2-D side scrolling beat ‘em ups were all the rage in the late 80s and early 90s.  And if you want to relive those gaming days again, Fight’N Rage plays a lot like those classics.  It even looks like something you’d see on a 16-bit console.  It’s available to download on Switch, Xbox One, and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.

In the main story mode, choose from three different characters.  A speedy female fighter named Gal, a strong but slow mutant bull man, and a regular fighter dude.  Like Final Fight, you can jump with one button, attack with another, and use a special move that takes some of your life bar away.  Using a combination of these buttons and joystick movements will activate special attacks and dodges, so it’s a bit deeper than what lies on the surface.  You’ll mostly brawl with mutant beasts like cat people, rats, hogs, dogs, and more.  The enemies kind of remind me of the ones you see in games like Battletoads.  You can nab throwing weapons like knives and food pickups for health.  Up to three can play at the same time, and there are branching pathways and different endings depending on what character you choose.

What’s neat about this game is that your score matters.  When you get a Game Over screen, the game will tally up your score and give you coins in exchange.  You can use these coins to buy unlockables like new costumes, game modes, enemy characters to play as in the Battle Mode, an easier difficulty selection, and much more!  The game’s graphics are pleasantly nostalgic and there’s a pretty rockin’ soundtrack in the background, too.  You can even choose to make the display look like an old TV, but it was kind of annoying so I turned that option off.  Really the only problems I had with the game is that hit detection is a little unforgiving, enemies can gang up on you so bad you can’t even see your character, and the game gets way too hard toward the end, even on Easy Mode (those Doberman bouncers can kiss my hiney).  But other than that this is a pretty fun little classic styled 2-D beat ‘em up.

Kid Factor:

Fight’N Rage is rated T for Teen with ESRB descriptors of Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, and Violence.  The enemies are pretty cartoony but there are some red stains on floors and walls in some of the levels that look like blood.  I didn’t notice too much bad language in the text.  But some of the female enemies wear skimpy outfits and Gal has some pretty bouncy breast animations.  And of course the game is violent.  But I grew up playing games like this and I think I turned out OK.  Reading skill is helpful for some of the text, but not necessary just to play.  But younger gamers may still get frustrated at the high difficulty.

Tags: Game Reviews