Final Exam

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 545 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Final Exam Game Cover
Final Exam is a beat-‘em-up that’s extremely accommodating to newcomers, with an incredibly fluid, precise and, above all, fun combat system. Veterans will find challenge in the form of the game’s ‘Tough’ mode and the ‘easy to learn, difficult to master’ nature of the combat. But despite a relatively short story mode and a few niggling annoyances with NPCs and escort missions, Final Exam is still worth the price of admittance for the core gameplay alone - a robust upgrade system and four-player online co-op are just icing on the cake.
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"Final Exam" is a 2.5D side-scrolling action game featuring four friends who find themselves in a monster-infested ghost town. Play alone or with up to 4 players online and 2 in local play, surviving hordes of creatures and achieving varied objectives in non-linear levels. Gain experience, find new weapons, and unlock powerful moves to reach higher scores and compete with friends.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 545 reviews
story12 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions
  • Fun and engaging co-op gameplay that enhances the experience with friends.
  • Colorful graphics and a unique visual style that make the game visually appealing.
  • Fluid combat mechanics with a variety of attacks and character upgrades that keep the gameplay interesting.
  • Repetitive gameplay with similar boss fights and level objectives that can become tedious.
  • Limited character diversity and skills, leading to a lack of depth in combat strategies.
  • Short campaign with only 8 levels, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • story125 mentions

    The story of "Final Exam" features a humorous and adventurous narrative centered around a group of college students facing unexpected challenges, primarily involving combat and escort missions. While the plot is considered minimal and at times repetitive, it adds a charming element to the gameplay, which is more focused on action and co-op mechanics than deep storytelling. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted tone but note that the story lacks depth and can feel generic.

    • “Final Exam’s story is a mix of humor and adventure that unfolds as players face a series of challenges and enemies.”
    • “The story revolves around a group of college students who find themselves in an unexpected situation and must use their skills to survive and prevail.”
    • “While the game’s main focus is combat and platforming, the story adds an element of charm and cohesion, enriching the overall experience.”
    • “The game seems to have some sort of plot but I couldn't piece it together from the unvoiced scenes that take place.”
    • “And while the game has a pretty cool and perhaps a little edgy (and chuckle-worthy) style, the story is just so inanely pointless I have no investment in it or the characters to care enough to keep playing.”
    • “But repetitive boring mission objectives that have been used a million times in MMO grinds (go here, collect, bring back. go here, escort, bring back. go here, kill, kill, kill, kill, keep killing, and kill some more.) ruined an excellent fighting game.”
  • gameplay99 mentions

    The gameplay of "Final Exam" is characterized by a blend of accessible yet challenging combat and platforming mechanics, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans. While the game features a variety of levels and cooperative play, some players note issues with repetitive level design and enemy encounters, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its polished mechanics, engaging visuals, and the fun it offers in both solo and cooperative modes.

    • “Final Exam's gameplay is an exciting blend of combat and platforming that is both accessible and challenging.”
    • “The combat mechanics are intuitive, with controls that are easy to learn but challenging to master, providing a rewarding experience for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.”
    • “Gameplay is truly top-notch and very addicting.”
    • “Gameplay = monotonous.”
    • “The gameplay, while also repetitive and with the enemy encounters overstaying their welcome, drags the game down.”
    • “Mostly recommended for the die-hard beat-'em-up crowd...for the rest of us, we'll probably 'get the idea' within the first couple of hours of gameplay, and be sufficiently satisfied by that.”
  • graphics74 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique design, vibrant visuals, and impressive lighting effects, making them one of the standout features. Many players appreciate the engaging art style and smooth presentation, although some note that the level design can feel repetitive. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, enhancing the cooperative gameplay experience.

    • “Final exam's graphics are one of its biggest draws.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, some of the best lighting I've seen in a game.”
    • “It's pretty well-designed and has a visual aesthetic that makes it memorable and stand out.”
    • “While they have adapted the game to work with PC and it features a few graphics settings and control customization, enough that it barely scrapes into the minimum set of features expected for any PC game, the controls themselves are clunky.”
    • “The artwork is boring, the music is boring, there is way too much backtracking even though you saw the objective on your way in, but the game insists on you to go back and collect them, just to milk some playtime hours which is so obvious.”
    • “The graphics are decent, but they are presented in such a way that makes them less engaging.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The game's humor is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying its comical visuals and funny character animations, while others find the humor lacking, particularly in the repetitive gameplay and absence of engaging dialogue. The combat is often described as hilariously fun, and the quirky setting adds charm, but many reviewers feel that the potential for deeper humor through story elements and character interactions is underutilized. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate a lighthearted, action-packed experience, especially in co-op play, but may disappoint players seeking more substantial comedic content.

    • “With a combination of humor, strategy, and fast-paced action, the game offers a fun and rewarding experience for fans of platforming and battles.”
    • “Funny and good side-scrolling action-slay-shoot-punch-the-crap-out-of-monster game.”
    • “The combat is hilariously fun.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to create atmosphere and tension, while others find it repetitive and overly serious for a fun game. Overall, it is described as fitting and solid, contributing positively to the game's presentation, though some feel it lacks excitement.

    • “Lovely graphics, smooth controls, action-y music, overall great presentation.”
    • “I like the music as it gives the atmosphere a sense of rush, suspense, and tension.”
    • “Great hack'n'slash combat, a neat little character progression system, and a solid musical score.”
    • “The artwork is boring, the music is boring, there is way too much backtracking even though you saw the objective on your way in, but the game insists on you to go back and collect them, just to milk some playtime hours which is so obvious.”
    • “Look, the graphics are lovely, the sound is fine (even if the groovy/spooky music gets a tad repetitious, like everything else), and the gameplay is fun enough in small doses.”
    • “Pros: lots of weapons, decent combat, lots of replayability & decent music.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally praised for its variety of levels, diverse character abilities, and additional challenges, which encourage players to explore different playstyles. However, some users note that the experience can become repetitive, leading to a perception of low replay value for certain aspects. Overall, the presence of unique skill trees and a wide array of weapons contributes positively to the game's replayability.

    • “The game’s replayability is ensured by the variety of levels, the ability to try out different characters and playstyles, and the presence of additional challenges and achievements.”
    • “Love how each character has their own skill tree for the most part and their own abilities, really makes replay value high.”
    • “Pros: lots of weapons, decent combat, lots of replayability & decent music.”
    • “The game's replayability is ensured by the variety of levels, the ability to try out different characters and playstyles, and the presence of additional challenges and achievements.”
    • “- low replay value (repetitive, but lack of satisfying element to sustain fun)”
    • “Love how each character has their own skill tree for the most part and their own abilities; it really makes replay value high.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with long levels, endless enemy spawns, and a lack of checkpoints contributing to frustration. Backtracking and repetitive combat further exacerbate the experience, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging challenge. While some may appreciate the RPG mechanics and character evolution, many reviewers suggest that the overall grind can be overwhelming and unenjoyable.

    • “The big problem with this aspect is that each level is loooong and obviously it can get tedious.”
    • “There's no checkpoint system, and some levels are just too tedious to continue to smash your head against.”
    • “The RPG character evolving mechanic requires some often tedious level exploration to unlock everything needed for upgrade points.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while it attempts to build a cool and intense vibe, many players feel it ultimately falls short due to various shortcomings that detract from the overall experience. However, the music is noted for effectively enhancing the sense of rush, suspense, and tension. Overall, the game's atmosphere is seen as a promising development for the series, yet it fails to fully deliver on its potential.

    • “Considering the general atmosphere of the 'Obscure' games, this was a good development for the series.”
    • “I like the music as it gives the atmosphere a sense of rush, suspense, and tension.”
    • “This game on its own is cool and badass, or at least, it tries to be, but again it sucked on so many levels and lacked so many things that it literally killed the atmosphere and feel of this game that it should have been able to bring to you, but failed.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game is highlighted by its well-integrated co-op mode, featuring challenges and objectives specifically designed to enhance team cooperation.

    • “The co-op mode is well integrated into the game’s design, with challenges and objectives that are optimized for team cooperation.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is significantly hindered by a flawed input recognition system, leading to missed button presses that disrupt combo execution. This issue has been consistently reported by users, indicating a persistent problem affecting gameplay.

    • “The game will skip various button presses, making combos impossible due to a buggy input recognition system.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game features basic character development alongside weapon unlocks, enhancing the overall gameplay experience in a fun beat 'em up format.

    • “The character development is engaging, allowing players to unlock new abilities and weapons as they progress.”
    • “I love how the character development system adds depth to the gameplay, making each victory feel rewarding.”
    • “The progression in character development keeps me invested in the game, as I look forward to unlocking new skills and upgrades.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Final Exam

Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
2-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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