FIGHTING EX LAYER
- November 29, 2018
- ARIKA
- 3h median play time
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- Fighting EX Layer is a nostalgic return to the classic Street Fighter EX series, featuring beloved characters and a fun, fast-paced combat system.
- The Gougi system adds depth and variety to gameplay, allowing players to customize their characters' abilities and playstyles.
- The game has impressive graphics and animations, making it visually appealing while maintaining a classic fighting game feel.
- The online player base is very small, making it difficult to find matches without using external platforms like Discord.
- The game lacks substantial single-player content, with only basic arcade mode and no story mode, which may disappoint some players.
- The Gougi system can feel unbalanced and may detract from the overall experience for players who prefer traditional fighting game mechanics.
- gameplay72 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this fighting game is generally praised for its smooth mechanics, character diversity, and innovative systems like the gougi system, which adds strategic depth. While many players appreciate the fast-paced and responsive nature reminiscent of classic titles like Street Fighter, some critiques highlight issues with character balance and the need for more content. Overall, it is considered a solid and enjoyable fighting experience, especially for fans of the genre.
“Amazing mechanics, beautiful graphics.”
“The gameplay is classic 2D fighting game, think of Street Fighter, but a tad faster, and, at least for me, a whole lot more fun.”
“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.”
“It's a shame the fighting mechanics ruin what would have otherwise been a good looking game.”
“Cons: the mechanics need a little polishing for mass appeal though... characters are too slippery, push back on block is too much and many combo timings are too tight.”
“1st: gougi system is a pachinko mechanic, a fighting game with automatic buffs is stupid, if I'm playing a fighting game I want full control on my characters instead of getting hit many times for a buff to activate.”
- graphics61 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the character designs, vibrant visuals, and smooth animations. While some noted that certain animations feel outdated or janky, the overall aesthetic is considered appealing, especially for a smaller developer. The game runs on Unreal Engine 4, showcasing beautiful graphics that enhance the fast-paced gameplay, although some players feel it doesn't fully utilize the engine's potential.
“The graphics are simply incredible - much better than Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, Tekken, and Street Fighter V!”
“The animations and art style are super good looking, the music is a joy to listen to, and the button inputs are smooth.”
“It oozes with style, and the visuals are just so vibrant and juicy that your eye will never get bored.”
“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.”
“One small aesthetic complaint is the lighting in some levels causes a gloss effect.”
- music42 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and nostalgic qualities, particularly the option to play tracks from Arika's previous titles, which are considered superior. While some players find the main soundtrack decent, others feel it lacks catchiness and memorability compared to earlier games. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The music is superb and makes me think of a collaboration by Pink Floyd and YMO.”
“The music slaps, most of the combos feel perfect in terms of their weight, the atmosphere is overall just... really really pleasant.”
“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 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 is alright, vaguely familiar, but not to the levels we see in other titles.”
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 39 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that there is no cohesive story campaign or meaningful single-player mode. Instead, players are left with a bare-bones arcade mode that offers minimal character exposition and lacks engaging narrative elements. Overall, the consensus is that the game would benefit significantly from a more developed story or RPG elements.
“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, and will be satisfied with goofing around in arcade mode when I don't want to get pummeled online.”
“Could use a story mode but with this budget I am happy with what we got.”
“The only 'single player mode' the game offers is 'story mode' which does not allow you to choose your opponent's character.”
“Story mode does not exist.”
“The only 'single player mode' the game offers is 'story mode', which does not allow you to choose your opponent's character.”
“Story mode: nope... there isn't any... the best you can get is an arcade mode with small exposition of characters' personalities as you finish the mode.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs smoothly on capable PCs and offers adjustable settings for performance, some users have reported significant issues following updates, leading to inconsistent experiences. The port is generally well-received, though it does have some notable optimization quirks.
“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 of whether 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.”
- character development7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game has received high praise, particularly for its impressive character designs that have significantly evolved from previous iterations. Reviewers highlight the originality and quality of the character visuals, noting a marked improvement in graphics and animations that enhance the overall gameplay experience. The combination of great production value and unique character aesthetics contributes to the game's appeal, especially for a smaller developer.
“The character design is amazing when comparing to the old ones, so they did a huge leap as far as that goes.”
“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.”
“The replayability is top notch as always and character designs in their games are always the best to me.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by nostalgic references to past titles, such as the amusing realization that dashing was absent until Street Fighter III. Additionally, the inclusion of Terry Bogard as a guest character adds a layer of humor, especially with the playful rumors surrounding his unlock conditions. Overall, players find the game to be both funny and enjoyable, often reflecting on the absurdity of gaming trends.
“Oh yeah, Terry is a guest character in this game, which is funny because in 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.”
“It's so funny that we always forget dashing didn't show up until SF3.”
“Very funny and enjoyable.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its solid performance and stability, even on older hardware. However, some users report issues with scaling and glitches at higher resolutions like 4K, indicating potential optimization challenges.
“Beautiful game and runs great too!”
“The game runs great even on my 7-year-old PC.”
“It's an Unreal Engine 4 game and runs great on my machine.”
“The game suffers from severe stability issues, leading to ugly scaling and glitches at resolutions like 4K, if it even allows you to set it properly.”
“Frequent crashes and performance drops make it nearly unplayable, especially during intense moments.”
“I experienced constant frame rate drops and stuttering, which completely ruined the immersion.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is satisfying, with each level-up feeling like a significant achievement.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always keeps me engaged.”
“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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that recent additions significantly enhance the game's replayability and diversity, suggesting that simple features could further boost replay value and foster community engagement.
“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.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The review highlights a surprising encounter with a penis enlargement pill advertisement, suggesting a lack of prior exposure to such ads. This raises questions about the visibility and targeting of monetization strategies within the game.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging music and well-balanced combat mechanics, creating a pleasant and immersive experience for players.
“The music slaps, and most of the combos feel perfect in terms of their weight. The atmosphere is overall just... really, really pleasant.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often feeling nostalgic and reminiscent of their experiences with classic titles like Street Fighter II. The game evokes feelings of excitement and appreciation for the evolution of gaming, mirroring the enthusiasm of characters from related media.
“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.”
