Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Gekido: Urban Fighters delivers a classic 3D beat-’em-up experience that feels both nostalgic and fresh. You choose from four distinct fighters—Travis the policeman, Michelle the military operative, Ushi the martial arts master, or Tetsuo the schoolboy—each boasting unique speed, strength, and special movesets. From the opening stage, the controls respond crisply, allowing you to chain together acrobatics, jumps, kicks, and punches in satisfying combos that evolve as you progress through the game’s various districts.

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The level design is packed with environmental props and weapons—everything from pipes to trash can lids—to keep combat varied. Grabbing a weapon not only changes your attack animations but also introduces strategic depth: some weapons have longer reach, while others deal more damage but break after a few hits. The occasional hidden item or branching path encourages exploration, rewarding thorough players with health pickups and combo-boosting power-ups.

A standout feature is the short rage boost meter that builds as you land hits. Activating it temporarily amps up your damage output and unlocks flashy finishing moves, turning regular skirmishes into visceral brawls. Beyond the main story missions, the arena mode offers a survival-style challenge, testing how long you can last against waves of enemies. And for those seeking social fun, the four-player co-operative multitap option remains a high point, turning every street brawl into a memorable party session.

Graphics

Graphics in Gekido: Urban Fighters reflect the 5th-generation console era with chunky 3D character models and pre-rendered backgrounds. While polygon counts are modest by modern standards, the game’s vibrant color palette and detailed textures give each urban environment its own distinct personality—whether you’re fighting on a graffiti-covered rooftop or in a grimy subway station. The characters pop against the backdrops, making it easy to track the action even in crowded skirmishes.

Character animations feel fluid for their time, especially the acrobatic flips and martial arts flourishes of Ushi and Tetsuo. Enemy varieties are visually distinct too, from hoodlums wielding pipes to cybernetic foes that hint at the game’s sci-fi virus narrative. Occasional slowdown can occur when multiple effects hit the screen, but it’s never enough to disrupt the flow of combat.

Notably, Marvel comic book artist Joe Mad lent his design talents to the game, and his influence shines through in the character portraits and promotional art. The splash screens and cut-ins boast a comic-book flair that complements the gritty, urban aesthetic. Together with bold color choices and dynamic camera angles during special moves, Gekido’s graphics strike a satisfying balance between retro charm and polished presentation.

Story

Set in a near-future metropolis, Gekido’s narrative revolves around an antivirus program that has achieved sentience and gone rogue. As the city descends into chaos under the control of this digital menace, you embark on a mission to track down the hackers responsible and neutralize the virus before it can wreak irreversible damage. The premise effectively grounds the game’s frantic combat in a sci-fi thriller motif.

Each of the four playable characters brings their own backstory and motivations, revealed through brief dialogue exchanges and mission intros. Travis’s law-and-order zeal contrasts nicely with Michelle’s tactical military mindset, while Ushi’s disciplined martial arts philosophy and Tetsuo’s underdog determination add personality to cutscenes. Though the plot rarely veers into deep storytelling territory, the pacing is brisk and the stakes feel high enough to keep you engaged between bouts of button-mashing.

Boss encounters serve as narrative milestones, weaving in hints about the virus’s evolving capabilities and the shadowy figures pulling the strings. While dialogue is sparse and lacks voice acting, the visual storytelling—character expressions, dynamic camera angles, and stage transitions—carries much of the weight. Overall, the story succeeds in providing just enough context to make each fight feel meaningful.

Overall Experience

Playing Gekido: Urban Fighters today feels like uncovering a hidden gem from the 5th generation of consoles. The game strikes a satisfying balance between straightforward beat-’em-up mechanics and progressive depth via combo unlocks, rage boosts, and weapon-based strategies. The co-op multitap mode remains the crown jewel, turning every level into a shared adventure with friends.

The soundtrack, featuring contributions from Fatboy Slim and Apartment 26, injects an energetic pulse into the proceedings. Thumping electronic rhythms and rock-infused tracks underscore the on-screen chaos, making every punch, kick, and special move feel like part of a larger cinematic moment. Even outside of combat, the score does a solid job of reinforcing the urban atmosphere.

While the graphics and camera system show their age at times, the core gameplay loop is compelling enough to forgive occasional technical shortcomings. Gekido: Urban Fighters stands as a testament to creative design in the beat-’em-up genre—a game that blends arcade-style action with meaty progression systems and memorable co-op mayhem. For buyers seeking a throwback brawler with modern twists and ample replayability, this title remains a worthy contender.

Retro Replay Score

6.8/10