Retro collections are now coming almost on a weekly basis, and the Beat ’Em Up Collection (QUByte Classics) tries to take us back to a simpler gaming time, when the formula for fun was extremely clear. You start from the left side of the screen, walk straight, and beat up everything that stands in your way. No too much philosophy, no complicated skills, and no open world. Just fists, legs, and the occasional sword.
This package includes seven games: First Samurai, Second Samurai, Gourmet Warriors, Iron Commando, Legend, Water Margin, and Sword of Sodan. I must admit, as someone born in 1997, most of these titles were unfamiliar to me. These are not the big names that many grew up with, like Streets of Rage or Final Fight, but rather games that remained in the shadow of more famous classics.
And that might be the most interesting part of this collection. It doesn't try to sell nostalgia based on famous titles, but gives a chance to peek into a lesser-known part of gaming history. Some titles, like Iron Commando and Legend, still have a solid rhythm today and can provide a few hours of old school fun. The hits have weight, enemies come in waves, and the gameplay pushes you to just keep going, one more screen, one more showdown.
On the other hand, there are games that have aged better only in our imagination. Sword of Sodan is a good example of that. Visually it looks interesting and has that raw fantasy vibe, but the gameplay can be sluggish and somewhat frustrating. It's the type of game that quickly reminds you that some things look better through the “rose-colored glasses of nostalgia.” Fortunately, the collection comes with modern options that make such titles much easier to play today. Save state and rewind here are not just a nice addition, but almost a necessity. Older games could be brutally hard, often unfair, so the ability to rewind a few seconds saves nerves and makes the experience much more enjoyable.
For those of us born in the late nineties, this is actually an interesting little time machine. Most of these games we didn't have the chance to play when they were current, so the collection feels more like discovering something new rather than pure nostalgia. Not every title in there is a hit, but that's exactly why the package has a certain charm. It's like digging through an old box of games and finding a few strange but interesting titles you've never heard of among the familiar ones.
Beat ’Em Up Collection may not be a collection that will change anyone's view on the genre, but for fans of retro games and old arcade brawling, it can certainly offer a few fun evenings and a good look into a different gaming era.
Retro collections are now coming almost on a weekly basis, and the Beat ’Em Up Collection (QUByte Classics) tries to take us back to a simpler gaming time, when the formula for fun was extremely clear. You start from the left side of the screen, walk straight, and beat up everything that stands in your way. No too much philosophy, no complicated skills, and no open world. Just fists, legs, and the occasional sword.
A copy of the Nintendo Switch version for review purposes was provided by the publisher QUByte Interactive
