365//365: Day 118 – Final Fight 2 (SNES)

Throughout the last 100+ days of this 365//365 project, there’s been three reoccurring franchises, or mentions of said franchises. Castlevania (a half dozen reviews and various mentions in other reviews), Mega Man (the Mega Man titles not reviewed yet, will be soon enough) and Final Fight (numerous mentions, as well as various versions reviewed). All three of these franchises just seem to have a reason to be mentioned on a near daily status.

With Final Fight, many references have been made to how the game defined the beat ‘em up genre, as well as its influence of dozens of games for years to come. Only an extremely small handful of titles make the short list of games that were just about up to Final Fight’s quality, including TMNT: The Arcade Game, The Simpsons and TMNT: Turtles in Time. Even Capcom themselves couldn’t match their own title, with the literal truckloads of imitators and those that aspired to be better than the legendary title at hand. What else can you do but make a sequel to the game that shaped the landscape of a genre? Final Fight 2, a direct sequel to the arcade smash hit, was released only on the Super Nintendo. Did Capcom match, or even surpass their initial installment, or is it really impossible to live up to the Final Fight legacy?

Meet Carlos - he's a....ninja.

FF2 features two new characters, as well as a returning Mayor Mike Haggar – Maki, the sister of Guy’s fiance, and Carlos who, like Guy in the first title….is a ninja. With Cody and Guy out of town, Haggar, Maki and Carlos are the ones pressing forth to rescue Guy’s fiancee and soon-to-be father-in-law from a resurgent Mad Gear gang. Interesting plot, although it’s still quite odd to have Guy completely missing from a game with a storyline such as this.

On the subject of oddities, the music is barely audible. I don’t know whether it’s just my copy or not, but it was hard to hear the music without being deafened by the sound effects, thanks to the raising of the volume. What I did hear however, really isn’t anything special. While the first game’s least memorable aspect was its music, it was still composed quite well, and really pushed you through the game with a bit more flair. Unfortunately, FF2 is left with near inaudible music and some hollowed out sound effects. What little vocal quips that appear though, do sound very crisp.

The stages lack any sort of distinct and powerful looks to them, making the game feel quite bland.

When it comes to describing the visuals, it’s hard not to compliment, yet complain in the same breath. While you’re traveling around the world and visiting different countries with vastly different backdrops, all with a moderately good look, you can’t be helped but to be a bit bored with them. FF had a gritty look, and the story, pacing and stages held some dark overtones throughout your journey. FF2, however, feels feels far less darker, and a bit more light-hearted. The game world just feels boring, with nothing that jumps at you as memorable or thrilling.

The controls are the same, which is more than reasonable for an experience like this one. The one thing that can be annoying is the lack of the “Extra Joy” attack damage. Well, lets that that back – Extra Joy attacks do land some big damage, but its more on you than your opponent. You’re better off jumping away, or jump kicking through whatever problems you have, rather than wasting your health on an attack that damages you more than your opponent.

The biggest issues with FF2 comes with the experience its self. It’s definitely not a bad game, but like most of the genre after the first title, the experience dies down and feels bogged down by repetition and boredom soon after it begins. Some can attribute this to the bland world you’re fighting through. Metro City and every location from the first game, seemed to hold a lot more life than the second game and the world it takes place in (literally). Adding a second player doesn’t necessarily weaken the repetition blow any, as the characters you fight are boring, lack any imagination in design, and help to pull the experience down a few notches.

No comment.

It’s quite unfortunate. One would think that a direct sequel to the breakout hit Final Fight, would garner a better reception, and quality assurance from the developers. That’s not the case here. Final Fight 2 lacks any distinctive edges to raise its head above the sea of beat em up titles. Capcom can definitely be blamed for the over saturation of the genre in the arcades and home consoles, but the laziness of the developers to create something new with the experience are the bigger culprits. While not a bad game, Final Fight 2 is a game you’ll play through once, and that will be your final fight through.

Rating: 6.3