Growing up in the late ’80s and early ’90s meant being spoiled with beat em up games. Streets of Rage, Final Fight, and Double Dragon dominated arcades and home consoles, delivering hours of pure fun. Today, the genre is nearly extinct, with only a handful of modern titles keeping it alive. Thankfully, indie developers refuse to let it die, which brings us to Fight’N Rage.
Game Name: Fight’N Rage
Platform(s): PC, also available on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch
Publisher: SebaGames Dev
Developer: SebaGames Dev
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Price: $19.99
I first heard about Fight’N Rage by accident while researching another game. What started as a few random comments led me down a rabbit hole, from dead websites to old Reddit threads. Somewhere in that mess, I finally found the title and its developer. The game is inspired by countless classics and proudly celebrates its influences with subtle and not-so-subtle references throughout.
One of the main characters, Gal, is the perfect example. She looks like someone blended Chun-Li, Mai Shiranui, and Blaze from Streets of Rage. Her moves channel those same vibes. This is not a complaint. It is fan service, and the fun kind. Her name is even a clever nod to Capcom’s Final Fight character Guy. The other playable characters are great too, and the moment I started playing, I felt like I had been pulled straight back into the 90s.
At first glance, Fight’N Rage looks like a standard brawler. Choose Gal, Ricardo, or F. Norris and jump in. But once you start fighting, you see how layered the system really is. You can chain combos with wall bounces, air juggles, special moves, jump techniques, and more. The combo potential is massive, and the game rewards creativity.
Special attacks use a directional input plus a special button, and each character has multiple ways to string hits together. You can also switch planes by double tapping up or down, letting you dodge attacks or set up new combos. Weapons like knives and pipes show up often and, unlike most games in the genre, you do not drop them when transitioning between areas.
The visuals are vibrant and filled with small details. It may look like a 16-bit game, but each stage has animated elements like fire, rain, and expressive character reactions. You can also customize the experience with options for windowed or full screen, scanlines, color depth, and CRT filters. Performance is silky smooth and never stutters. The soundtrack hits hard with energetic tracks, and sound effects deliver impactful thumps and smacks during combat.
The controls are tight and responsive whether you prefer the d-pad, analog stick, or a keyboard. You can remap buttons to whatever works best.
The game supports up to three-player local co-op. There is no online multiplayer, which will disappoint some players, but the local mode still offers great couch co-op fun.
Finishing the game takes a few hours, but the unlockables extend replay value. You earn in-game currency to purchase costumes, new characters, new modes, and more. Multiple routes and endings add variety depending on your choices and chosen character. For fans of old-school beat em ups, there is plenty to love here. The only annoyances are enemies walking off screen at times and a few cheap bosses, which feel directly inspired by retro frustrations.
The lack of online play may make the price a bit steep for some, but if you enjoy the genre, Fight’N Rage is absolutely worth it. It is one of the best modern beat em ups and a love letter to the classics. SebaGames Dev knocked it out of the park, and the kid in me appreciates it more than I can say. The game is currently available on PC, with console versions offered as well.
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Prepare to 'N Rage
Summary
Sebagamesdev has put together a charming beat em up that takes bits and pieces of titles from the past. Tosses them together and out comes a fantastic gem of a brawler. Lots of ways to play, tons of stuff to do and some interesting design choices ensure that gamers will be back, again and again. Can’t forget the fanservice, as there’s a lot of it going on here. Outside of the occasional crash, I highly recommend this game, especially for those who find themselves playing past generation beat em’ ups.
Here’s to hoping we see a sequel, as I feel that Sebagamesdev has only just opened the door. Now it’s time for them to come on in.
