Mega Man 10 wasn’t the only hot retro game that Capcom had on display at CES 2010. Final Fight: Double Impact, the upcoming downloadable twin pack featuring the arcade version of Final Fight and the massively underrated Magic Sword, was also available for play within the company’s spacious Planet Hollywood suite.
We’ve already discussed some of the game’s finer points in our interview with Robby Zinchak (associate producer, Final Fight: Double Impact), but we’re focusing on the Final Fight experience in this mini-collection, as well as Magic Sword. The early verdict? Retro gamers have much to look forward to this April.
Magic Sword was the first game that Capcom community manager Joveth Gonzlez booted up, and it instantly brought back memories of yesteryear to both myself and Terry Lewis (editor-in-chief, The Other View) as we guided our fighters through waves of fantasy enemies. Magic Sword, for those not in the know, is a beat ‘em up with RPG elements, that could be seen as the forefather of Dungeon Fighter Online.
The main difference, and one of the reasons that the title is so fondly remembered, is the ally system, which allows you to recruit different CPU-controlled characters to assist in the action. We totally marked out when Terry’s warrior obtained a ninja ally that hurled enemy-vanquishing throwing stars. The graphics and sound were just as we remembered from the ’80s, but with the shine of Capcom’s proprietary graphics-enhancing engine (you can also switch back to the original mode). I was impressed that you can have arcade banner art surrounding the “monitor” area, which beautifully replicates the quarter-popping experience.
Final Fight was simply glorious. As a long-time series fanatic, it was incredibly awesome to finally get my hands on a port that was just as good (if not better) than the arcade. The brawler played just as I remembered, with lots of hard-hitting urban action, and crisp and colorful visuals.
Both games feature multiplayer options powered by “GGPO” network technology, which creates a frame-accurate arcade experience across the internet (with voice chat and the ability to join games in progress), and an open invite system that lets other fighters jump right in and begin cracking skulls. Leader boards and unlockables look to extend gameplay.
After my time with the game, I can safely state that Final Fight: Double Impact is coming together nicely and may be one of the more interesting 2010 releases for retro gaming fans, or youn’uns lookin to take a dip into one of the defining beat ‘em ups.
