Fist Puncher

About

In "Fist Puncher," lead a group of eccentric fighters on a mission to save the world from a criminal mastermind. This side-scrolling beat-em-up game features retro-style graphics, over-the-top characters, and a variety of attacks and combos. Battle your way through levels filled with humor, pop culture references, and plenty of action.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

+22

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 126 reviews

humor25 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Charming retro graphics and a colorful cast of characters with unique abilities enhance the nostalgic beat 'em up experience.
The game features varied levels and unlockable mini missions that keep gameplay engaging and prevent monotony.
Local co-op mode adds a fun social element, allowing players to team up and strategize together.

The game can become grindy, especially for single players, as character progression requires significant time investment.
Controls can be uncomfortable and unresponsive, particularly when using a keyboard instead of a controller.
Difficulty spikes and repetitive level design can lead to frustration, making it less enjoyable for casual players.

humor
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
12%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it hilarious and fitting, particularly in co-op settings, while others criticize it as childish or out of touch. Many appreciate the quirky character lineup and funny plot, though some feel the jokes can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game offers a blend of amusing moments and tongue-in-cheek humor that can enhance the experience, especially when played with friends.
- “Each level is hilarious and the limited dialogue that is in the game goes with it well and is funny!”
- “However, what separates 'Fist Puncher' apart from other beat-'em-ups is its humor.”
- “This great co-op brawler features a ridiculous cast of characters, a far-fetched funny plot, and character development to boot.”
- “The humor feels forced and often misses the mark, relying on outdated references that just don't resonate.”
- “Most of the jokes fall flat, making it hard to find anything genuinely funny in the game.”
- “The attempts at humor seem random and disconnected, lacking the cleverness needed to be truly entertaining.”
gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
44%
12%
The gameplay of "Fist Puncher" is characterized by simple yet satisfying combat mechanics and a colorful cast of characters, offering varied experiences and a fun multiplayer mode. However, many players criticize the gameplay for being repetitive, with inconsistent hitboxes and unresponsive controls, leading to a lack of depth and challenge. While some appreciate its nostalgic appeal and humor, others find it ultimately mediocre and unpolished.
- “The game features a colorful cast of characters, each with their own unique abilities and fighting styles, allowing for varied gameplay experiences.”
- “The combat mechanics are simple yet satisfying, with responsive controls and fluid animations that make every punch and kick feel impactful.”
- “Coordinating attacks and combining abilities adds an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay and makes for a great social experience.”
- “Repetitive to the point that it is mindless gameplay; the hitboxes are so wrong and the CPU is as stupid as a rock.”
- “The gameplay is atrocious.”
- “Inconsistent, dull art, repetitive and simplistic gameplay, uninspired characters, and no attack variations whatsoever.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
58%
16%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro, 8-bit aesthetic that appeals to fans of classic arcade titles, reminiscent of games like "Maniac Mansion." While many players appreciate the charming visuals and nostalgic feel, some criticize the execution as lacking depth and polish, with occasional glitches and a bare-bones appearance. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, though opinions vary on their quality and effectiveness.
- “Fist Puncher delivers a satisfying dose of old-school beat 'em up action with a charmingly retro aesthetic that will appeal to fans of classic arcade games.”
- “The graphics are 8-bit style pixel art of the sort that some people hate and others, like me, can't get enough of when it's well done, as it mostly is here.”
- “A whole lot of retro arcade fun, cool story, graphics, and music.”
- “Graphics is meh though.”
- “Graphics are trying to be retro but fails at it.”
- “Graphics: this game was released three years ago as of the time of this review but the graphics are very bare bones.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its retro arcade vibe and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize it as bland and repetitive, lacking variety and excitement. Overall, it seems to evoke nostalgia for some players, but fails to impress others who find it uninteresting and monotonous.
- “The music fits perfectly, not as a standalone soundtrack, but as the platonic realization of how NES-era audio should have been.”
- “A whole lot of retro arcade fun, cool story, graphics, and music.”
- “The music is very retro and gives you that arcade vibe.”
- “There is no damn music.”
- “It just plays the stupid main menu music in every single boss battle and stages have lame cellphone jingles behind them that loop after 5 seconds.”
- “The music is meh at best, and while there is an interesting amount of level variety, it never really goes anywhere.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The story in Fist Puncher is described as campy and quirky, starting with a promising parody of the "save the damsel in distress" trope but ultimately becoming less engaging as it progresses, featuring uninspired boss dialogues and a cliffhanger ending. While the gameplay offers variety and replayability, the narrative lacks depth and coherence, leading some players to recommend alternatives for a more polished experience. Overall, the story is seen as harmless but not particularly memorable.
- “Overall the game is a decent 2D beat 'em up with cool character design, a quirky story, and great replayability.”
- “Story: not much to say about it since we didn't get far, but it was harmless enough.”
- “I know I am repeating myself, but I find no other description for the story: it starts out kind of promising, like a parody of the classic 'save damsel in distress' trope, then it more or less disappears while you have pointless and uninspired conversations with the bosses, just to end in a twist with a cliffhanger.”
- “Fist Puncher features solid controls, an assortment of levelable characters, and a campy plot that carries 10+ hours of gameplay.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, as players must repeatedly level up characters individually, making multiplayer sessions tedious and limiting character use. The game’s structure forces players into monotonous grinding to progress, particularly in single-player mode, while achievements often require extensive grinding for specific drops, further compounding the frustration. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract significantly from the enjoyment and accessibility of the game.
- “This is just a fairly small game with heavy grinding involved.”
- “Now we are trapped, just the two of us, playing a game where we aren't really free to use the characters we unlock without going through the monotony of grinding.”
- “A lot of the content is okay to enjoyable, but the structure of the game is deliberately skewed to make single player unreasonably difficult, and they tied the 'rpg-lite' system to individual character/controller-slot combinations, so multiplayer is a tedious leveling affair for all players, all the time.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Character development in the game is noted for its quirky and humorous approach, featuring a diverse cast that enhances the overall experience. While some reviews criticize the game's repetitive elements, others appreciate the engaging story and replayability that contribute to character growth. Overall, the character development is seen as a positive aspect amidst mixed opinions on other gameplay elements.
- “Overall the game is a decent 2D beat 'em up with cool character design, a quirky story, and great replayability.”
- “This great co-op brawler features a ridiculous cast of characters, a far-fetched funny plot, and character development to boot.”
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with any of the protagonists.”
- “There is a lack of meaningful growth for the characters, leaving them feeling one-dimensional and forgettable.”
- “The recycled character designs and predictable story arcs contribute to a disappointing experience that fails to engage players.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some users find it low to none, others highlight its strong replay value due to numerous unlockable characters, nearly 100 achievements, and engaging in-game trading cards that enhance the experience.
- “Overall, the game is a decent 2D beat 'em up with cool character design, a quirky story, and great replayability.”
- “With more than a dozen unlockable characters and nearly 100 achievements with accompanying in-game trading cards that are actually fun to earn, there's no doubt that this game has a lot of replay value.”
- “So basically, the replay value, in my opinion, is low to none.”
- “The game lacks significant replayability, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
- “Once you complete the game, there isn't much incentive to return for another playthrough.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game features appealing graphics, but users have reported occasional glitches that affect overall stability. Despite these issues, the experience remains enjoyable.
- “The game has some nice graphics, but there are ugly glitches here and there that detract from the experience.”
- “I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “The stability issues are frustrating; I often find myself getting kicked out of matches unexpectedly.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game effectively captures an authentic 80's atmosphere, immersing players in a nostalgic setting that resonates with the era's distinct aesthetic and cultural elements.
- “The game perfectly captures the nostalgic 80's atmosphere.”
- “I love how the vibrant colors and retro music create an immersive 80's vibe.”
- “The 80's atmosphere is so well done; it feels like stepping back in time.”
- “The game tries to capture an 80's atmosphere, but it feels more like a cheap imitation than a genuine homage.”
- “While the game aims for an 80's vibe, it ultimately falls flat, lacking the depth and authenticity needed to create a truly immersive atmosphere.”
- “The supposed 80's atmosphere is overshadowed by a lack of engaging elements, making the experience feel hollow and uninspired.”