Final Fight and Assault of the Familiars

After Commando and R-Type, I got there eventually...

Regardless of generation, it's fair to say everybody's battered Belger's army of thugs into submission and forced head honcho to take a ridiculous dive from nearest window.

Originally conceived as Street Fighter's sequel (hence the working title of Street Fighter '89), Capcom's epic side scrolling brawler was by no means the first, but pioneered the genre - just like a certain Street Fighter II did with best of threes in 1991.

Mad Gear was lifted from their earlier racing game of the same name (L.E.D. Storm for the home market), which completely ripped off Data East's 1982 arcade Bump 'n' Jump.

The reason for sudden change of heart was down to the popularity of Double Dragon.

Cody and Guy blatantly stole Billy and Jimmy's Hurricane Kick from 1988 sequel The Revenge.

Metro City built upon foundations already laid by adding actual plot, enemy names (and energy bars), combos, destructible objects, collectibles and bonus stages.

As the Lee brothers were responsible for kicking shit off, bonus round start.

Unless stated, all brawls from insert coin.

Dabel of Konami's Violent Storm fame and Abobo both smashed through walls.

Golden Axe had sprites turn backs.

Streets of Rage, 1991 (Mega Drive)

Crime Fighters (1989) and 1991 sequel Vigilante.

The worst Double Dragon rape was 1989 Sunsoft/Sega collaboration Tough Turf.

Etc etc.

Why didn't Technos sue? I guess they were too busy fucking laughing.

As a side project, The Combatribes was released in 1990 (the same year as international jaunt Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone).

Lead by the ruthless Martha Splatterhead, organisation dubbed Ground Zeros controls the street gangs and fist happy heroes must restore order to New York.
Although violence was light-hearted, the SNES port predictably took a beating.

Before proceeding to main event, let's remind ourselves why genre masters literally kicked the broadest of asses.

Alien vs. Predator (1994)

Armored Warriors (1994)
Spin-off Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness came in 1995.

Cadillacs & Dinosaurs (1993)

Captain Commando (1991)

Knights of the Round (1991)

The King of Dragons (1991)

The Punisher (1993)

Dynasty Wars (1989) and 1992 sequel Warriors of Fate.

Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom (1993) and 1996 sequel Shadow over Mystara.

Battle Circuit (1997) doesn't strictly count, but what the Elvis, right?

Ready for a relentless onslaught of clones?

Of course you are.

While some only wield weapons, formula doesn't deviate.

Largely ignoring home market, this succulent selection will satisfy every need.

Asterix, Konami 1992

Blade Master, Irem 1991

Captain America and The Avengers, Data East 1991

Crude Buster, Data East 1990

D.D. Crew, Sega 1991

Dynamite Düx, Sega 1988

Gaia Crusaders, Noise Factory 1999

Gang Wars, ADK 1989

Growl, Taito 1990

Guardians of the 'hood, Atari 1992

Karate Blazers, Video System 1991

Knights of Valour, IGS 1999

Metamorphic Force, Konami 1993

Mug Smashers, Electronic Devices 1990

Mutation Nation, SNK 1992

Night Slashers, Data East 1993

Robo Army, SNK 1991

Sengoku, SNK 1991

Silent Dragon, Taito 1992

Spider Man the Video Game, Sega 1991

The Simpsons, Konami 1991

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Konami 1989

X-Men, Konami 1992

Undercover Cops, Irem 1992

Riot Zone (left) on PC Engine CD was a recycled version of original arcade Riot City (right) with a new name.

Jaleco's 64th Street: A Detective Story and Konami's Batman Returns (SNES)

1994 SNES/Mega Drive outing The Death and Return of Superman also gave licence for tossing baddies.

That sounds so wrong.

Ha ha ha!

This icy cool screen rewards those who battled through Mania difficulty.

In 1991 arcade sequel Turtles in Time, the Foot are easily persuaded into taking flying lessons.

The weird, but not necessarily wonderful.

DJ Boy, Kaneko (1991) and 1992 sequel B. Rap Boys.

Legionnaire, Tad Corporation 1992

Nekketsu Oyako, Technosoft 1994 (PS1/Saturn Japanese only)

The exception.

Ninja Baseball Batman, Irem 1993

And most obscure of all.

Ninja Clowns, Strata 1991

Clowns yelling hai-ya during every given thwack?

Ridiculous.

The penultimate section showcases hearty half-inching.

*Denotes one on one fighter.

Mark (Karate Blazers) vs Cody

Haggar

D.D. Crew boss

Franco Bash (Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory, Neo Geo)*
JUUUUUNNNNNNIIIIIIOOOOOOORRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

Muscle Power (World Heroes)*

ADK simultaneously ripped off Zangief, but hey the fuck ho.

64th Street: A Detective Story

Baddie vs Bill Bull (not to be confused with G. Oriber or even Wong Who).

Baddie vs Holly Wood (same principle as El Gado).

Night Slashers baddie vs Slash (not Axl).

Streets of Rage miscellany

Punk vs J (or palette replacement Two. P).

Abadede (sequel's boss) vs Abigail

Riot City (H. Bull boss setting) vs Sodom's background

Inside choo choo

Crime Fighters

Fallen Angel, Emerald 1989 (Amiga version shown)

Violent Storm

Map

Industrial Area vs err, Industrial Area

In terms of unscrupulous blag, SNK's Burning Fight was less subtle than a broadsword up the backside.

Welcome to Capital City.

So Duke and Billy are obviously Cody and Haggar, which leaves...

He also rings the bell of Ryu from Street Fighter.

Duffy (or Gonzales) vs Bill Bull

Tom Anderson (or same principle Gary Powell) vs Abigail

Random bonus area vs West Side (inside bar)

Need a lift?

Ahead of imminent walk towards glowing sun, ending screen's strobe coloured background bar smacks of Street Fighter II.

Actually, Guy impostor Ryu now looks more like his 'redrawn' Street Fighter II namesake.

That's a scrap.

Deadpool - The scoop and digest

While video game lacked originality, roaming beat 'em up simply oozed anti-hero's personality.

Spice up those chimichangas and enjoy a slice of pizza as irresponsibility comes to the big screen.

Ryan Reynolds - Deadpool/Wade Wilson
Michael Benyaer - Francis/Ajax
T.J. Miller - Weasel
Stefan Capicic - Colossus (voice)
Brianna Hildebrand - Negasonic Teenage Warhead
Morena Baccarin - Vanessa
Gina Carano - Angel Dust

After terrific opening sequence where many lie dead at the hands of Deadpool's firepower and pointy sticks, we have to go back two years to learn how ass squeezed into red spandex.

Run by bartender and friend Weasel, mercenary Wade Wilson visits Sister Margaret's and meets love interest Vanessa.

Sometime later, Wade suddenly collapses and diagnosed with cancer.

He reluctantly undergoes treatment, but first must endure tortuous methods administered by Angel Dust until mutation kicks in.

As a consequence of cure, face is heavily disfigured.

Taking refuge at blind woman's house Al, he becomes blank eyed masked vigilante.

In the midst of bloodshed, Deadpool collars Francis and demands he spills how to make face pretty again.

Already dispatched by Wolverine from X-Mansion, the fiery Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus intervene which allows Francis to leg it.

Chrome balls handcuffs Deadpool and drags him away.

Ever seen 127 Hours?

Spoiler alert.

Weasel convinces Wade to swallow deformed pride and visit Vanessa.

Believing hooded figure to be Wade, Vanessa is kidnapped by Francis and Angel Dust.

For letting Francis go, Negasonic and Colossus agree to help Deadpool and arrive at decommissioned S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier.

Deadpool makes short work of henchmen while Colossus and Negasonic lock horns with Angel Dust, who executes 'superhero landing'.

With a rack like hers, I wouldn't mind having a squeeze...

Francis and Deadpool unleash pent-up aggression and baddie's goose is eventually cooked with a bullet to the head.

Angel Dust is knocked sparko during explosion and rescued by Colossus.

Negasonic and Colossus accept Deadpool's unwillingness to join X-men and our man enjoys a cheeky tongue wrestle with Vanessa.

Staying after part animated credit roll sees Deadpool in dressing gown superbly parodying Ferris Bueller and teases Cable may feature in probable sequel.

Casting? Maybe Dolph Lundgren, Mel Gibson or even Keira Knightley?

The Punisher, Blade and Daredevil all saw Marvel get adult, but Tim Miller's feature debut smashes all concerned.

Ryan Reynolds has done some pretty shite films, but all is forgiven.

It's always fun to hear thespian taking the piss out of his/her cinematic bombs and references made to The Green Lantern (super suit green or animated) and something about X-Men Origins: Wolverine are super cute.

Blade II is also mentioned, but Reynolds only starred in Trinity.

Errr?

Potty-mouthed script is crammed with quick-fire vulgarities and not since Ted 2 have I laughed so hard.

The principle of Kick-Ass lingers, but Deadpool existed way before swimsuit in comic book land.

Andre Tricoteux provides faultless motion capture, T.J. Miller delivers rampant sarcasm and Hildebrand takes every amusing insult from Deadpool on the chin.

Compliments include Ripley from Alien 3 and Sinéad O'Connor (Nothing Compares 2 U).

Of course she and iconic music video made it famous, not Prince's funk group The Family...

As for Deadpool's musical taste, he's a huge fan of Wham! and Careless Whisper.

Mr. Sandman has long since been associated with Halloween.  Not anymore...

Oh, apart from tits, watch out for Stan Lee's cameo as strip joint's DJ.

Some films should be skipped like television channels.

Avoid this at your peril.