Verdict Guilty

About

Verdict Guilty is a single player and multiplayer casual fighting game. It was developed by Retro Army Limited and was released on June 13, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

Verdict Guilty is an easy to play 90's style arcade fighter! Featuring unique handcuff and gun combat in a cops versus robbers theme. Neo Seoul has been hit with a wave of terrorist and crime attacks, only a few good officers remain willing to battle this new evil.

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 356 reviews

story29 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic 2D fighters with its pixel art and retro soundtrack.
Unique mechanics like handcuffing opponents and limited ammo for projectiles add a fun twist to the gameplay.
The story mode provides engaging character backstories and varied objectives, making it more than just a standard fighting game.

The gameplay can feel simplistic and unbalanced, with some characters being significantly stronger than others.
The AI is often too easy to defeat, leading to a lack of challenge until the final boss, who is disproportionately difficult.
There is no online multiplayer mode, limiting the game's replayability and social interaction.

story
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
The game's story mode features unique, branching narratives for each of the eight characters, set against the backdrop of a conflict between police and organized crime in a stylized neo-Seoul. While the stories are often described as amusing and campy, they are generally brief and may lack depth, with some players finding the writing inconsistent. Overall, the story mode serves as both a narrative experience and a tutorial, introducing players to character mechanics through various combat challenges, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more intricate plot.
- “Each fighter features their own short, branching story mode, offering bite-sized narrative glimpses into Neo Seoul’s escalating disorder.”
- “The story mode for each character is highly entertaining and the art throughout the game is great.”
- “The story is strong, and kept me interested in all the characters' short stories.”
- “The characters are interesting and have appropriately cheesy dialogue, but there is virtually no story to be seen in the story mode.”
- “The story may feel too simple for players looking for a deep narrative.”
- “The story mode is pure garbage and it is the only thing that I don't like about this game.”
gameplay
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The gameplay of "Verdict Guilty" is characterized by its unique mechanics, such as the handcuffing and firearm systems, which add a layer of strategy and humor reminiscent of retro fighting games. While the controls are simple and responsive, allowing for an accessible experience, some players note a lack of depth and balance among characters, leading to a somewhat repetitive feel. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic charm with its pixel art and engaging mechanics, making it a fun, albeit imperfect, entry in the fighting genre.
- “Mechanically, Verdict Guilty prioritizes accessibility and immediacy above technical complexity.”
- “The handcuff and gun/taser mechanics are loads of fun and really separate this game from other fighters.”
- “Even better, this game is a joy to play, incorporating an 'arrest' mechanic, which incentivizes you to try and defeat your opponent by detaining them, rather than simply defeating them; this can lead to some very intense gameplay moments and is a unique twist in a genre that can be very boring.”
- “Gameplay felt clunky.”
- “From my perspective, the gameplay is a tad shallow, with a limited roster and each character sharing the exact same story and arcade ladders.”
- “The movements feel really slow and mechanical; not unplayable, but I didn't like them.”
graphics
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, effectively capturing the nostalgic essence of '90s arcade aesthetics with sharp sprites, fluid animations, and detailed backgrounds. While some reviewers note minor technical issues and a lack of polish, the overall visual presentation is considered a strong point, enhancing the retro vibe and gameplay experience. The art style, characterized by a moody purple tone and creative character designs, resonates well with fans of classic fighting games.
- “Retro Army Limited perfectly captures the essence of '90s arcade aesthetics, with sharp sprites, fluid animations, and backgrounds that reflect a fictional, crime-ridden South Korean city.”
- “The pixel graphics and retro soundtrack are great, and the punchy sound effects get the job done.”
- “The graphics, the sound, and the music are very much like a tribute to the 16-bit era.”
- “It sucks, just look at these graphics.”
- “On a technical front, the developers couldn't get the graphics engine to work right, so it resets your desktop resolution to a very low resolution and prevents you from alt+tabbing, which is an unforgivable sin.”
- “Now really, if it could be possible, I'd give this a neutral review since the art style is getting old.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, nostalgic soundtrack that effectively complements the retro aesthetic, featuring driving electronic beats and chiptone influences. Reviewers highlight the unique tracks for each stage and character, noting that the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, making the gameplay more exciting. While some mention occasional blandness, the majority agree that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The accompanying soundtrack builds on this retro presentation, mixing driving electronic beats, arcade-like sound stabs, and nostalgic chiptone influences.”
- “The soundtrack is another standout feature, blending retro electronic themes with an intense, arcade feel.”
- “Overall, for its price point, this is a nice little game, with a fantastic soundtrack, that for lack of depth, makes up for it with charm.”
- “Cons- bland, relaxing music for a fighting game??”
- “The good news is that there are plenty of modes to choose from, and despite repetitive moves and bland music it is absolutely worth 3 dollars, or in my case, one dollar.”
- “The soundtrack and sound effects are alright too.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky, tongue-in-cheek style, reminiscent of retro arcade classics, blending absurdity with melodrama in a playful take on police and mafia narratives. Players appreciate the funny writing, catchy music, and humorous character art, which together create a lighthearted atmosphere despite the serious themes. Overall, the game successfully balances its comedic elements with engaging gameplay, making it a fun experience filled with amusing references and unexpected moments.
- “It feels like a lost Neo Geo cabinet, one that somehow resurfaced decades later with its quirky humor and pixelated intensity intact.”
- “These stories aren’t emotionally heavy or philosophically layered—they’re intentionally pulpy, humorous, and melodramatic, acknowledging the playful absurdity of a world where cops and criminals settle disputes through stylized one-on-one brawls.”
- “The character art is hilarious and the overall art style is pleasing to the eye.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Overall, the game offers a mix of high replayability through individual character stories, alternate endings, and various modes, particularly survival mode. While many players find the arcade and story modes enjoyable and worth the price, some feel it lacks the depth of replayability that others might expect. Nonetheless, the combination of fun gameplay and unlockable extras contributes to a decent replay value.
- “Individual character stories and alternate endings, encouraging replayability.”
- “Every character was fun to play with, and the arcade and story modes add a lot more replay value for the price of admission.”
- “However, although the game is enjoyable, it just doesn't have the replayability that most people look for in video games.”
- “It's quite good fun for a whole dollar, especially with all the replayability survival mode has to offer.”
- “Every character was fun to play with, but the arcade and story modes don't add enough replay value for the price of admission.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a stylized depiction of urban decay, blending nostalgic pixel art with a gritty, cyberpunk aesthetic that enhances the detective and puzzle elements. Players appreciate the detailed yet clear visuals during combat, complemented by an impressive soundtrack that enriches the overall experience.
- “Love the detective atmosphere and puzzle elements.”
- “It’s a stylized version of urban decay, rendered with enough detail to communicate atmosphere without sacrificing clarity during combat.”
- “Verdict Guilty - 유죄 평결 is a love letter to 16-bit era fighting games, featuring nostalgic pixel art, accessible mechanics, and a gritty urban atmosphere.”
- “Playing in Neo Seoul, the game has a cyberpunk atmosphere to it (especially with the blue filter, making the whole package very stylish).”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding the character designs to be generic or silly, while others appreciate the interesting designs and special attacks. Overall, the background art enhances the active feel of the game, contributing positively to the character experience.
- “Character designs are a bit silly but overall fitting of the concept. The background art fills the scene nicely and has some movement to it, so the game feels active and not just slapped together.”
- “Pros: interesting character designs and special attacks.”
- “One of the things I'm not impressed with is the character designs.”
- “Incredibly generic character design.”
- “Character designs are a bit silly but overall fitting of the concept.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game "Verdict Guilty" is praised for its lightweight design, allowing it to run smoothly on older and low-spec machines. However, some users note that the combo mechanics are not well-optimized.
- “Verdict Guilty is incredibly lightweight and runs smoothly even on older or low-spec machines.”
- “⚙️ Performance and accessibility are top-notch, making the game enjoyable for a wide range of players.”
- “The performance and accessibility of the game are severely lacking.”
- “The combos are not optimized, making gameplay feel clunky and frustrating.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with character sprites and animations working seamlessly together. However, some users have reported occasional glitches during training mode, such as issues with accessing the movelist, which can disrupt the experience.
- “The character sprites fit very well with the animations, showing no glitches. They are detailed enough without being over-the-top.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major bugs, providing a stable experience throughout.”
- “I appreciate how the frame rate remains consistent, even during intense action sequences, ensuring a seamless gameplay experience.”
- “Weird glitches in training where pressing start won't bring up the movelist, but will send you back to character selection.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of humor and melodrama, with stories that range from absurdly lighthearted to deeply poignant. Each character's journey offers a unique emotional experience, from the ridiculous to the heartbreaking, highlighting the playful yet serious nature of their conflicts.
- “It's unique for each character, going from ridiculous (Minso is trying to find her dog) to heartbreaking (Jae confronts his yakuza brother about the fate of their father).”
- “These stories aren’t emotionally heavy or philosophically layered—they’re intentionally pulpy, humorous, and melodramatic, acknowledging the playful absurdity of a world where cops and criminals settle disputes through stylized one-on-one brawls.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, especially when playing solo, as it can feel repetitive and less enjoyable without friends to share the experience.
- “Since my friends are not that into these sorts of games like me, I find it tedious to play this alone.”