side scroll beat 'em ups

[Sgurd]

I'd describe No More Heroes as a beat-em-up. A pretty damn decent and cool one to boot.

Guardian Heroes was a classic though. I only got to play it a few times at a friends place way back in the day but man was it ever addicting. Makes me wanna go buy a Sega Saturn on Ebay.

 

[nightmare_gorilla]

Me and a friend have weekly game nights where we look for 2 player games with and old school feel. Our favorites so far have been, The Warriors (XBOX), Onimusha 4 (PS2), Earth Defense Force 2017 (XBOX360) Check em out.

the warriors and onimusha are pretty fun, i just wish you could choose your character in warriors, onimusha was alotta fun and easy to do two player co-op but again it might be nice to switch the main character out once in a while.

never played EDF2017 but i've seen it for rent here and there i'll have to give her a test out.

i'm glad so many other people are dissapointed at the fate of this great experience, it's a sign that it's possible to revive it. although in general two player co-op games seem to be disapearing but every now and then a really good one hits i just wish it weren't so few and far in-between.

 

[Strafe Mcgee]

Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden are pretty awesome modern beat-em-ups. If we have to settle for them and lose the old SSBEU's I'm kinda okay with it. Sorry!

 

[Sylocat]

The roller rink here in Madison still has the X-Men arcade game. Every time I go there (which admittedly isn't too often anymore, but I still go there from time to time), I lose several bucks in that thing.

 

[twisted_ideas]

Top ten beat'em ups according to screw attack
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/17792.html

But I generally don't associate 3D action games like DMC, GOW etc in the beat'em up category usually fall in the category of action adventure

 

[ChrisP.Lettuce]

Odin Sphere anybody?

5 characters. All of them have their own attacks. Repetitive enemies. Upbeat music. Simple storyline consisting of "save the world from evilness". Released in 2007.

Sounds like it has all your criteria. Just grit your teeth through the cutscenes.

Edit: A tree that grows sheep.