Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

By Fair Means or Foul delivers a nuanced boxing simulation on the ST and Amiga platforms, offering a full arsenal of jabs, uppercuts, and weaves. The controls feel responsive, allowing you to string together combinations with precision timing. Whether you’re dodging a haymaker or unloading a flurry of punches, each move carries weight, and mastering the timing window is key to dominating the ring.

The game faithfully adheres to realistic WBA rules, meaning low blows, rabbit punches, and elbows are automatically penalized. You’ll need to think like a pro boxer—managing stamina, gauging distance, and choosing when to defend or go on the offensive. Progression comes from climbing the rankings through successive victories, culminating in a title shot that tests every skill you’ve honed.

One of the most immersive touches is the dynamic crowd feedback. Spectators alternate between cheers and jeers, and their comments pop up in speech bubbles around the ring. These bite-size taunts not only add character but also influence the atmosphere—feeling the crowd’s energy makes each fight more engaging and unpredictable.

The 8-bit version takes a cheekier approach, introducing illegal moves such as kicks and groin punches. A vigilant referee patrols the action, so timing is everything: wait for him to look away, then land your dirty tactic. Fights can go up to 15 rounds, but a knockout only ends the current round, sending you straight into the next. This twist injects a rogue’s gallery of risk and reward that’s both hilarious and challenging.

Graphics

On the ST and Amiga, By Fair Means or Foul boasts detailed character sprites that flex and recoil with realistic animations. Boxer silhouettes exhibit convincing physiques, and sweat droplets or flash frames on heavy hits help convey the impact of each blow. The boxing ring itself is rendered with crisp ropes and a subtly textured canvas, grounding you in a believable arena.

The crowd is lively and colorful, with dozens of small figures chanting and reacting in real time. Speech bubbles animate neatly above the audience, ensuring you never miss the callouts. Background elements—scoreboards, camera operators, and ring-side lights—add depth without drawing focus from the fighters.

Sound effects reinforce the visuals: gloves thud, bells ring at round intervals, and the referee’s whistle cuts through the crowd noise. The soundtrack is sparing but effective, switching between tense loops during close rounds and triumphant tunes when you secure victory.

Conversely, the 8-bit edition embraces a retro aesthetic, trading detail for charm. Pixelated boxers still animate fluidly, and the crowd is represented by simple yet expressive sprites. Illegal moves like kicks introduce extra frames of animation—complete with exaggerated reactions—making the 8-bit version feel fresh and mischievous despite hardware limits.

Story

While By Fair Means or Foul doesn’t weave a traditional narrative cutscene, it offers a career progression that feels like a boxer’s life story. Starting as an underdog in local matches, you fight your way through tougher opponents, each bout bringing new challenges and rival personalities. The sense of growth is palpable, from sweaty local gymnasiums to vast stadium arenas.

Rival boxers have distinct fighting styles, forcing you to adapt your strategy: some wear you down with jabs, others unload powerful crosses, and a few even attempt to goad you with taunts in their own speech bubbles. This variety creates a meta-story of overcoming obstacles, climactic showdowns, and the ultimate championship fight where stakes couldn’t be higher.

The game’s text snippets between matches—brief trainer advice, taunts from promoters, and occasional news blurbs—help flesh out your journey. They may be short, but they give context: your next opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, what’s at stake, and when a title shot is within reach.

In the 8-bit version, the storyline takes a more lighthearted twist. Incorporating kick-based tactics and groin shots, it almost reads like a rogue boxer’s memoire, where bending the rules is part of earning respect (and notoriety). That playful spin on the career arc provides a narrative of a scrappy fighter willing to do whatever it takes.

Overall Experience

By Fair Means or Foul succeeds in delivering two distinct flavors of boxing entertainment in one package. The ST and Amiga edition offers a serious, rules-driven simulation that rewards skillful play and strategic thinking. Its immersive crowd interactions and faithful WBA structure place you firmly in the fighter’s corner, making each match feel like a high-stakes showdown.

On the flip side, the 8-bit version turns the genre on its head by embracing rule-breaking fun. Dodging the referee’s gaze to land a cheap shot becomes a thrilling gamble, and the extended 15-round format—with round-by-round knockouts—keeps the adrenaline pumping throughout.

Whether you prefer a realistic boxing career or a mischievous underdog tale, this title caters to both tastes, and the difference in mechanics between versions guarantees replayability. You might stick with the polished amped-up fights of the ST/Amiga or go back to the 8-bit arena for a wild, law-bending brawl.

For fans of boxing simulations and retro action alike, By Fair Means or Foul stands out as a versatile and entertaining experience. It may lack a Hollywood-style storyline, but its depth of gameplay, lively presentation, and dual-version novelty make it a memorable ringmaster’s choice for any gaming collection.

Retro Replay Score

5.1/10