MerFight
- February 12, 2024
- mattrified
Get on Steam"MerFight" is a 2.5D fantasy fighting game featuring 12 sea life-inspired characters, such as angler fish and sharks. It offers various modes, including local versus, online play with rollback netcode, tutorials, training mode, arcade mode, and combo challenges. The game aims to be flexible, engaging, and approachable for both veterans and newcomers to the genre.
Reviews
- Merfight features a unique and engaging combat system with innovative mechanics like pop cancelling and meter management, allowing for creative combos and play styles.
- The game offers a wealth of content, including a robust tutorial, character-specific story modes, and various gameplay modes, making it accessible for both new and veteran players.
- Each character feels distinct and well-designed, contributing to a charming and fun overall experience that stands out among indie fighting games.
- The graphics and presentation are somewhat outdated, which may detract from the overall visual appeal of the game.
- The AI in arcade mode is not very challenging, which could lead to a less engaging experience for players looking for a tougher opponent.
- Some players may find the music does not match the fighting theme, leading to a less immersive atmosphere during gameplay.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Merfight is characterized by its strict gauge management and unique meter mechanics, which set it apart from other fighting games. Players appreciate the focus on universal systems that make it accessible to experiment with different characters, while the robust tutorial and training features enhance the learning experience. Despite being in early access, the game offers enjoyable mechanics and a competitive edge, though it may require some mastery to fully appreciate its depth.
“The big thing gameplay-wise that sets Merfight apart from other fighting games is its meter mechanics.”
“Every single character feels unique, the game has a very unique mechanic (collecting bubbles for meter), the tutorial is robust, and the training is full of features.”
“The gauges management is pretty strict though, so the gameplay is not super fast, but still on the fast side.”
“In general, the game is focused on universal systems over character-specific mechanics, so it's not too tricky to play around with different characters.”
“Needs a lot of polish in everything other than the gameplay.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics received mixed feedback; while some users feel the visuals are outdated, others appreciate the nostalgic "2003" aesthetic and note that recent upgrades have improved the overall look. Additionally, there is a desire for in-game character models to match the quality of their 2D artwork, though the 3D representations are deemed acceptable.
“The new balance patches feel great, and the graphical upgrades look wonderful.”
“Part of me wishes the characters looked as good in-game as they do in their 2D artworks, but they look fine enough in 3D.”
“Counter con - the '2003' aesthetic is kinda nice, not gonna lie.”
“The graphics are outdated.”
“My only negative outside of the visuals is the music.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game features individual story modes for each character, allowing players to experience their unique narratives and interactions, though some users note a current lack of depth in these stories. However, the inclusion of a comprehensive story mode, alongside various gameplay modes, suggests potential for future enhancements and a more engaging narrative experience.
“Each base game character has their own story mode where they get to be the main character and face off against each other character, so everyone is involved.”
“The game is very feature complete with a story mode giving every character's perspective on events, which is pretty cool, along with arcade mode and combo trial mode with 20 combos per character.”
“With story mode on the way, a solid tutorial, training mode, character trials, and rollback netcode, Merfight is aiming to hit all the right marks.”
“The downside is the current lack of story for the characters, but that may be rectified in the future.”
“While the game is feature complete with a story mode, it still lacks depth in character narratives.”
“The story mode is on the way, but as it stands, the narrative feels underdeveloped and leaves much to be desired.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as clever and original, effectively blending elements from various fighting games within a unique aquatic theme. Players appreciate the game's beauty and depth, which complement its comedic aspects.
“It's like a mashup of the best stuff from several fighting games, rolled into a clever aquatic theme with totally original characters and plenty of humor.”
“The game is beautiful, funny, runs well, and has depth.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received criticism, with some users expressing it as a notable negative aspect, particularly when compared to the visuals.
“My only negative outside of the visuals is the music.”
