Midnight Fight Express

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,007 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Midnight Fight Express Game Cover
Midnight Fight Express is a short and brutal fight that doesn’t overstay its welcome. You’ll definitely come out of it with more than a few scrapes, but it’s all worth it just to watch the sun rise at the end.
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In "Midnight Fight Express," become an unlikely hero, Babyface, drawn back into the criminal underworld for one night to prevent a citywide takeover. Engage in fierce combat, using environmental tools and martial arts moves, in this action-packed game with customizable difficulty. Experience blockbuster-style fighting with motion capture animation by stunt performer Eric Jacobus.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,007 reviews
story114 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions
  • Engaging and satisfying combat system that combines elements from various action games, making players feel like a badass.
  • Great soundtrack by Noisecream that enhances the gameplay experience and keeps the adrenaline pumping.
  • Variety of enemies and levels, along with character customization options, provide good replayability and fun challenges.
  • Some levels feature frustrating enemy designs and mechanics that can disrupt the flow of combat, particularly in the later stages.
  • The story and dialogue can feel excessive and interrupt the fast-paced action, leading to a less immersive experience.
  • Certain boss fights are poorly designed, with mechanics that can feel unfair or overly punishing, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • story452 mentions

    The story in "Midnight Fight Express" is generally viewed as shallow and often nonsensical, serving primarily as a backdrop for the game's engaging combat mechanics. While some players appreciate its humorous and absurd elements, many find it forgettable or overly simplistic, with frequent interruptions that disrupt gameplay flow. Overall, the narrative is seen as a light-hearted excuse for action rather than a focal point, with mixed opinions on its execution and relevance.

    • “The story is actually pretty fun.”
    • “There's a surprisingly large amount of content and the story supplements the game well.”
    • “I enjoyed the story a lot, and I like how the game manages to make room for humor and absurdity without ruining the dark overall theme.”
    • “The story is a complete waste of time.”
    • “Too much stopping all the time for 'story beats' (which wouldn't be so bad if the story wasn't so basic and dumb).”
    • “The passable combat is constantly broken up by cut scenes and dialogue for a story I wish I could care about.”
  • music432 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the high-energy soundtrack composed by noisecream, which perfectly complements the fast-paced combat and enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some tracks may blend together, the soundtrack is described as "banger" and "killer," effectively keeping players engaged and motivated throughout their play sessions. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's atmosphere and making it a memorable part of the experience.

    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal and the combat is a lot of fun.”
    • “The music is genuinely sublime, it brought the feeling closer to that one scene where the retired hitman rampages through a club looking for the man that off'ed his dog.”
    • “The soundtrack is a masterpiece, composed by noisecream.”
    • “The music is terrible, the little drone character isn't needed, and keeps interrupting the action with pointless unnecessary dialogue which I just started skipping through.”
    • “All in all, it's not too bad, but seeing how Hotline Miami worked so well because of how the music integrated with the graphics and presentation as a whole, I fail to understand why the devs would try to cut corners budget-wise on this end.”
    • “A game with a bopping soundtrack held back by pacing issues worse than Dragon Ball Z.”
  • gameplay384 mentions

    The gameplay of "Midnight Fight Express" is characterized by its fast-paced, fluid combat mechanics that blend elements from titles like "Batman: Arkham" and "Hotline Miami," offering a satisfying experience for beat 'em up fans. While many players appreciate the variety of combat options and the engaging level design, some criticize the over-reliance on gun mechanics and the introduction of poorly executed mechanics that can disrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive gameplay loop and impressive soundtrack, though it faces criticism for occasional inconsistencies and frustrating enemy designs as the game progresses.

    • “So the game's atmosphere is top notch, the gameplay is truly next level with how tight, varied, and expansive it is, and the variation that you will encounter is truly astonishing.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very fun, parrying and finishers have awesome animations with extreme brutal gore.”
    • “The fighting mechanics are stellar - allowing you to seamlessly alternate between fist-fighting, using melee weapons/guns, kicking/throwing objects laying about the ground, and grappling.”
    • “Imagine being forced to rely on the game's half-baked gun mechanics.”
    • “The game's combat system is especially lackluster, with an overreliance on the dodge-roll mechanic that constitutes a staggering 70% of the fighting.”
    • “Rather than offering unique and engaging levels, players are left with uninspired, generic gameplay.”
  • graphics85 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many noting a simplistic and sometimes jarring art style that may not appeal to everyone. While the visuals are not the game's main selling point, they effectively complement the fast-paced gameplay, and some players appreciate the unique aesthetic reminiscent of animated films or comic books. However, criticisms include the use of recycled assets and a lack of graphical polish, which detracts from the overall experience for some players.

    • “Visuals, animations, and the soundtrack in particular are fantastic.”
    • “It sounds and looks fantastic, with a visually interesting art style.”
    • “The combat (the main pull of the game) feels so fluid and hard-hitting, the graphics are simple but effective and the enemy variety poses a real challenge.”
    • “The art style presentation is a little too simplistic and can sometimes be overtly goofy and jarring.”
    • “While the use of voxel graphics and recycled assets may be forgivable to some degree, it is impossible to overlook these significant shortcomings that mar the game's quality.”
    • “Although the gunplay felt solid and there's a lot of replayability, Midnight Fight Express' sloppy controls, poor story, and rather mediocre graphics make for an average-at-best experience.”
  • humor79 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of absurdity, pop culture references, and quirky dialogue, often delivered through a comedic drone companion. While some players find the humor genuinely funny and engaging, others feel it can be flat or overly reliant on clichés. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor into its dynamic beat-em-up gameplay, making for an entertaining experience despite some uneven moments.

    • “I enjoyed the story a lot, and I like how the game manages to make room for humor and absurdity without ruining the dark overall theme.”
    • “And yeah, tons of stupidly funny dialogue lines, movie references, and nods to other games!”
    • “The humor in this game is prevalent and very well done.”
  • replayability69 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, featuring 40 levels with numerous challenges, unlockable skills, and cosmetic rewards that encourage players to revisit stages multiple times. Players appreciate the variety of gameplay options, including different difficulties and modifiers, which enhance the replay experience. While some note that the main story is short, the abundance of challenges and customization keeps the gameplay engaging and fresh.

    • “The replayability is the best thing about this game: you unlock skills after each level and you can replay those levels with your new skills to try and complete the challenges and acquire the S ratings.”
    • “With 40 fast-paced levels and infinite replayability, along with additional challenges for each of those levels and a sandbox mode, this game can be an endless source of thug-beating fun and a completionist's dream.”
    • “Every level has several special challenges that unlock cosmetics and gameplay mods, so if you like a game with some replay value, this one's solid.”
    • “[Not a whole ton of replay value after you beat the somewhat short main story. The game kinda loses its charm on higher difficulty settings.]”
    • “[Although the gunplay felt solid and there's a lot of replayability, Midnight Fight Express' sloppy controls, poor story, and rather mediocre graphics make for an average-at-best experience.]”
    • “[Action-packed combat makes you feel unkillable, extremely well animated movement, creative opportunities and use of environment, controls are fluid and easy to use, replayability with upgrades, unlockables, and leaderboards.]”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some appreciate the challenge and depth it adds, others find certain tasks tedious and overly time-consuming. Grinding primarily involves completing challenges after finishing levels, which can lead to repetitive gameplay as players seek to unlock bonuses. Overall, the experience can feel rewarding for those who enjoy mastering levels, but it may also become a chore for others.

    • “No grinding, just a normal progression as your skill increases and you are faced with harder enemies.”
    • “All in all, I do not recommend this game; it's fun at first but progresses into a tedious button masher with no depth whatsoever.”
    • “Sometimes I'll have achieved an 'S'-rating on a level, completed all the challenges, and still be stuck grinding these out over 5-6 more level completions just to get all the items I need to unlock a bonus.”
    • “My only gripe is that a few of the challenges are a bit tedious and require you to go out of your way to complete them — for example, the ratboy's toxic vomit one.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and well-designed environments, each reflecting distinct themes and references from various games and movies. The aggressive electronic music complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience of intensity and chaos. While the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they contribute to a gritty, fast-paced ambiance that resonates with players.

    • “The game's atmosphere is top notch, and the gameplay is truly next level with how tight, varied, and expansive it is. The variation you will encounter is truly astonishing.”
    • “Each of these locations has its own atmosphere and interesting references to various games or movies.”
    • “They are really well designed and perfectly reflect the atmosphere of the places they are meant to represent, with the right textures, furnishings, lighting, and other details that make them very convincing.”
    • “More variety of genres and atmospheres would have been appreciated here as well.”
    • “It's definitely no next-gen level graphics, but it absolutely helps give the game a gritty but fast-paced atmosphere, sort of like 'My Friend Pedro'.”
    • “They are largely very aggressive-sounding electronic pieces that fit perfectly with the gameplay taking place on the screen and complete the atmosphere of total carnage.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players have noted that the game features a surprisingly emotional story, which stands out even amidst its intentionally campy elements. The combination of engaging combat mechanics and challenging gameplay enhances the emotional impact, culminating in a memorable ending that resonates with players. Overall, the emotional depth adds a unique layer to the otherwise action-packed experience.

    • “Very cool fighting game and a surprisingly emotional ending!”
    • “Fun setpiece levels, a shockingly emotional story despite it being intentionally campy, and fun as hell core combat.”
    • “I thought this would be extremely button mashy but it's not; this combat feels so weighty and flashy, and the devs put so much effort into making so many counters and specials that I beat the game and some levels to S rank and still haven't found them all: made me feel like John Wick without leaving blood on my floor.”
  • stability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with most players reporting a bug-free experience. However, some users have encountered specific issues, such as buggy mechanics during combat and occasional glitches that can disrupt gameplay, like getting stuck between objects. Despite these minor setbacks, the game remains enjoyable and offers high replay value.

    • “Generally bug free.”
    • “Runs great, sounds good, looks good, it's fun and challenging.”
    • “If the enemy is far away from you, the character will perform a dash attack for you to land your attack quickly, but most of the time, these mechanics seem to be buggy and end up with you punching/slashing in the air, and the long-range attack skill can't solve this problem.”
    • “I only encountered one buggy moment; I was trying to talk to a character while rolling and I ended up stuck between objects and could not move, forcing a restart of the level.”
    • “The dying achievement is buggy, which is frustrating after putting in so much effort to complete the game.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly without crashes and maintaining stable performance. Overall, users report a positive experience regarding its optimization.

    • “The game is quite optimized, stable, and runs smoothly without any crashes.”
    • “Performance-wise, the game runs very well.”
    • “Great optimization.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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