Final Vendetta
- June 16, 2022
- Bitmap Bureau
- 2h median play time
Final Vendetta's gameplay is dated but solid and fun. It's more than worth it for any fan of fast action games.
In "Final Vendetta," a beat 'em up game for one or two players, join Claire Sparks, Duke Sancho, and Miller T. Williams in their perilous journey through the streets of London. The Syndic8 gang has kidnapped Claire's sister, and they will fight through dangerous environments and face formidable foes to rescue her. With stunning pixel art and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack, this game will provide an authentic arcade experience.
Reviews
- Final Vendetta captures the nostalgic feel of classic 90's beat 'em ups with its vibrant pixel art and engaging soundtrack.
- The game offers a solid challenge, especially on hard mode, making it rewarding for players who enjoy mastering their skills.
- The character variety and unique movesets provide depth to the combat, allowing for different playstyles and strategies.
- The game suffers from janky controls and hitboxes, leading to frustrating moments where attacks miss or characters feel unresponsive.
- There is a lack of content, with only six stages and no continues, which can make the experience feel short and punishing.
- The absence of a normal difficulty setting and the requirement to unlock training mode after completing the game can deter casual players.
- music84 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in "Final Vendetta" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic 90s vibe reminiscent of classic beat-em-ups like "Streets of Rage" and "Final Fight." The soundtrack, featuring contributions from notable artists like Utah Saints, is described as catchy and energetic, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While some critiques mention gameplay issues, the consensus is that the music stands out as a highlight, making it a significant draw for fans of the genre.
“The soundtrack is a well-balanced blend of techno, breakbeats, and funky jazz-inspired loops.”
“By far the most notable thing about Final Vendetta is the brilliant soundtrack by 90's UK rave outfit Utah Saints - the best of any beat 'em up ever.”
“The music - with some tracks provided by the legendary Utah Saints themselves - is also damned amazing.”
“I'm a fan of beat 'em ups and I've played many, of which I highlight Final Fight and Cadillacs and Dinosaurs as the best. Now talking about this game that was very inspired by Final Fight, firstly the music in Final Vendetta is terrible. The enemies are very repetitive and lack imagination, the game is very small and the graphics could be a little better. I don't recommend it even with a discount.”
“Honestly, I think I probably would've returned this one if it was not for the soundtrack.”
“I think anybody saying this holds a candle to Streets of Rage 4 (or past Streets of Rage or even Final Fight) is delusional (or hypnotized by the OST), but the music is bumpin', and I do think there's a foundation for this game to be cleaned up into something really nice and nostalgic.”
- gameplay38 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Final Vendetta" is a mixed bag, with some praising its tight mechanics and nostalgic arcade feel reminiscent of classic beat 'em ups, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and lacking depth. Although it features solid combat and appealing pixel art, many players find the gameplay repetitive and marred by inconsistent mechanics, leading to frustration, especially with ranking systems. Overall, while it offers a decent challenge and some enjoyable moments, it may not satisfy those seeking modern complexity or extensive content.
“Final Vendetta adds just enough ideas to the core list of mechanics present in the classic Final Fight and Streets of Rage trilogies, maintains that stringent arcade design from the late 80s/early 90s era, and adds both modern polish and excellent presentation more akin to something released near the end of the arcade boom than CPS1, SNES, or Genesis.”
“The aesthetic is perfectly executed, the gameplay just rocks, and then there's the soundtrack... omg.”
“Final Vendetta has the addictive gameplay and the catchy tunes and the gorgeous graphics and the bone-shattering impact to be one of the best beat 'em ups you can buy on Steam.”
“The gameplay is too straightforward, without zest and uniqueness, not to mention any modern mechanics.”
“A mediocre beat 'em up that takes inspiration from the generic popular early 90s beat 'em ups and ends up copying or creating even more amateur gameplay decisions while having less content.”
“Slavish dedication to the arcade days means it suffers from issues most beat 'em ups suffered from; shallow mechanical depth, and needing to abuse moves with i-frames to survive, so it becomes repetitive fast.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Final Vendetta" are widely praised for their nostalgic homage to 90s arcade beat-em-ups, featuring gorgeous pixel art and fluid animations that evoke a classic aesthetic. While many reviewers appreciate the high-resolution visuals and vibrant art style, some criticize the character designs and lack of variety in enemy appearances. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing to its charm despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“The presentation is on point - early 90s aesthetic with the visuals - the animations are stupidly fluid and the game feels super responsive.”
“The graphics are awesome and remind me of the old school beat 'em ups but the controls and options are from the modern era.”
“Gorgeous 16-bit graphics but in high resolution and great soundtracks that really drive each stage, and satisfying combat all make this a very fun game, even alone.”
“You play through six short stages without much variety in your enemies, nothing particularly interesting about the locations or art style, and some of the worst and easiest bosses I've seen in the genre.”
“Graphically, it honestly looks like a Beats of Rage or Mugen game.”
“Besides the deal with the faces, I think the biggest sin graphically is a lot of the graffiti looks really uninspired and lame.”
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely criticized for being simplistic, flat, and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels almost nonexistent aside from a brief introduction and conclusion. While some appreciate the arcade-style focus and challenge, the overall consensus is that the narrative is generic and uninspired, leaving players wanting more substantial storytelling and character development. Additional cutscenes and a longer game length could have significantly enhanced the experience.
“Still good as is, in my opinion - but a longer game length and some additional storytelling/cutscenes could take it from good to great.”
“Cutscenes and story dialogues are, in my opinion, very elaborated and give much personality to the game.”
“If you are a fan of longer brawlers with tons of levels, stats, and story modes, you might not like it as much, but if you are looking for the elusive lean, focused arcade style design and challenge, this is a game for you.”
“The story is flat and uninspired: I'm supposed to rescue my sister with two other characters, but I'm left alone to do it all, which makes no sense.”
“Rather, this is a short game with no real story, and I think it is overpriced at its current price of 22 GBP.”
“The story is basically nonexistent (only present in a brief intro and an even briefer ending), the theming is still as standard urban as it gets, and the gameplay is about what you'd expect from a game of this caliber.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the scoring system and potential for achievement unlocking, many criticize the limited content, with only six stages and minimal additional modes, leading to a lack of depth and overall replay value. Comparisons to other titles highlight that there are more engaging options available.
“While the game is highly replayable with its scoring system, there are only 6 stages, so Final Vendetta's biggest issue is lack of content.”
“Gameplay is solid with good replayability.”
“You can get TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, or River City Ransom Underground, or more... that have way more content, originality, and replayability.”
“The game is short with very little replay value and zero depth.”
“Hard as nails but limited replay value.”
“The price is way too high for this amount of content and replay value.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of load screens and the quick menu navigation, which enhances the grinding experience by allowing for smooth and efficient restarts during runs, despite the lack of a direct retry option from the pause menu.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is somewhat inconsistent, with minor glitches and a lack of polish in enemy designs, though many issues have been addressed. While a new casual mode with unlimited lives enhances accessibility, the core experience encourages players to refine their skills and complete the game without dying.
“The game suffers from numerous glitches that can disrupt the overall experience, making it feel unstable at times.”
“There are still some issues with the game's polish, particularly in enemy designs, which can detract from the immersion.”
“While some glitches have been fixed, there are still lingering problems that can be exploited, affecting the game's stability.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally praised for its good graphics and classic 80s street vibe, but some users feel that the character art direction, particularly the anime-inspired designs with exaggerated features, clashes with the gritty urban environment.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, capturing the essence of a gritty urban environment that feels alive and filled with history.”
“The sound design complements the visuals perfectly, creating a haunting ambiance that draws you deeper into the game's world.”
“Every corner of the game is filled with details that enhance the overall atmosphere, making it feel like a character in its own right.”
“The graphics are good, but the character art direction leaves a lot to be desired. Some characters and enemies have this weird anime look, with big eyes and featureless faces, that doesn't really fit the overall classic 80s street atmosphere characterized by its dilapidated and decrepit urban settings.”
“The atmosphere feels disjointed; the vibrant colors clash with the dark themes, making it hard to immerse myself in the game's world.”
“While the sound design attempts to create a tense atmosphere, it often falls flat, leading to moments that feel more awkward than engaging.”
Critic Reviews
Final Vendetta review
Final Vendetta is a love letter to classic beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage and Final Fight, offering just enough to keep you playing.
70%Final Vendetta Review
Final Vendetta's gameplay is dated but solid and fun. It's more than worth it for any fan of fast action games.
80%Final Vendetta Review - The Side Scrolling Brawler Renaissance Continues
Despite its small steps toward evolution and innovation, Final Vendetta feels like a wistfully romantic and well executed, if ultimately conservative take on those side-scrolling brawlers that held our attention (and quarters) so rigidly in years gone by. Nonetheless, despite the fact that Final Vendetta doesn't push the genre forward with any sort of strident vigour, it's certainly true that it's still a lot of fun all the same and that enjoyment is only amplified when played with another friend locally.
75%