List of beat 'em ups

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beat 'em ups are video games which pit a fighter or group of fighters against many underpowered enemies and bosses. Gameplay usually spans many levels, with most levels ending in an enemy boss. If multiple players are involved, players generally fight cooperatively.

It is often useful to characterise gameplay as either 2D (largely characterised by the player walking only to the left or right) or 3D (characterised by full movement in the implied horizontal plane, sometimes also with a button for jump). Graphics can likewise be categorised as 2D (with sprites, sometimes with an isometric or parallax effect) or 3D (polygons), or hybrid (e.g. sprite characters in front of polygon backgrounds, or vice versa).

Beat 'em ups[]

Graphics 2D gameplay 3D gameplay
2D (sprites)

(Also known as single-plane or side-scrolling)

  • Act of Fighter - SoftStar
  • After the War - Dinamic Multimedia
  • Altered Beast - Sega
  • Asterix and the Magic Cauldron / Ardok the Barbarian - Melbourne House / Spinnaker Software Corporation
  • Astro Boy: Omega Factor - Treasure/Sega
  • Atrog - Zafiro
  • Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja / DragonNinja - Data East / Imagine Entertainment
  • Bad Street Brawler / Street Hassle / Bop' N Rumble - Beam Software
  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold
  • Batman Forever - Probe Entertainment (Game Gear, PC), Acclaim Entertainment (SNES, Genesis, Game Boy)
  • Billy 2 - Loriciels
  • Black Belt - Sega
  • Bob Winner - Loriciels
  • Bronx - Animagic
  • Bruce Lee - Datasoft
  • China Gate - Technōs
  • Corsarios - OperaSoft
  • Dan the Man - Halfbrick Studios
  • Deathkick -
  • Dragon Bowl - Nics
  • Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure - Dimps
  • Dungeon & Guarder - Game Park
  • Eightman - Pallas
  • Electronic Popple - Byteshock
  • Guardian Heroes - Treasure
  • - Edelweiss / Nyu Media
  • Fighting Warrior / Kung-Fu II: Sticks of Death - Melbourne House
  • Freddy Hardest in South Manhattan / Guardian Angel / The Guardian Angel - Imagine Entertainment / Codemasters
  • Gladiator - Taito
  • Hammerfist - Vivid Image
  • Her Knights series - Byulbram
    • Her Knights: All for Princess
    • Her Knights: Forcing Breakout
  • International Ninja Rabbits - Microvalue
  • Jail Break - Konami
  • Judge Dredd (unreleased) - Midway Games
  • Karateka - Brøderbund
  • Knight Force - Titus Software
  • Last Action Hero - Sony Imagesoft
  • Lethal Weapon (NES, Game Boy) - Ocean
  • Mad Dancing (unreleased) -
  • Mad Stalker: Full Metal Force - Family Soft/Fill-in-Cafe
  • Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems - Capcom
  • Metro-Active X -
  • Michael Jackson's Moonwalker - Sega
  • Mutant Rampage: Bodyslam (CD-i) - Animation Magic
  • My Hero - Sega
  • (Arcade) - Studio Vector (Prototype, cancelled)
  • Ninja/Ninja Mission - Sculptured Software/Mastertronic
  • The Ninja Warriors series
    • The Ninja Warriors - Taito
    • Ninja Warriors - Natsume (SNES)
  • Panzer Bandit - Fill-in-Cafe
  • Power and Magic - Zigurat
  • Power Rangers series
    • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - Natsume (SNES), Bandai (Genesis)
    • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie - Sims, Bandai (SNES)
    • Power Rangers: Time Force - Vicarious Visions
    • Power Rangers: Ninja Storm - Natsume
  • Rapid Angel -Techno Soleil
  • Red Heat - Ocean
  • Rescate en el Golfo - OperaSoft
  • Running Battle - Sega
  • Saboteur - Durell
  • Shanghai Warriors - Players
  • Shank series - Klei Entertainment
  • S.P.Y Special Project Y - Konami
  • Spartan X series - Irem
  • Splatterhouse series - Namco
    • Splatterhouse
    • Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti
    • Splatterhouse 2
  • Street Gang - Time Warp
  • Subway Vigilante - Players
  • Teen Titans (GBA) - A2M
  • Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Bad Dream - Treasure
  • Two Crude - Data East
  • Vigilante - Irem
  • X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse - Capcom
  • X-Men: Mutant Wars - Matrix Software
  • Way of the Tiger - Gremlin Interactive
  • Western Express / Express Raider - Data East
  • Wild Streets - Titus Software

(Also known as belt scroll)

  • 64th Street: A Detective Story - Jaleco
  • Advance Guardian Heroes / Guardian Heroes 2 - Treasure
  • Alien Storm - Sega
  • Alien vs. Predator (Arcade) - Capcom
  • Alien vs Predator (SNES) - Jorudan
  • Arabian Fight - Sega
  • Arabian Magic - Taito
  • Armored Warriors / Powered Gear: Strategic Variant Armor Equipment - Capcom
  • Asterix - Konami
  • Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (GBC) - Kemco
  • Batman Forever: The Arcade Game - Iguana Entertainment
  • Batman Returns (SNES) - Konami
  • Batman Returns (NES) - Konami
  • Battle Circuit - Capcom
  • Battletoads series - Rare
  • Beats of Rage - Senile Team
  • Big Fight: Big Trouble in the Atlantic Ocean - Tatsumi
  • Black Touch '96 - DGRM
  • Blade Master - Irem
  • Brute Force - Leland Corporation
  • Bucky O'Hare - Konami
  • Burning Fight - SNK Playmore
  • Cadillacs and Dinosaurs / Cadillacs Kyouryuu Shin Seiki - Capcom
  • Captain America and The Avengers - Data East
  • Captain Commando - Capcom
  • Castle Crashers - The Behemoth
  • Charlie Murder - Ska Studios
  • Cliffhanger - Sony Imagesoft
  • The Combatribes - Technōs Japan
  • Crime Fighters series - Konami
  • Crows: The Battle Action - Athena
  • The Crystal of Kings - BrezzaSoft
  • Cyborg Justice - Novotrade International
  • D. D. Crew - Sega
  • Dark Judgement - Frankenstein Studio
  • The Death and Return of Superman - Blizzard Entertainment / Sunsoft
  • Defenders of Dynatron City - Lucasfilm
  • Denjin Makai series - Banpresto
    • Denjin Makai
    • Guardians / Denjin Makai II
  • DJ Boy series - Kaneko
  • Double Dragon series - Technōs Japan
    • Double Dragon
    • Double Dragon II: The Revenge
    • Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone - East Technology
    • Super Double Dragon / Double Dragon 4
    • Double Dragon Neon
  • Dragon's Crown - Vanillaware - Atlus
  • Dungeons & Dragons series - Capcom
  • Dungeon Fighter Online - Neople
  • Dungeon Magic / Lightbringer - Taito
  • Dynamite Düx - Sega
  • - Seba Games Dev
  • Final Fight series - Capcom
    • Final Fight
      • Mighty Final Fight - Capcom
    • Final Fight 2 / Fainaru Faito 2
    • Final Fight 3 / Final Fight Tough / Fainaru Faito Tafu
  • Gaiapolis - Konami
  • Gaia Crusaders - Noise Factory
  • Gang Wars - Alpha Denshi
  • Gekido Advance: Kintaro's Revenge - Naps Team
  • The Gladiator / Shen Jian Fu Mo Lu / Shen Jian Fengyun - International Games System
  • Golden Axe series - Sega
  • Gourmet Warriors / Gurume Sentai Barayarō - Virgin Interactive / Piko Interactive
  • Growl - Taito Corporation
  • Guardians of the 'Hood - Atari Games
  • Hachoo! - Jaleco
  • Hook (Arcade) - Irem
  • Jackie Chan Adventures: Legend of the Dark Hand - Torus Games
  • Justice League Heroes: The Flash - WayForward Technologies
  • Iron Commando - Arcade Zone
  • Kabuki-Z - Kaneko
  • Karate Blazers -
  • The King of Dragons - Capcom
  • Knights of the Round - Capcom
  • Knights of Valour series - International Games System
    • Knights of Valour
    • Knights of Valour 2
    • Knights of Valour 3
    • Knights of Valour: The Seven Spirits - International Games System, Sega Sammy Holdings
  • Knuckle Bash series - Toaplan
    • Knuckle Bash
    • Knuckle Bash 2
  • Kozure Ookami - Nichibutsu
  • Kunio-kun series - Technōs Japan
    • Renegade / Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun
    • River City Ransom / Street Gangs / Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun 2 - Technōs (NES), Million (company) (GBA)
    • Double Dragon II/ Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun 3: Bangai Rantō-hen (Game Boy)
    • Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki da yo Zen'in Shūgō!/ Kunio-kun 4
    • Shodai Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun 5
    • Shin Nekketsu Kōha: Kunio-tachi no Banka/ Kunio-kun 6
    • River City Ransom: Underground - Conatus Creative Inc.
    • River City Girls - Arc System Works
  • Legend -
  • Legend (1998 remake) - Toka
  • Legend of Heroes - Limenko
  • The Legend of Silkroad series - UNiCO Electronics
    • The Legend of Silkroad
    • Age Of Heroes - Silkroad 2
  • Legionnaire - TAD
  • Little Fighter series
  • Mazin Saga: Mutant Fighter - Dynamic Planning
  • Kung Fu Strike - The Warriors Rise - PC, Xbox 360
  • Metamorphic Force - Konami
  • Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie - Banpresto (Genesis)
  • Mother Russia Bleeds - Le Cartel Studio
  • Mug Smashers - Electronic Devices, 3D Games
  • Mutation Nation - SNK
  • Nekketsu Oyako - Technosoft
  • Night Slashers - Data East
  • Ninja Baseball Bat Man - Irem
  • Ninja Clowns - Strata, Incredible Technologies
  • Ninja Combat - Alpha Denshi
  • Ninja Gaiden / Shadow Warriors - Tecmo
  • Ninja Kids - Taito
  • Oriental Legend series - International Games System
    • Oriental Legend
    • Oriental Legend Super
    • Oriental Legend Super Plus
    • Oriental Legend 2
  • The Pirates of Dark Water (SNES) - Sunsoft
  • P.O.W.: Prisoners of War - SNK
  • Pu·Li·Ru·La - Taito
  • The Punisher - Capcom
  • Raging Justice -
  • Renegade series
  • Riot Zone - Westone Bit Entertainment
  • Riot City - Sega, Westone
  • Rival Turf! / Rushing Beat series - Jaleco
    • Rival Turf! / Rushing Beat
    • Brawl Brothers / Rushing Beat Ran Fukusei Toshi
    • The Peace Keepers / Rushing Beat Syura
  • Robo Army - SNK
  • San Guo Yan Yi: Huo Shao Chi Bi - Gamtec (Mega Drive)
  • Sailor Moon series - Angel
    • Sailor Moon - Angel (SNES), Arc System Works (Genesis)
    • Sailor Moon R
    • Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon - Gazelle, Banpresto
  • Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Ubisoft
  • Sengoku series - SNK
  • Shadow Force - Technōs
  • Shingen Samurai-Fighter / Takeda Shingen - Jaleco
  • - Taito
  • The Simpsons Arcade Game - Konami
  • Sonic Blast Man series - Taito
  • Spider-Man series - Software Creations
  • Spider-Man: The Video Game - Sega
  • Splatterhouse 3 - Now Production
  • Stone Protectors - Kemco
  • Storm series
    • Eojjeonji Joheun Il-i Saenggil Geot Gateun Jeonyeok - TG Entertainment
    • Storm: Eojjeonji Joheun Il-i Saenggil Geot Gateun Jeonyeok 2 - MOOV Generation
  • - Cyrille Lagarigue / Jordi Asensio
  • Streets of Rage series - Sega
    • Streets of Rage
    • Streets of Rage 2 - Ancient / /
    • Streets of Rage 3
    • Streets of Rage 4
  • Tecmo Knight / Wild Fang - Tecmo
  • The TakeOver -
  • Three Dirty Dwarves - Sega
  • -
  • The Tick - Software Creations
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series
  • Tenchi wo Kurau series - Capcom
    • Dynasty Wars / Tenchi wo Kurau
    • Warriors of Fate / Tenchi wo Kurau II: Sekiheki no Tatakai
  • Tough Turf - Sega, Sunsoft
  • Ultra Toukon Densetsu - Banpresto / Tsuburaya Productions
  • Ultraverse Prime / Microcosm - Sony Imagesoft
  • Undercover Cops - Irem
  • Vamf x1/2 - Danbi / F2 System
  • Violent Storm - Konami
  • Warrior Blade: Rastan Saga Episode III - Taito
  • Water Margin: A Tale of Cloud and Wind - Piko Interactive
  • - Panda Entertainment
  • West Adventure / Xi You Ji - Panda Entertainment
  • Wild C.A.T.s - Playmates Interactive
  • X-Men - Konami
  • X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse - Digital Eclipse
  • Yang Jia Jiang - Yang Warrior Family - Sanxun Information Co.
  • Zero Team - Seibu Kaihatsu
3D (polygons) (Also known as 2.5D)
  • Spider-Man: Web of Shadows - Treyarch / Shaba Games (PSP, PS2), Griptonite Games (NDS)
  • Viewtiful Joe series - Clover Studio
    • Viewtiful Joe
    • Viewtiful Joe 2
    • Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble
    • Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble!
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series - Konami
    • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
    • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare
    • TMNT - Ubisoft
  • Urban Reign - Namco
  • Wario World - Nintendo, Treasure
  • The Warriors - Rockstar Toronto (PS2, Xbox), Rockstar Leeds (PSP)
  • Watchmen: The End Is Nigh - Deadline Games
  • X2: Wolverine's Revenge -
  • X-Men: The Official Game - Z-Axis
  • Yakuza / Ryū ga Gotoku series - Sega
  • Zombie Revenge - Sega

Games with beat 'em up sections[]

  • The Adventures of Bayou Billy - Konami
  • Asterix & Obelix XXL - Étranges Libellules
  • Asterix & Obelix XXL 2: Mission: Las Vegum - Étranges Libellules
  • Bébé's Kids - Radical Entertainment
  • Bully - Rockstar Vancouver
    • Bully: Scholarship Edition - Rockstar New England
  • Crash of the Titans - Radical Entertainment
  • Crash: Mind over Mutant - Radical Entertainment
  • Darkman - Ocean
  • Guilty Gear Isuka - Sammy
  • Guilty Gear Judgment - Sammy
  • Legend of Success Joe - Wave
  • Lego video games - TT Games
  • Mortal Kombat: Armageddon - Midway
  • Ninja Golf - Atari
  • - Konami
  • Shenmue - Sega
  • Street Fighter EX3
  • Super Smash Bros. series - HAL Laboratory / Sora / Namco Bandai / Nintendo
    • Super Smash Bros. - HAL Laboratory / Nintendo
    • Super Smash Bros. Melee - HAL Laboratory / Nintendo
    • Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Sora / Nintendo
    • Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U - Sora / Namco Bandai / Nintendo
    • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Sora / Namco Bandai / Nintendo
  • Tekken 3 - Namco
  • Tekken 4 - Namco
  • Tekken 5 - Namco
  • Tekken 6 - Namco Bandai
  • King Kong (2005 video game) - Ubisoft

Hack 'n slash[]

2D[]

3D[]

  • 300: March to Glory - Collision Studios
  • Afro Samurai - Namco Bandai Games
  • Akuji the Heartless - Crystal Dynamics
  • Astral Chain - PlatinumGames
  • The Astyanax - Aicom
  • Asura's Wrath - CyberConnect2
  • Attack on Titan - Koei Tecmo
    • Attack on Titan 2
  • Bayonetta series - PlatinumGames
    • Bayonetta
    • Bayonetta 2
  • Beowulf: The Game - Ubisoft
  • Blades of Time - Gaijin Entertainment
  • Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War - Omega Force
  • Blood Will Tell - Sega Wow/Red Entertainment
  • BloodRayne series - Terminal Reality
    • BloodRayne
    • BloodRayne 2
    • BloodRayne: Betrayal - WayForward
  • Bujingai - Taito/Red Entertainment
  • Castlevania: Curse of Darkness - Konami
  • Castlevania: Lament of Innocence - Konami
  • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Konami
    • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate
    • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
  • Chaos Legion - Capcom Production Studio 6
  • Conan - Nihilistic Software
  • Dante's Inferno - Visceral Games
  • Darksiders series - Vigil Games
  • Deadpool - High Moon Studios
  • Devil Kings/Sengoku Basara series - Capcom
  • Devil May Cry series - Capcom
  • Dragon Valor - Namco
  • Drakengard series - Cavia
    • Drakengard
    • Drakengard 2
    • Drakengard 3 - Access Games
    • Nier
    • Nier: Automata - PlatinumGames
  • Dungeon Magic - Taito
  • Dynasty Warriors series - Koei/Omega Force
    • Dynasty Warriors 2
    • Dynasty Warriors 3
    • Dynasty Warriors 4
    • Dynasty Warriors 5
    • Dynasty Warriors 6
    • Dynasty Warriors 7
    • Dynasty Warriors 8
    • Dynasty Warriors 9
  • El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron - Ignition Tokyo
  • Gauntlet series - Atari Games
    • Gauntlet
    • Gauntlet II
    • Gauntlet (NES) - Tengen
    • Gauntlet: The Third Encounter
    • Gauntlet III: The Final Quest - Tengen
    • Gauntlet Legends
    • Gauntlet Dark Legacy - Midway Games West
    • Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows - Midway Games
  • Genji series - Game Republic
    • Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
    • Genji: Days of the Blade
  • Ghost Rider - Climax Group
  • Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance - Acclaim Studios Manchester
  • God of War series - Santa Monica Studio
    • God of War
    • God of War II
    • God of War III
    • God of War: Ascension
    • God of War (2018)
    • God of War: Chains of Olympus - Ready at Dawn
    • God of War: Ghost of Sparta - Ready at Dawn
    • God of War: Betrayal - Javaground/SOE Los Angeles
  • Golden Axe: Beast Rider - Secret Level
  • Heavenly Sword - Ninja Theory
  • Hulk - Radical Entertainment
  • Killer Is Dead - Grasshopper Manufacture
  • Legacy of Kain: Defiance - Crystal Dynamics/Nixxes Software BV
  • The Legend of Korra - PlatinumGames
  • Lollipop Chainsaw - Grasshopper Manufacture
  • The Lord of the Rings series
    • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Stormfront Studios/Hypnos Entertainment
    • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - EA Redwood Shores
  • Lucifer Ring - Toshiba EMI
  • Mazan: Flash of the Blade - Namco
  • Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - PlatinumGames
  • Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor - Monolith Productions
    • Middle-earth: Shadow of War
  • Muramasa: The Demon Blade - Vanillaware
  • Nano Breaker - Konami
  • Ninja Blade - FromSoftware
  • Ninja Gaiden: Second Series - Team Ninja
  • Ninja Spirit - Irem
  • No More Heroes series - Grasshopper Manufacture
    • No More Heroes
    • No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
    • Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes
  • The OneChanbara series - Tamsoft
  • Onimusha series - Capcom
  • Otogi series - FromSoftware
    • Otogi: Myth of Demons
    • Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time series - Ubisoft
    • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
    • Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
      • Prince of Persia: Revelations (PSP)
    • Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
      • Prince of Persia: Rival Swords (PSP)
    • Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
  • Prince of Persia - Ubisoft
  • Ragnarok Battle Offline - French Bread
  • Red Steel 2 - Ubisoft
  • Rune - Human Head Studios
    • Rune: Halls of Valhalla
  • Rurouni Kenshin: Enjou! Kyoto Rinne - Banpresto
  • Rygar: The Legendary Adventure - Tecmo
  • Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked - Grasshopper Manufacture
  • Samurai Warrior: The Battles of Usagi Yojimbo - Beam Software / Firebird
  • Samurai Warriors series - Koei, Omega Force
    • Samurai Warriors
      • Samurai Warriors: Xtreme Legends
    • Samurai Warriors: State of War
    • Samurai Warriors 2
      • Samurai Warriors 2: Empires
      • Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends
    • Samurai Warriors 3
  • Savage - Probe Software
  • Seven Samurai 20XX - Dimps
  • Severance: Blade of Darkness -
  • - Technos
  • Shinobi series - Sega
  • Skull & Crossbones - Atari Games
  • The werehog gameplay of Sonic Unleashed - Sega
  • Soulcalibur Legends - Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • Spartan: Total Warrior - The Creative Assembly
  • Splatterhouse (2010) - Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed series - LucasArts
    • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
    • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
  • Sudeki - Climax Group
  • Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage - Yuke's
  • Sword of Sodan - Innerprise
  • - Silmarils
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan - PlatinumGames
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge - Capcom
  • Transformers: Devastation - PlatinumGames
  • Trinity: Souls of Zill O'll - Omega Force
  • Van Helsing - Saffire
  • Viking: Battle for Asgard - The Creative Assembly
  • Warrior Blade: Rastan Saga Episode III - Taito
  • Warriors Orochi series - Koei, Omega Force
    • Warriors Orochi
    • Warriors Orochi 2
    • Warriors Orochi Z
  • The Wonderful 101 - PlatinumGames
  • -
  • X-Blades - Gaijin Entertainment
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Raven Software
  • Xena: Warrior Princess - Vivendi
  • Yakuza Ishin
  • Yakuza Kenzan
  • Yakuza Kiwami
  • Yakuza Kiwami 2
  • -

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "First Samurai". Computer and Video Games. No. 121 (December 1991). 15 November 1991. pp. 28–30.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Complete Games Guide". Mean Machines. No. 20 (28 April 1992). May 1992. pp. 6, 14, 18, 20, 22, 26.
  3. ^ Reed, Kristan (4 January 2007). "Taito Legends Power-Up". Eurogamer. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b Gass, Zach (11 May 2020). "10 Awesome Hack and Slash Games That Aren't God of War". Screen Rant. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  5. ^ Greg Kasavin (2006-11-30). "Golden Axe Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  6. ^ Patrick Shaw (2008-05-16). "Golden Axe: Beast Rider". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  7. ^ Weiss, Brett (9 July 2018). Classic Home Video Games, 1989-1990: A Complete Guide to Sega Genesis, Neo Geo and TurboGrafx-16 Games. McFarland & Company. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-7864-9231-2.
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