Other games you might like to try:
Capcom have done a few other 2D scrolling beat 'em up games. Most of these are in the arcade, and some got converted to home consoles. However most of these are quite old, but they are quite good and are GBA rehash material.
ALIEN vs. PREADATOR
Released: 1994
No of players max: 3
This was based on 2 top sci-fi movies, Alien and Predator. Strangely it says Alien instead of Aliens, as the game has you battling thousands of different aliens, including 2 queen Aliens (thankfully not at the same time) You also battle humans. You can either play as a marine or a predator, there are two of each. The characters all have a punch combo, guns (which over heat or have to be re-loaded after too much use), special attacks, throws, jump attacks and can pick up cool weapons can be picked up like smart guns and grenades, plus some characters have special weapons all the time like swords, if these are dropped, gives the player new special attacks. You can pick up food out of barrels and get new items and weapons. This plays much like Final Fight but is longer, and is a lot more exciting. I don't get why the predators are helping the marines though. This game is quite old but is still enjoyable. One of the bosses acts like Rolento from Final Fight, so look out for him. One of the characters makes background guest appearances in Alpha 2, SF3:New Generation and SF3:2nd Impact. It also had a 3 player mode. Sadly it never got converted to the home consoles.
ARMOURED WARRIORS 
Released: 1994
No of Players max: 3
This was a mech based scrolling beat 'em up that starred 4 different characters in giant mech suits. It was a transformer style battle, as you could fire weapons and get into punch ups with enemy mechs. The most interesting feature was that you could steal destroyed enemy mechs arms and legs, and make your robot more powerful. There were different weapons to collect, all had a limited supply of ammo. Every robot could do a health decreasing special move just like Final Fight. This game is Ok but I don't think it is a good as Final Fight or Aliens vs. Predator, as it just isn't as polished. Worth a look if you see it in your local arcade.
NOTE: This game was called Powered Gear: S.V.A.E in Japan.
ASTERIX
Released: 1992
No of players max: 2
Another Konami title that featured characters from the French made comic book series, Asterix and Obelix. Graphically this was excellent and looked just like the comics and movies, and thankfully had some good game play to boot. Moves featured in the comics and such were present in the game. The aim of the game is to take on and defeat the Roman Army across Europe. The only disappointment is the fact that is only has 2 players maximum, but the most popular characters are present at least. Probably the best Asterix game ever made.
BATTLE CIRCUIT
Released: 1997
No of players max: 4
This is possibly the greatest scrolling beat 'em up Capcom have done since Final Fight. You can play as one of five bounty hunters in an attempt to rescue a disk that can control every computer in the world. You receive mission orders from Harry, your boss, who is a funny old man in a white suit. Each character has loads off attacks, and can buy new attacks from the shop at the end of every mission. You get coins be beating up bad guys. This game has awesome effects because it was released later. The game has quite a lot of stages and cut scenes to help the story along. The best part is the four player mode.
CADILLACS AND DINOSAURS
Released: 1992
No of players max: 3
Brilliant for its time of release, this game had you choosing one of four characters then fighting brain washed dinosaurs and henchmen. The game is big with multiple levels, and you can pick up guns and clubs to beat things up with. Characters had specials, throws and all the usual stuff to use. The game even had a car level, where you drive the car from the comics. It had lots of blood too, especially when you used grenades on people. There is even a boss that moves around like Rolento in Final Fight.
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE AVENGERS
Released: 1991
No of players max: 2
Data East made this one and it was quite popular thanks to the used characters. The Red Skull has assembled a team of bad guys and you must stop all of them from taking over the world. Scroll through various levels fighting them all and weaker enemies.
CAPTAIN COMMANDO
Released: 1991
No of players max: 2
A quite good game that was way ahead of its time. It starred 4 commandos, these being a captain, a ninja, a Egyptian mummy and a baby in a mech suit. The game characters all had specials and combos, and had more moves than the guys did in Final Fight. There are 9 stages to get through. The mission is simple-save the world! This game was converted to SNES, and was a surprisingly good conversion. The main characters were re-used in Marvel vs. Capcom 1 and 2, Card Fighters and Super Gem Fighter 2.
DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: TOWER OF DOOM
Released: 1993
No of players max: 4
Capcom was now a master of the scrolling beat 'em up genre, and so kept making games they just new would make them money. This had you fighting various monsters as one of four characters. To make it seem like it had something new your character could level up and become more powerful. Another game to have a four player mode, which was obviously great. A sequel came out three years later with extra things like 2 new characters, and was converted to the SEGA Saturn in a Japan only release. Oh, Haggar makes a cameo appearance in this game! He's the one who gets you to put your name in.
DOUBLE DRAGON
Released: 1987
No of players max: 2
When this first came out it was a huge hit for Taito. There were different story lines to it depending on which region the game was from, but it still played the same; you have to beat up punks and rescue the girl. This was the game that inspired Final Fight and just about every other scrolling beat 'em up as well. It was big when it first came out but time has not been very kind to Double Dragon, and is not much fun to play anymore. Converted to multiple home systems of the time, and had quite a few sequels.
GOLDEN AXE
Released: 1989
No of players max: 2
Made by Sega, this was a sort of medieval scrolling beat 'em up. The original let you play as 1 of three characters, then you had to scroll through multiple levels destroying minions of the evil Death Adder. This game doesn't play that fairly and you really need two players to get the most out of it. Still, at least the super magic attacks looked great. Home conversions were made for different machines, with the Mega Drive/Genesis one being the best. There were multiple sequels, including another 2 games on the Mega Drive/Genesis, with another 2 for the arcade.
KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND
Released: 1992
No of players max: 3
Control either King Arthur, Sir Lancelot or Perceval in the quest to get the holy grail. Another Capcom game, this one also had level up elements that would appear in the later Dungeons and Dragons games. Your fight various other warriors in this multi level quest. This isn't that popular but it isn't a bad effort.
SPIKE OUT
Released:
No of players max:
This is where I think Final Fight should go: a 3D beat 'em up where you could go where ever you wanted. This game was by Sega, and you could just stroll around beating everyone up with lots of different moves. Three arcade versions are out, plus a new one is being made for the Playstation 2. The arcade is definitely the best though, since some machines are even networked with other arcades so you can play with people who are far away.
STREETS OF RAGE
Released: 1991
No of players max: 2
When the first one came out it was a rip off with Final Fight but it wasn't actually that bad. Of course, when the sequel came out that became one of the greatest scrolling beat 'em ups ever, and still is today. Streets of Rage 3 was also a good effort. The best versions of the Streets of Rage are all on the Mega Drive/Genesis only, so get them now.
TEENAGE MUTANT HERO TURTLES
Released: 1989
No of Players max: 4
The licence alone was enough to get players going down to the arcade to play this. Selecting any of the four turtles available, this scrolling fighter had you taking on various enemies until you got to Shredder. There were a few home conversions, but there were more Turtle Arcade sequels that were just as popular.
THE PUNISHER
Released: 1993
No of players max: 2
Another Capcom effort which is not as famous as the other titles they have done in the past. You can play as either the Punisher himself or his buddy Nick Fury from the Marvel comics series and then beat up all the gang members of the Kingpin. The final boss of this 5 level game was the Kingpin himself, who had a huge sprite. Both characters had many special moves that looked great, and there were many different enemy types. The best part of the game though would have to be the huge amount of various weapons you could get, ranging from flame throwers to lances and many others. The music is highly lacking in places but the sound effects are quite good. Another cool feature was that whenever an enemy came on screen carrying a gun your character would whip out his own gun, which had an infinite supply of ammunition. However Capcom have made better scrolling beat 'em ups.
THE SIMPSONS
Released: 1991
No of players max: 4
This was an arcade hit, and was for up to four players. Maggie has been captured by someone who looks strangely like Smithers, you must rescue her by beating tons of people up in Springfield. Each of the characters had their own weapon to use, such as Bart's skateboard. It had quite a few levels, and because of the number of players it was largely successful at arcades. One weird thing is that you couldn't choose your character- it depended on what slot you put your money in.
X-MEN
Released: 1992
No of players max: 6
Konami was on a roll after churning out some great arcade hits like The Simpsons and the various Turtle games. So when X-Men came out in 1992 and had a SIX player mode people went ballistic. Characters like Wolverine, Storm and Cyclops were in as well as a few more and had to battle various enemies straight from the comic books and TV show. It played just like Konami's other scrolling beat 'em up games. A hack is available that updates the game and adds newer characters like Nightcrawler and removes the old ones, and does various other things.
OTHERS?
Any games I have missed? E-mail me (tatsu_maki_sen_pu_kyaku@hotmail.com) and tell me about them, and I'll add them to this feature if there any good.
