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Final Exam

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.
Final Exam Game Cover
77%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
79% User Score Based on 544 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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Final Exam Game Cover

About

Final Exam is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with horror and comedy themes. It was developed by Mighty Rocket Studio and was released on November 5, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Jump into the frenzied action and the whacky humor of a pure 2.5D side-scroller! While they were going to their old high school for what was supposed to be the party of their life, four long-time friends end up in a ghost town full of monstrous creatures. Alone or in cooperative mode (4 players online and 2 in local play), survive hordes of monsters ready to skin you alive and achieve unique and…

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Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
Final Exam screenshot
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79%
Audience ScoreBased on 544 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.
  • story
    125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • gameplay
    99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • graphics
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • humor
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • music
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • replayability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • grinding
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
6h Average play time
2-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Final Exam is a hack and slash game with horror and comedy themes.

Final Exam is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Final Exam.

Final Exam was released on November 5, 2013.

Final Exam was developed by Mighty Rocket Studio.

Final Exam has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Final Exam is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Shank 2, Hammerwatch, Shank, Fight'N Rage, Dust: An Elysian Tail and others.