Play Dynasty Wars Online

Dynasty Wars came out in arcades in 1989, a Capcom release that fit right in with the side-scrolling beat 'em ups of the time. It was based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so you weren't just fighting random thugs; you were in the middle of a historical Chinese civil war. The cabinet had a trackball for movement, which felt different from the usual joystick setup, and it supported two players, which was pretty standard for the era.

You pick one of five warlords, like Liu Bei or Cao Cao, and fight your way through stages filled with enemy soldiers. Your main goal is to clear each screen of foes to advance, using a combination of regular attacks and a charged swing that you build up by holding the button. The screen doesn't scroll automatically; you push forward, and enemies pour in from both sides, so positioning matters. It's a tough game, with a constant flood of troops and officers that can quickly overwhelm you if you don't manage the crowd. The feeling is one of controlled chaos, where a well-timed charged attack can turn the tide of a desperate fight.