Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Burning Fight delivers a classic side-scrolling beat ’em up experience that will feel instantly familiar to fans of Final Fight and other early ’90s arcade hits. You choose between three distinct characters—Duke, Billy, and Ryu—each with their own strengths in speed, range, and special moves. The controls are straightforward: light attacks, heavy attacks, throws, and a taunt button that can briefly stun weaker enemies, but timing and positioning remain key when facing multiple opponents.

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The pacing of the game keeps the adrenaline high. Enemies come at you in waves, and the neon-lit streets of Osaka are populated by thugs wielding knives, martial artists, and motorcycle-riding punks. As you progress, you’ll smash phone booths, tear down street signs, and break vending machines to find pipes, knives, and even machine guns. These pickups not only diversify combat—transforming a bare-knuckle brawl into a weapon-fueled frenzy—but also serve as a vital health-restoration mechanic.

Boss battles punctuate each stage, offering tougher challenges that demand pattern recognition and strategic dodging. Whether you’re taking on the brutish Heiwa-gumi enforcer with a giant hammer or a swift ninja boss who disappears and reappears behind you, each clash feels like a test of skill. A two-player cooperative mode adds another layer of fun, encouraging teamwork to juggle enemies and set up combo attacks that you simply can’t pull off solo.

Graphics

Burning Fight’s visuals capture the gritty atmosphere of early ’90s arcade streets. The neon signs and graffiti-covered walls of Osaka glow against darker backdrops, creating a vibrant yet menacing urban environment. Character sprites are large and animated with enough frames to convey impactful punches and kicks, while background animations—like flickering streetlamps and passing cars—give the stages a sense of life.

The color palette is rich without being garish, leaning into blues, purples, and reds to emphasize the game’s gritty underworld vibe. Enemies are easy to distinguish at a glance thanks to distinctive outfits and color schemes, which helps prevent confusion during crowded encounters. Occasional cinematic touches, such as zoom-ins on mid-boss defeats, heighten the drama.

While the resolution and pixel density reflect its arcade heritage, there’s still a surprising level of detail in environmental objects you can interact with. Breaking a newspaper stand reveals comic-strip panels underneath, and shattering a crate sends wooden shards flying in all directions. These small touches reinforce the sense of destruction that defines the game’s combat.

Story

The narrative of Burning Fight is simple but effective: the Castella family, allied with the violent Heiwa-gumi gang, has turned Osaka into a blood-soaked battleground. To restore order, Metro City police dispatch two of their best detectives—Duke and Billy—to Japan, where they team up with the legendary detective Ryu. From the moment you step off the plane, you know you’re heading straight into the heart of enemy territory.

Story beats occur between stages in short, stylized cutscenes that set up the next location or introduce the upcoming boss. These interludes don’t linger; they provide just enough context to keep the plot moving without interrupting the action. You feel the urgency of the mission, especially as the Heiwa-gumi’s brutality escalates with every defeated lieutenant.

Though the plot doesn’t break new ground, it serves its purpose: giving each level a reason to exist and motivating players to push forward. The camaraderie among Duke, Billy, and Ryu shines through in their in-game banter, reinforcing the sense that this is a true team effort against a ruthless criminal empire.

Overall Experience

Burning Fight offers a nostalgic trip for enthusiasts of classic arcade beat ’em ups while standing on its own merits with fast-paced combat and memorable set pieces. Its difficulty curve is steady, with early stages serving as a warm-up and later levels featuring relentless enemy spawns that test your mastery of moves and weapon usage. Continue systems in home versions make it more approachable, but an authentic run without continues remains a satisfying feat.

The cooperative mode is where the game truly shines: coordinating takedowns, sharing weapons, and watching the screen fill with flying fists creates a manic energy that’s best enjoyed with a friend. Even in single-player, the varied move sets and environmental weapons keep the experience fresh across the game’s five stages, from Osaka’s back alleys to the neon-drenched dance halls.

Whether you’re chasing high scores in an arcade cabinet or revisiting the genre on modern hardware, Burning Fight delivers solid replay value, charming pixel art, and tight, responsive controls. It may not revolutionize street-fighting games, but it refines the formula and provides an engaging romp through a crime-ridden metropolis under the neon glow. For those seeking a no-nonsense, action-packed brawler, Burning Fight is an essential pick.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10