Play it on: Almost any platform you have
Current mission: Clean up the streets
Lately, I’ve found myself drawn back into the magic of Capcom’s iconic beat ’em ups from the late ’80s to mid-’90s. Some of these games I’m revisiting, and a few I’m experiencing for the first time. Just recently, a friend and I dove into the fantastic duo of licensed Dungeons & Dragons brawlers from Capcom—Tower of Doom and Shadow over Mystara—thanks to the Chronicles of Mystara compilation. I was genuinely impressed with the satisfying combat, the wealth of secrets and alternate paths, and the clever use of inventory systems and magic items. Now, with the weekend around the corner, I’m feeling the urge to revisit the game that started it all for Capcom’s legendary beat ’em up legacy: Final Fight from 1989.
When I picture the ultimate beat ’em up, it’s always Final Fight that comes to mind. I vividly remember the thrill of spotting it at a local arcade, laundromat, or even a corner store. Those enormous character sprites, the gritty digitized voice samples, and the intense, engaging combat—it was a game that you just knew, right from the start, would redefine the genre. It took what games like Double Dragon and Renegade began and refined those concepts into something more accessible and unforgettable. It has been years since I last played Final Fight, and my current gaming buddy has never dived into it. That’s why this weekend feels perfect to let Metro City’s Mayor, Mike Haggar, once again take to the streets, deliver some over-the-top piledrives to the notorious Mad Gear gang, and ultimately face the true villain: a wealthy mastermind at the pinnacle of his glass tower, reigning over a city teetering on the edge, filled with crumbling streets and battered subway cars. — Carolyn Petit
