Tokyo Beat Down

I wanted to love Tokyo Beat Down, but in the end there wasn't enough there to win me over. The game is certainly packed with charm and style, but holes in the control and some balance issues hold it back.

If the gameplay had more to recommend it, this would be a must-play on the DS. As it is, it’s an amusing if uninspired romp that should give more than its share of belly laughs to the beat ‘em up ­faithful.

Tokyo Beat Down is a fun and shallow beat-'em-up that occasionally veers off path.

If you absolutely must have a new brawler, then this game is perfectly functional, but it falls short in overall quality.

It's a decent enough throwback to a genre that doesn't get much love nowadays, but it doesn't manage to improve upon the genre's fundamentals.

When I got Tokyo Beat Down, I was really hoping for a great beat-'em-up experience translated into the third dimension, similar to how adventure games and one-on-one fighting games have transitioned into 3D. Unfortunately Tokyo Beat Down falls short of that, and if I want a beat-'em-up I'm better off putting my GBA copy of Final Fight One into my Nintendo DS.

The game as a whole is unsatisfying. [Apr 2009, p.87]

Even with the slightly below-average graphics, even with the blatantly swiped mechanics, even with the simplistic punch-kick-repeat gameplay, I still want to recommend Tokyo Beat Down. As with Operation Darkness, the title's story and writing are so different and original that I couldn't help but enjoy the game.

Tokyo Beat Down isn't a great game. It isn't really even that good of a game. But fans of similar games will appreciate what the Beast Cops have to offer, and even gamers lukewarm on brawlers will find some merit in Tokyo Beat Down alongside its painfully unfair and tedious moments.

Not a great game. Not really even a good game. But a very funny game. [June 2009, p.69]

While its gameplay is rough around the edges and at times bland, it's adequate for mindlessly smashing thugs to get to the brilliant writing on display.

Even though you're forced to play the game solo (sadly, the game lacks multiplayer), Tokyo Beat Down has enough goofy moments to warrant a rental.

Despite its amusing story and crazy characters, Tokyo Beat Down can't fight off mediocrity.

Tokyo Beat Down could have been a cheesy beat-‘em-up that is still enjoyable, but clunky controls and gameplay keep it from reaching its potential.

A super repetitive punch-and-kick fest.