Lately, I’ve found myself diving back into Capcom’s legendary beat ’em ups from the late ’80s through the mid-’90s. Some are old favorites, while others I’m experiencing for the very first time. Just last week, a friend and I tackled Capcom’s iconic Dungeons & Dragons titles, Tower of Doom and Shadow over Mystara, via the Chronicles of Mystara collection. I was blown away by how engaging the combat felt and was equally impressed by the numerous secrets, various paths, and the inclusion of inventory and magic items. Now, this weekend, it’s time for a little nostalgia trip to the game that kicked off Capcom’s monumental beat ‘em up saga—1989’s Final Fight.
Final Fight, for me, stands as the ultimate beat ’em up experience. Just the memory of spotting this game in an arcade, or a local laundromat, or even a convenience store brings back such vivid memories. Its massive sprites, the gritty digitized voice samples, and the intense combat really stood out. You could just feel even then, that this game was destined to redefine the genre. It took the foundational ideas from earlier hits like Double Dragon and Renegade and polished them into something instantly accessible, incredibly appealing, and utterly unforgettable. I haven’t played Final Fight for quite a few years, and my friend, who’s been my gaming buddy on this nostalgic journey, hasn’t ever played it. So, I figure it’s high time for Metro City Mayor Mike Haggar to dust off his fists, head back to the streets, and lay some serious beatdowns on the Mad Gear gang. Ultimately, it’s all leading up to the showdown with the true mastermind—a wealthy villain who watches over his empire from a glass tower high above, as the chaos below unfolds amidst collapsing street corners and battered subway cars. That’s the kind of gritty cityscape depiction that makes Final Fight such a standout for me. — Carolyn Petit
