Another arcade-style beat-em-up? Hey, why not? It’s becoming more and more inspired with each entry, as dev teams show off their prowess and love for games like Streets of Rage. And Fallen City Studio’s Fallen City Brawl is no exception, a throwback title in every way. For better or worse, anyhow.
In the game, you choose from four different strangers, each with special abilities and perks. From there, you take to the underworld-ridden streets, smacking away at enemies until you face the big boss. It’s a formula that’s not entirely original, but still works with a game such as this.
Fallen City Brawl’s gameplay is very good, with lots of juggle combo opportunities and some cool special moves (including, gasp, guns!). And its presentation has its heart in the right place, with classic style pixels and a rockin’ soundtrack. That said, it’s not perfect. Certain inbalances come into play, particularly with the bosses. Some glitches are also hard to overlook. And the game’s short length make it easy to conquer within hours.
Still, there’s merit within Fallen City Brawl’s concept. And the $15 price tag won’t make you miserable. If you’re a curious fan of the genre or just need some good ol’ smackaround old school goodness, it’ll fit the bill.
Cleaning House In Fallen City Brawl
You start the game by choosing between four different characters – two agile warriors, a female that can hold her own, and a large, burly dude. Each one brings something to the table, including combo capabilities and special weapons. I’m a particular fan of throwing a wrench, because, hey, projectiles. But guns come in pretty handy as well.
From there, you’ll want to get a hang of the gameplay, which isn’t bad at all. Punches and jumps come off with ease, and there’s also a dash technique that’s cool. However, it does deplete your energy, like most special moves do. Shame, because it’s really useful. As expected, you can also build up super moves and clear the screen. They’re not amazing like Golden Axe, but there’s something special about being able to summon wolves. In the city? Hey, why not?
There’s some good balance to the gameplay, but it isn’t perfect. The hit detection can be off in certain spots, particularly with enemies jumping at you. Plus the bosses are, how do I put this, “hella cheap” in spots. They’ll get up and cut through your combo like a cheap gas station sandwich. Eastasiasoft should consider working with the devs to patch this up a bit.
Also, the game’s short length is noticeable. There’s always a good time in playing through again and seeing what you missed, or going for a higher score. But you’ll breeze through the stages within hours, with very little to return to. Of course, this is the norm for 16-bit brawlers, so it’s not really a terrible thing. I was just wishing for more unlockable modes.
But at least the price is reasonable, clocking it at a fairly cheap $15. (Or less if it’s on sale, like right now.) And its support for two players means you can beat enemies up alongside a friend. And that never gets old.
Fallen City Brawl Brings an Inspired Presentation
Fallen City Studio (nice name!) has put together a technically proficient brawler that successfully echoes back to the “good ol’ days.” The visuals pop off the screen, with beautiful backdrops (a bit dark, but cool) and neat enemy design. The main characters rock as well, especially with their slick dash techniques.
That said, there are glitches that come up, and that’s where some of the cheap hits come in. It’s not a broken game, mind you, just one that could use a little bit of polish. At least it looks pretty good on a Steam Deck screen. (And, yes, it works for the format – that’s where we reviewed it.)
As for the music, it’s awesome. The Fallen City Studio’s composers put in good work here, with some tunes that stand out on near Yuzo Koshiro-level. The sound effects are also nice and meaty. That said, the game’s dialogue is minimal, but perhaps that’s a good thing.
With just a little patching up, Fallen City Brawl will have no trouble standing alongside the big boys in the genre. Maybe we’ll see an update as the game comes to consoles later this year. (It’s currently a PC exclusive.)
Is the Fallen City Worth a Visit?
If you can accept technical shortcomings, a little cheapness and short length, Fallen City Brawl isn’t a bad game for beat-em-up fans. It’s a lot of fun to play, either alone or with a friend, and it benefits nicely from Daniel Lindholm’s sweet soundtrack.
Fallen City Studio has definitely built on a good foundation here. Just a few more bricks and they’ll have an example that’s sure to stand the test of time.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to Eastasiasoft for the review code! The game is available now for Steam/PC, and coming soon to consoles!
Need more brawling fun? Check out our review of Beat ‘Em Up Collection!
