DS Critic Reviews

From its hilariously campy dialogue to the fantastic seventies vibe, Tokyo Beat Down is worth checking out for on-the-go rumblers, and with it's almost non-existent learning curve it's absolutely perfect for first time brawlers as well. [Apr 2009, p.77]

Tokyo Beat Down is the definition of quirky. The narrow appeal of both the outlandish storyline and repetitive gameplay will appeal to such a limited audience it is no wonder that Atlus is the one publishing it.

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.