Final Fight One

"The lost art of 2d beat-em-ups."

2d beat-em-ups in a way are a lost art. There have been classic titles like Streets of Rage, Double Dragon, and Battletoads. It is a shame that up until recently there have been no classical beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage, in fact there haven't been any good ones. This was until Capcom produced a phenomenal title known as Viewtiful Joe. Ironically Capcom is the maker of Final Fight One. I played bits and pieces of Final Fight on the Snes, but never got a chance to finish it. I was eager to give the game a go, in hopes of nostalgia of the classical snes era. Well the story behind Final Fight One is simple, but simplicity is a good thing for this type of game. Haggar's childhood friend is kidnapped and Haggar along with two other friends will try to save her.

Being rather new to the Gameboy Advance, I am unsure of its graphical capabilities. However after witnessing and playing games such as Golden Sun, and looking at a game like Final Fight One, I must say that Final Fight is in no way whatsoever the top of the line graphical game for the GBA. The game still looks good for a GBA title, but you can tell right away it is not the best looking GBA game. The game runs smoothly, the animation looks good, and the level designs were fairly good.

The gameplay mechanics are very simplistic, much like 2d beat-em-ups in the past. The game features an attack button, and a button that allows you to jump. You can also perform special moves like a grab or a jump kick. You will go through levels and hoards of enemies, and you will basically be beating them up. The enemies do a fairly good job at getting their hits in. You have a life bar as well as your enemies that lets you know when you are in danger of dying or when the enemies are about to be defeated. The enemies usually come in groups and it's your job to find the right strategy to take them out. Along the way you can find items that will heal you and items that will help you out. Also weapons can be picked up and used against enemies.

The best part of 2d beat-em-ups were its multi-player fun. Nothing better then fending off hoards of enemies with a friend of yours. The same applies for Final Fight, but the problem is that you need another GBA system to play with a friend. Since none of my friends have a GBA, I was forced to play by myself. While the game was still fun I can't helped but wonder how much better it could of been had I had someone playing with me. However if you have someone you know with a GBA then by all means play Final Fight One with him or her, the experience is that much better for beat-em-ups.

The sound is nothing to be amazed about. The music is rather stale and gets a bit annoying after a while. The music seems ongoing and lacks any variety. But being a beat-em-up the music was not very important, but it would of been nice had it been better.

The best part of Final Fight One is its value. It is easy to pick up and play, so whenever you take a road trip or a car ride you can pull out a GBA and Final Fight. The game remains fun even after you beat it. And that is what makes 2d-beat-em-ups great, even after beating it you can go back for more.

The opening introduction to the storyline is quite nice and gives a nice sense of a comic strip. The fact that 2d beat-em-ups have been lacking recently, Final Fight One is just a pleasant sight to see. The nostalgia feeling is definitely one of the main factors that will please old school gamers. The overall presentation in Final Fight is solid. The graphics while not a stand out is quite solid. The sound knocks a bit off the overall feel. The side scrolling nostalgia is a big plus.

In conclusion I feel Final Fight One is a good beat-em-up, there have been better games in the genre, but it is good nonetheless. Perhaps the lack of multi-player for me dampens the experience a bit, but the game is still enjoyable when you play alone. So if you have a GBA then by all means go pick up Final Fight One. It is not without its flaws, but it is a game worthy of a purchase.

Pros
+ Nostalgia
+ Simple to pick up and play
+ Solid gameplay mechanics
+ Take the fight on the road
+ Multi-player

Cons
- Requires another GBA for multi-player
- Lackluster music
- Gets a tad bit repetitive if you play alone

Graphics - 8/10
Gameplay - 9/10
Sound - 6.5/10
Value - 9/10
Presentation - 8/10
Overall - 8.3/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/02/04, Updated 03/28/05