler

Spikeout: Battle Street is a so-so, 3D brawler. It's playable and all, and the controls are done well, but it just gets repetitive pretty quick. Even with a decent variety of attacks and weapons to use, the game just gets old after a few minutes of playing. If you're a fan of brawlers and don't find them to be repetitive, the controls and such are pretty solid here, so you'll likely have a good time. This is a game that's fun in small doses, but play for too long and the repetition will make you grow to resent the fact that you're playing.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 31 Average listal rating (25 ratings) 6.6 IMDB Rating 0
Alien Storm - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: June 28, 1991 (JP)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

If you're what Alien Storm is like, imagine Golden Axe, but with robots and aliens instead of dwarves and goblins. Sounds good, right? What if I told you that you'll also have to remove most of the personality from it? That's where Alien Storm struggles. While it's technically a decent brawler like Golden Axe, it has almost none of the personality...that's likely why Golden Axe is still fondly remembered today, yet Alien Storm is mostly forgotten. If you're into brawlers, Alien Storm may still be worth checking out, but everyone else can probably pass.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 16 Average listal rating (5 ratings) 6.6 IMDB Rating 0
Sol Divide - PlayStation
Release Date: July 2, 1998 (JP)
Publisher: XS Games
Developer: Boom
Genre: Action - Brawler

I've heard people say that Sol Divide looks and played dated back when this came out. Well, there's a good reason for that...It was released in North America in 2003, five years after its original Japanese release date. That aside, this is an interesting brawler that plays like a scrolling shooter. You fly through the air and hack and slash your way through enemies that fly towards you and take on some fun, large boss fights. It's far from a perfect game, but I've really never played anything else like it before, so it scores some points with me for originality. The originality is really the main reason I'd recommend folks to give this game a shot. Who knows, it might surprise you.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 45 Average listal rating (27 ratings) 5.6 IMDB Rating 0
Bad Dudes - Famicom and NES
Release Date: July 14, 1989 (JP)
Publisher: Data East
Developer: Data East
Genre: Action - Brawler

I feel like a comma should be inserted between the words of the title of this game because it's Bad, Dudes. With poor collision detection, choppy graphics and movements, and just overall poor gameplay, I really should be scoring this lower than I did. The redeeming quality of Bad Dudes is that it's almost like a B-movie - so bad that it's good. The corny and downright bad aspects of the game can sometimes be charming and enhance the experience as a result. Is Bad Dudes the best game ever made? Not even close...but its charm does make it a passable experience for anyone looking for a good brawler to play.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 8 Average listal rating (6 ratings) 7.2 IMDB Rating 0
Streets of Rage - Sega Master System
Release Date: 1993 (EU)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action - Brawler

Streets of Rage is pretty much an exact port of the Genesis game with the same name, but in 8 bits instead of 16. It does lose a little in the translation in terms of gameplay, but not a whole lot. It's still a passable brawler and a so-so addition to your Master System library, but if you have the opportunity to play the Genesis version instead, do it.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 39 Average listal rating (21 ratings) 5.9 IMDB Rating 0
Knack - PlayStation 4
Release Date: November 15, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: SCE Japan Studio
Genre: Action - Brawler

I wanted to like Knack...At first glance, I thought it was going to basically be Katamari Damacy, except instead of rolling a ball around, you'd be beating up enemies and absorbing materials into Knack, the character you play as. Nope. Instead, Knack is just a boring, barely passable brawler with occasional interesting moments when Knack grows to tremendous sizes...But not interesting enough to make playing this a fun time. Children seem to like repetition when they're at certain ages, so this might be a decent game for them, but I have a feeling that a lot of older players will get very bored very quickly with this launch title that had so much potential to be so much more enjoyable than it actually ended up being.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 13 Average listal rating (7 ratings) 6.4 IMDB Rating 0
Splatterhouse - TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine
Release Date: April 3, 1990 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Action - Brawler

The first Splatterhouse is passable as a brawler, but aside from the gore (which is nothing today, but it had some folks up in arms back when it was released) it's not really anything special. It's not horrible, mind you, but better brawlers like Double Dragon had come along before this release, making the gameplay feel a little behind the times. The novelty of gore hid that a little bit back when it was released, but it shows today. You can find brawlers much worse than the original Splatterhouse, but this is one of those games that may not be as good as you remember it being when you were a kid.
ape's rating:
Release Date: September 20, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Genre: Action - Brawler

What an ironic title - imperfect is exactly what it is. Marvel Nemesis is kinda like that really good-looking girl from high school that had the I.Q. of a lemon - Amazingly gorgeous, but has absolutely nothing else going for her. That's Marvel Nemesis. The graphics are still gorgeous to this day and were among the best ever seen when it first came out on store shelves...But if Electronic Arts had spent as much time focusing on gameplay and making the game fun as they did making the game look beautiful, then this probably would have easily been one of the best games of its console generation instead of one of the worst. Marvel Nemesis is a brawler that feels like the brother of Power Stone...If Power Stone's brother was dropped on the head a bunch as a child. This really had so much potential to be good, and I've honestly played worse...But this is still so bad and so, so disappointing.
ape's rating:
People who added this item 8 Average listal rating (6 ratings) 7 IMDB Rating 0
The Death and Return of Superman - Sega Genesis and Mega Drive
Release Date: 1994 (EU)
Publisher: Sunsoft
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Genre: Action - Brawler

I'm torn on the Death and Return of Superman. On one hand, the game controls well and looks great and is fun for a little bit...on the other hand, it can also feel very boring at times. Blizzard Entertainment is known for high-quality games, so I keep feeling like I'm missing something when I play this...but even Mickey Mantle struck out a few times, so perhaps this is a time when Blizzard whiffed. This game is still passable and worth checking out if you're a fan of brawlers...just don't expect anything amazing here.
ape's rating:
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Voters of this game list - View all
 Georginiran88dom99Bml93DeletedZozouliniquisma88Mr. Saturn
Like the "ranked by preference" lists I do for systems, I'm doing for genres now as well. The comments and such are the same as found in those lists, unless the comment(s) were list-specific, in which case, I wrote up a new little diddy for it.

Games will be added regularly as I play 'em.

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18 votes
Video Games - ranked by preference (55 lists)
list by ape
Published 12 years, 1 month ago 8 comments



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