Final Fight: Streetwise

"How to ruin a great game."

It may have taken Capcom almost twenty years to make a sequel to Final Fight but as any good games historian knows Capcom knows how to milk a successful game. Final Fight paved the way for several near identical titles (Punisher, Alien v Predator, Knights of the Round) but they've taken their time to resurrect the series properly and its been worth the wait. Well... kind of....

Despite the critical mauling this game got in the gaming press its actually pretty good. In it's truest sense it really is just a scrolling beat em up like it's ancestor. Sure, they've tacked on a story mode and a shopping system but fans of the series would definately feel at home with this title.

Graphically it's nice enough, even if it does look and feel like every other brawling game on the PS2 and the soundtrack, whilst going for the ever-popular urban feel, isnt awful either (well there is a rap/Simply Red crossover track that made me vomit blood but aside from that...).

The game itself plays like a kind of violent but simplified version of Shenmue. You run around various areas (all fairly small) looking for people to talk to (or beat up). There are little side missions and subgames to play and some gyms to go and learn more moves.

The plot nicely references it's prequel with you playing as Cody's brother. You get to meet Guy, Haggar and some of the baddies from the original game as you fight your way around a derelict looking Metro City.

The fights are either one on one battles or massive brawls. The brawls tend to be the most fun, especially when you grab a gang member and throw him into his mates. Plus you can pick up various weapons and items and kick people when they are down. The extra moves you can learn are sometimes helpful but often a bit too fiddly to use during the game. They are also relatively ineffective against boss characters.

So, pretty positive. So why the 6 out of 10?

(Spoilers)

For a large part of this game I was thinking it was excellent. I really enjoyed the fights and subgames and I was interested in the plot. But then it all went sour. The last section of the game involves four of the worst boss battles I've ever had the misfortune to endure.

Considering that Capcom made the fabulous Resident Evil 4 I'm amazed that they actually let this section get through quality control.

Resi 4 had awesome bosses. They looked incredible and were enjoyable to watch in action. They were also fair. You didnt have to keep killing them and they didnt pull out any cheap moves.

Final Fight's bosses however look rubbish, are full of cheap moves and commit my most hated gaming sin of dying and then coming back (several times) with full health. There is also no gap between them. Just four boss battles (plus at least two more if you include characters dying and then coming back in a new form) with no fun between them.

Add to that one of the worst save systems I've ever seen (you can only save when you quit and it will take you back to the beginning of the section, wiping out any progress you made with side-missions in the meantime) and a frankly shoddy port of the original arcade game and the game somehow goes from being a modern day fighting classic to just another contender.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/13/06