FIGHTING EX LAYER

Ultimately, Fighting EX Layer: Another Dash is a fighting game fan’s fighting game — its primary audiences are 'refugees from Street Fighter V' and 'people who have nostalgia for Street Fighter EX'. Players in these two groups will find themselves very much at home with this game, especially since the fighting engine is so solid, and some of the characters are just offbeat enough to make it interesting. But considering it’s so dependent on online play, with barely existent single player content, it’s difficult to recommend to more casual players. It is, however, free to download, so you've got nothing to lose by giving it a try.

81%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, monetization

85% User Score Based on 482 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

FIGHTING EX LAYER is a single player and multiplayer arcade fighting game. It was developed by ARIKA and was released on November 29, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Fighting EX Layer" is a 3D fighting game featuring characters from the "Street Fighter EX" series. The game offers a variety of game modes, including arcade, training, and online multiplayer. Its dynamic fighting system, including canceling moves and unique special attacks, provides a challenging and entertaining experience for both casual and hardcore players.

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 482 reviews

gameplay41 positive mentions

story8 negative mentions

Fighting EX Layer is a nostalgic throwback to classic arcade fighters, featuring beloved characters from the Street Fighter EX series.
The game offers a unique Gougi system that adds depth and variety to combat, allowing players to customize their playstyle.
The graphics are visually appealing, with a clean modern look that respects its arcade roots, and the gameplay is fast-paced and responsive.

The game lacks substantial single-player content, with no story mode and limited offline options, making it feel barebones.
Finding online matches can be challenging due to a small player base, leading to a less engaging multiplayer experience.
Some players have reported issues with input responsiveness and command timing, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.

gameplay
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The gameplay of Fighting EX Layer is characterized by its nostalgic homage to classic 2D fighters, particularly the Street Fighter EX series, featuring responsive controls, deep combo potential, and a unique "gougi" system that allows for varied play styles. While the game emphasizes simplicity and mechanical depth, making it accessible and enjoyable for purists, it lacks the content and polish of larger franchises, which may limit its appeal to casual players. Overall, it delivers a fast-paced and engaging fighting experience, though some players note issues with character balance and online play.
- “At its core, Fighting EX Layer delivers exactly what long-time fans of traditional 2D fighting games crave: responsive controls, deep combo potential, and rewarding mechanics that emphasize both precision and creativity.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced, the online is good, and the game just feels good to play.”
- “A hidden gem of this generation of fighting games, Fighting EX Layer delivers fast-paced and straightforward fighting with its solid and consistent gameplay, good selection of characters from its varied roster, great soundtrack, simple yet sharp visuals, and the all-new Gougi system which brings new ways to play with existing characters and adds another layer of strategy to the game.”
- “There is no real explanation of mechanics or unique game features.”
- “It's a game that, in comparison to its current competition, is pretty simple in almost every aspect, from mechanics to game feel and even combos, but it manages to make its simplicity its biggest strength and proof that a fighting game doesn't need insanely long combos, comeback mechanics, and neutral skipping tools to be good and fun.”
- “The only bad thing currently is the online gameplay runs in slow motion.”
graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the character designs and vibrant visuals that reflect the unique charm of the developer, Arika. While some players find the graphics appealing and well-executed, others criticize the 3D models and animations as feeling rigid or lacking in detail compared to other fighting games. Overall, the visuals are considered decent and enjoyable, especially given the game's budget, but they may not reach the high standards set by genre leaders.
- “While the visuals may not match the lavish detail of genre titans like Street Fighter 6 or Tekken 8, they fit perfectly within the game’s scope and budget, carrying an unmistakable Arika charm.”
- “The animations and art style are super good looking, the music is a joy to listen to, and the button inputs are smooth.”
- “The graphics are simply incredible - much better than Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, Tekken, DOA, and SF5!”
- “The in-game models are a far cry from the select screen artworks; I really wish they hadn’t gone with 3D graphics — they just don’t look or feel right.”
- “The graphics on display here are nothing to seriously write home about, but they are still decently pretty to look at.”
- “Visually, the game is beautiful; it runs on Unreal Engine 4, but sadly it doesn't use its visuals to their best potential. The flashiest things you'll see are the specials, which are... serviceable.”
music
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The music in the game has received a mixed response from players, with many praising its energetic and nostalgic qualities, particularly the option to switch to classic tracks from Arika's previous titles. While some find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay, others feel it lacks catchiness and memorability compared to earlier games. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the experience despite occasional technical issues.
- “The music slaps, most of the combos feel perfect in terms of their weight, the atmosphere is overall just... really really pleasant.”
- “As if the characters weren't enough to bring back that old-school arcade feel, the soundtrack in this game feels retro as well, but at the same time it gives off a modern feel.”
- “The main soundtrack is decent, but the 'extra' soundtrack (an assortment of tracks from Arika's past fighting games) is fantastic.”
- “There can also be some issues with the music; occasionally, if a match has been going on for more than a few minutes, the music will bug out and quit playing.”
- “No music sticks in my head up to this point, and the soundtrack felt bland after a time... I want to love the music, but man... it isn't catchy enough.”
- “The music: there is some energetic music here, but nothing like the catchy tunes of the earlier games.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
62%
28%
The game lacks a traditional story mode, with many players noting the absence of a cohesive narrative or character development, which limits its appeal for those seeking a more immersive experience. While it offers basic modes like arcade and versus, the overall content feels sparse, leaving little incentive for single-player engagement. Players generally acknowledge that the game is designed primarily for competitive play rather than storytelling.
- “The game does not have a 'story mode', but let's look at the full list of features.”
- “While it does not have a story mode and the number of characters is not that big, they are already working on more characters from official announcements.”
- “I personally would have liked a bit more of a story mode, but I understand that wasn't what this game was made for, and I respect that.”
- “There is absolutely no story or character description, but I understand the majority of people don't buy this kind of game for the plot.”
- “There’s no traditional story mode or robust single-player content, which limits its appeal for casual players looking for more than one-on-one matches.”
- “The game also doesn't have a story mode at all, so if you're new to the series, this game won't have any lasting appeal for you, I presume.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
Overall, character development in the game is highlighted by impressive and original character designs that have significantly evolved from previous iterations, showcasing a leap in quality and detail. While some players find the animations somewhat rigid, the overall aesthetic and production value are praised, contributing to a visually appealing experience. The nostalgia factor, particularly with returning characters, adds to the enjoyment for fans of the series.
- “It has cool character designs that are pretty well translated from the old previous game.”
- “The character designs have developed very well since their blocky PS2 days, and it's been a treat to see how well people like Darun look in their new style/engine.”
- “Character designs are top-notch without being over-the-top.”
- “The character designs have developed very well since their blocky PS2 days, and it's been a treat to see how well characters like Darun look in their new style/engine.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly on PC and offers adjustable settings for performance, some users report significant issues following updates, particularly affecting netplay. The Switch version is noted for its solid frame rate, though some optimization quirks remain.
- “It is fast, colorful, and very optimized for PC.”
- “This game runs smoothly (provided you have the requirements) and you can alter the settings to reduce the quality if the game seems to run slowly, which I feel is a nice touch.”
- “The port is mostly great outside of some funky optimization issues going on, but other than that, the netplay is much smoother than it was on PS4.”
- “The game is dead regardless if it has rollback or not, and the performance became horrible after this update.”
- “- unoptimized”
- “I guess I should talk about performance before I wrap things up?”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing irony of paying more for Terry than the game itself, as well as the nostalgic laughs derived from gameplay mechanics like running and backdashing that were absent in earlier titles. Players find humor in the absurdity of past rumors about character unlocks and the ongoing debate about the game's quality compared to others, making the overall experience both funny and enjoyable.
- “The fact that I paid more for Terry than the game itself is really funny to me.”
- “Oh yeah, Terry is a guest character in this game, which is funny because on some Brazilian websites, there was this rumor that Terry Bogard was playable in Street Fighter EX2 Plus, unlocked by doing the trials in some bizarre sequence.”
- “Very funny and enjoyable.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly on various systems, including older PCs and the Steam Deck at high visual settings. However, some issues with resolution scaling and glitches at 4K resolution have been noted.
- “Lastly, I want to add that the game runs great on the Steam Deck with 'epic' visual settings.”
- “Beautiful game and runs great too!”
- “The game runs great even on my 7-year-old PC.”
- “Leading to ugly scaling or glitches at resolutions like 4K, if it will even let you set it properly.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, especially in contrast to other AAA fighting games that rely heavily on microtransactions and lack meaningful content. Users appreciate the game's focus and direction, suggesting it offers a more rewarding experience without excessive financial demands.
- “It deserves a full chance after you're done with bloated, unfocused AAA fighting games that have no clear direction, but only linger for your wallet with meager content from microtransactions.”
- “How come I never saw any advertisement for this?”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players note that grinding in the game can be time-consuming, but it is often seen as a necessary aspect to improve skills. Many find the experience enjoyable and engaging, making it a worthwhile investment of time for both casual and competitive players.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Great fighting game to spend some time instead of grinding the lab and is fun at all skill levels.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the game's new features significantly enhance replayability by introducing diverse gameplay options and fostering community engagement, suggesting that even simple additions could further boost its replay value and creativity.
- “This addition drastically improves the game's replayability and diversity in gameplay.”
- “It would be a very easy to implement feature that would add a lot of replay value, creativity, and community involvement.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by impactful music and satisfying combat mechanics that contribute to an overall pleasant experience.
- “The music slaps, and most of the combos feel perfect in terms of their weight. The atmosphere is overall just... really, really pleasant.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally resonant, as it evokes nostalgia and a deep appreciation for the evolution of gaming, reminiscent of the characters' experiences in "High Score Girl." This connection enhances their enjoyment and engagement with the game's historical context.
- “I bought this immediately after watching a few episodes of High Score Girl. Playing this game made me feel like the character in that show, gushing about all the new games coming out during that time period. This really made me appreciate all the improvements and changes in the decades since Street Fighter II.”

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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

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3h Median play time

3h Average play time

3-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

FIGHTING EX LAYER is a arcade fighting game.

FIGHTING EX LAYER is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing FIGHTING EX LAYER.

FIGHTING EX LAYER was released on November 29, 2018.

FIGHTING EX LAYER was developed by ARIKA.

FIGHTING EX LAYER has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

FIGHTING EX LAYER is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV, The King of Fighters XIV, Granblue Fantasy: Versus, Killer Instinct, Ultra Street Fighter® IV and others.

FIGHTING EX LAYER

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