[PSN/XBLA] Final Fight Double Impact Review

[AgtFox]

Final Fight: Double Impact Review

Title: Final Fight: Double Impact
Platform: PSN/XBLA
Developer: Proper Games
Publisher: Capcom
ESRB: Teen
MSRP: $9.99/800 Microsoft Points
Editor: Loren 'AgtFox' Halek

What's Hot: Recreation of classic original game; drop-in/drop-out 2-player local/online play; graphical options; adding in Magic Sword to better even out price; can save at any point and come back later

What's Not: Pausing the game doesn’t really pause the game, characters can attack you while menu is up; have to be online to play the PS3 version

Capcom, along with Proper Games, brings us Final Fight: Double Impact, an online capable restoration of the classic Final Fight game with the addition of Magic Sword as a second game to play. Final Fight was probably one of my favorite arcade games when I was young. Sure, there were games like Double Dragon before it, but this game released two years later than that game had better graphics and seemed better from a co-op perspective.

In 1991 with the release of the Super Nintendo here, Capcom released the game as a launch title. I of course swiped it up at the price of $69.99 (I think, SNES games were expensive I remember) with my system. I knew about the fact it was only single player, but I don’t think I knew Guy wasn’t even in the game or that there had been massive changes made to the game such as renaming of enemies (Damnd and Sodom to Thrasher and Katana), the Industrial Area taken out and other things. This release was easily one of the biggest wastes of my parent’s money I ever spent. Sure, it was fun, but if I had a friend over they couldn’t join in like you could at the arcade. The graphics were nice and it was Final Fight, but it was easily one of the biggest screwups during that era in my opinion.

With this release you can relive the glory days of Final Fight. The most interesting parts of this release is that there is drop-in/drop-out possibilities both locally and online along with the different graphical/nostalgia options available to you. From the menu you can choose to play the game in its original cabinet with the visual tendencies from the 1989 arcade release or you can choose to spruce up the graphics by going widescreen or making the graphics sharper. The first time I played through the game I chose the cabinet option to feel more like I was 13 again. It was pretty fun to play though like that, but the other options certainly enhance the experience. Along with the visuals you can also choose to have the original soundtrack or a redone one. The redone one is the default and I thought it did a good job of making it sound more modern while also holding onto the classic style as well. The original soundtrack is hard to listen to since it does seem so archaic in this day and age, but I certainly played through the game once that way as well.

There should be no surprise to anyone that has played Final Fight in the past. On the PS3 side, the version I played for this review, there are a number of trophies and objectives to reach called The Vault. For example right at the outset there is an objective to finish the game in 18 continues or less. I failed this objective since the later levels get pretty difficult with a large amount of major enemies in one area and going at it alone can be agonizing. There are also trophies for going through the game with one character versus switching things up between Cody, Guy and Haggar. These types of things certainly lend itself to multiple plays of the game and I certainly plan on going back and playing again because I still have a soft spot for this game even though it only takes roughly 40 minutes to beat.

The co-op gameplay is also excellent where friends both locally and online can jump in and out at any point. There are of course trophies tied to the 2-player side of things and it is always fun to join up with another person and unleash beatdowns. This also translates to the second game in this release, Magic Sword. When I started that game up I came to the realization that I probably played this game once because I do remember playing it, just not at the level of something like Final Fight. The game is a side-scrolling platformer/action game where you take control of a barbarian or cleric and enlist the aid of non-playable characters to help you reach the top of the tower and defeat the Dark Lord Drokmar. The game is quite fun to play and goes by very quickly, although each stage is of different length. Once again the drop-in/drop-out ability is present here, so you can bring in a friend to take down the enemies. The addition of Magic Sword, especially given I only played it a little when it came out and now get to experience the full game, is an excellent one as well. They certainly could have chosen another game, maybe one closer to the [i[Final Fight[/i] blueprint like King of Dragons, Captain Commando or Knights of the Round, but I also realize those would usher the need for three or four player in order to bring over the arcade versions correctly.

If there is one thing to complain about with this release it is that if you pause the game it really doesn’t pause the game. Basically the game continues on in the background even though you’ve paused it. Granted, this is a direct analogue to the arcade where there is no pause button, but the first time I pushed pause I was quite pissed off because I lost a trophy/objective because of it. To alleviate this you do have the ability to quit out of the game and save it at any point. You can then come back to the game and start up from where it was saved, so there is a saving grace here. It certainly helped me get my Cody trophy on my first playthrough of Final Fight because I had accidentally switched to another character, but was able to go back and start up my last save.

The other thing of note and one I was honestly wondering about while playing the PS3 version is that you have to be online in order to play that version. From my understanding this is not true about the 360 version. I thought I had played PSN games before where I didn’t have to be logged in, but this one kept asking me to be logged in to play. It is evidently a new Capcom DRM-like idea to stop people from sharing the game between their friends or accounts, something I guess is rather prevalent on the PS3. I would like to be able to play the game offline, but I guess that isn’t possible.

All in all, for $9.99 this is really a good deal. It gives you enough ability to relive the nostalgia with the ability to play the game like it was in the arcade over two decades ago that I think it is a worthy purchase. If this release only included Final Fight with no significant additions, I couldn’t recommend the price. With the ability to play with a friend at any point either locally or online makes this well worth the price. The nostalgia factor is high and if you are on the level of fandom with Final Fight that I am there’s no reason to not purchase this for the local and online experience.

Score: 3.5 out of 5 CoGs


Loren says, ”Worth it for pure nostalgia factor with one of the best side-scrolling fighting games in videogame history. Add in Magic Sword along with all the different graphical options and the ability to play locally or online with a friend adds up to a purchase. It's just too bad you have to be logged into PSN in order to even play it”

*Note - Review based on PSN version of game

[AgtFox]

Placeholder for possible giveaway.

[Kenzington4short]

Nice review. I haven't even booted up Magic Sword yet.

I believe you can pause Final Fight (this is from the 360 version). I can't recall what the option was called but it has to do with turning off the jump-in/out online stuff. It shows up in a top corner when you're looking at the arcade cabinet.

[menage]

Meh, I played the demo, noticed it sur as hell doesn't stand the test of time, deleted it. The amount of nostalgia is admirable, but the games aren't that hot anymore.

Goes back to playing SSF4.

[ElektroDragon]

Oooh I can't wait for a giveaway! That would be awesome.

Nice review, btw.

[TrackZero]

Played FFI last night with Shodan2020, we had a good ol' time smashing through Metro City. At least for me, FF is the ultimate nostalgia brawler (I like it way better than Double Dragon and it's not as crazy long as River City Ransom). Only only concern/grief so far is I'm not sure if the prisoner Guy/Cody unlocks are in the game (they were in the GBA version). Otherwise though, loving the purchase. It's a quick pick up and play ass kicking game with online co-op, which is what I wanted.

[Pale Ale]

Originally Posted by AgtFox

I of course swiped it up at the price of $69.99 (I think, SNES games were expensive I remember) with my system. I knew about the fact it was only single player, but I don’t think I knew Guy wasn’t even in the game or that there had been massive changes made to the game such as renaming of enemies (Damnd and Sodom to Thrasher and Katana),

Poison

They were as expensive as you remember, I bought SF4 last year at a premium of $65 and that was still 20 cheeper than what I bought SF2 for as a kid.

[Disgustipated]

Streets of Rage 2 is better!

[menage]

Originally Posted by Disgustipated

Streets of Rage 2 is better!

I actually played that after this demo to keep me from spending money on impulse. (I just buy waaaayyy to quickly).

You're 100% right, that game is actually quite involving even now compared to FF.