Final Vendetta Review

The beat ’em-up genre has had a resurgence and Bitmap Bureau’s Final Vendetta is looking to smash its way into your fight time. The retro publisher’s third game takes influences from genre classics Final Fight and Streets of Rage but also pays homage to Konami’s arcade series Crime Fighters. And those arcade roots sit front and centre of this tough brawler. Final Vendetta pulls no punches with a high difficulty curve and a true challenge that will have you fighting your own skills as well as the enemies in the streets.

As with all beat ’em-ups, the story plays second fiddle, but in Final Vendetta you take control of three young heroes, Duke, Miller and Claire. They’re on a mission to save Claire’s sister from the clutches of the evil Syndic8 that is causing havoc on the streets of London. Set across six stages, with traditional boss battles at the end of each, you will have to muster all your strength if you want to beat Final Vendetta. A key feature is a lack of save points or continues which means you’ll have to finish the game in one sitting. It’s like being back in the arcade and exactly what Bitmap Bureau intended.

Any brawler worth its weight needs a good combat system and Final Vendetta certainly raises the bar. A great blend of frantic button-bashing mixed with precision timing creates a game that requires practice and thought. Each enemy attacks and defends differently and you quickly realise that developing strategies is only the way to win. There’ll be moments of frustration but this just serves to make your successes feel greater. The high difficulty is refreshing and creates a fantastic risk versus reward mechanic as you look to survive and hit the high score table.

A simple combo system that builds with each hit is the game’s yardstick and seasoned players will be looking to finish each level without taking any damage. Interestingly, it only breaks once you’re knocked down so you can take a few light punches and maintain the boost. It also encourages you to learn the advanced attacks that open up the combat system beyond the genre’s button-bashing roots. There’s been careful consideration to how each character plays and they all feel genuinely different.

Final Vendetta is filled with beautiful pixel art coupled with outstanding animation. The London setting comes alive and it’s the little details that help this stand out from other pixel games. Everything from the brickwork in the streets to the decorations in the club is high quality. The music is equally impressive and London favourites Utah Saints have provided an energetic soundtrack that compliments the action perfectly. Overall, the presentation sets a standard that other pixel games should be judged by.

The high difficulty of Final Vendetta may not suit all players but there’s a genuine challenge that any gamer can get stuck into. From the well-thought-out combat system to the carefully crafted presentation there’s a lot to like about this brawler. It may not be the longest of games but it’s a must-buy for beat ’em-up fans or those looking for a tough challenge.