Review: Final Fight: Double Impact

Capcom continues to give old school gamers their much loved retro gaming with one of the best damn deals on XBLA.

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PS3/X360 [X360 Reviewed]

Final Fight: Double Impact brings two of the best the co-op side-scrolling fighting games of yesteryear and wraps them into one amazing packages that oozes with love. Double Impact features Magic Sword and the titular Final Fight, two of Capcom’s arcade classics that many a child of the 80’s spent their hand earned allowance money on, present company included. 

Both games thrive on their simplicity. Fight waves and waves of bad guys and do it with a friend. Even their stories are simple. Final Fight sees Mayor Haggar, Cody and ninja dude Guy saving Haggars daughter Jessica from some evil gang leader. That’s it! No epic stories, no need for useless monologues just pick your character and head down to kicking tons of ass. 

Along the way you’ll pick up turkeys, cheese, grapes and other food items for health and pick up weapons like knives, baseball bats, and pipes to deal out damage. It’s simple, fun and works! Final Fight will take you anywhere from 30-40 minutes to beat but it’s non-stop action all the way. 

Magic Sword, while as combat heavy as Final Fight actually managed to throw in an epic story. You’re a dude trying to stop an evil wizard guy set on controlling the world with a magic black pearl. For the 80’s that story was effin epic! You battled your way up a huge tower of doom to wipe out said evil wizard and save the day - oh but there was a twist! Magic Sword gave you option of destroying the pearl and saving the world of keeping it for yourself and become a god among men…. bwahahahahaha! Hey, before Magic Sword I’d never seen a dual ending to a game so hey, that was some deep stuff back in the day. 

Game-play as they say is king and Final Fight and Magic Sword still are regal to this day. Both are still a blast to play and have the advantage of now being online enabled. Both feature drop-in and drop-out online play and both work beautifully, may I add. Fellow GND co-owner Pete, and I, beat Magic Sword in one sitting and experienced zero lag. 

Capcom has put a lot of love and attention to detail to the retro package which is evident from first glance. Both games allow an arcade cabinet view, unlock-able character art, and tons of achievements. Which certainly itched my old school gaming need to rack up a high score to unlock art and promotional materials from both games hay day. 

Final Fight: Double Impact is a measly $10 on PSN or 800 MS points on XBLA. If you’re an old school gamer who grew up pissing away your allowance in the arcade each weekend, then Double Impact is a must buy. It’s as fun today as it was when I was knee high to a horse ,as my mother would say, and one of the best deals in gaming. 

 By: Michael Torres