The streets of Metro City are overrun with criminals. Former wrestler and mayor Mike Haggar is determined to take action, much to the dismay of the Mad Gear Gang, who retaliate by kidnapping his daughter. Only three heroes are brave enough to venture into the crime-infested streets to rescue her. Final Fight, released by Capcom in 1989, is a classic of the beat ’em up genre and is considered a milestone in arcade gaming.
Story
The story follows former wrestler and now mayor Mike Haggar, whose daughter Jessica has been kidnapped by the Mad Gear Gang. Together with Jessica’s boyfriend Cody and his friend Guy, Haggar sets out to take down the criminal organization and rescue Jessica. A much-needed mission, as the city has long been referred to as “Criminal City”, with the Mad Gear Gang having already taken control of several entire districts.
Gameplay
The gameplay is precise and offers a compelling variety with the three playable characters – Haggar, Cody, and Guy. Each character has their own strengths: Haggar is powerful but slow, Cody is fast and agile, and Guy relies on elegant martial arts techniques. Smooth controls make it easy to execute combos and special moves while battling through the alleys, streets, and buildings of Metro City. Character animations feel dynamic and reflect each fighter’s personality, adding to the game’s overall energy.
Environmental interactivity adds another layer of depth — players can pick up objects like pipes, knives, and bottles to use as improvised weapons. As the game progresses, new enemies and level designs are introduced, keeping the experience fresh and continuously challenging.
Characters
| Name | Sprite |
|---|---|
| Guy |  |
| Cody |  |
| Hagar |  |
Graphics und Sound
The graphics of Final Fight are impressive for its time. Characters and enemies are detailed, and the animations make their movements feel authentic. Diverse environments lend Metro City a dark and believable atmosphere.
An energetic soundtrack drives the action forward, especially during intense combat sequences. Punches and hits are underscored by impactful sound effects, though a bit more variety wouldn’t hurt during longer play sessions.
Difficulty
Final Fight is quite a challenging game. Enemies become tougher in later levels and often attack in groups, requiring tactical approaches and strategic use of special attacks. While the game remains demanding in single-player mode, the multiplayer mode especially requires good coordination between players. At the end of each level, a boss appears, demanding significant effort, as they have their own special attacks, such as weapons or bombs. This adds to the game’s replay value and fully showcases the classic arcade difficulty.
Multiplayer
One of Final Fight‘s highlights is the co-op mode, which allows two players to battle through the game together. The characters’ movements complement each other perfectly in multiplayer mode, as players can combine their strengths and cover each other. This encourages teamwork and strategy, significantly enhancing the fun factor, as players take on waves of enemies and boss fights as a team.
