Final Fight didn't invent the beat 'em up genre when it hit arcades in 1989, but it set a new standard that many other games would adopt: larger-than-life characters, a crime-ridden urban jungle that needed saving, and skull-cracking gameplay. Although Final Fight spawned a handful of sequels, it lied dormant since the universally panned Final Fight: Streetwise in 2006. Sure, heroes and villains from the series have popped up from time to time in other Capcom franchises like Marvel vs. Capcom and Saturday Night Slam Masters, but it's the central role the Final Fight universe plays in Street Fighter 6 that makes it prime time for the characters to return in their own title. We present three reasons why Final Fight is poised to make a grand comeback.
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Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode has several tributes to former Mayor Mike Haggar, a Final Fight protagonist.1. Metro City Is World Tour Mode's Heart and Soul
In essence, Street Fighter 6's World Tour, a Yakuza-like mode where you vanquish thugs in a semi-open-world environment, is a love letter to the dormant series. It takes you across the globe as your created character seeks strength and enlightenment, but its main hub is Final Fight's spin on the Big Apple: Metro City. It's a town of glimmering skyscrapers, riverside views, gangs, and a general populace that loves hand-to-hand combat. In your time there, you'll learn how to play Street Fighter (via fights and taking on odd jobs that teach you command inputs), take on sidequests offered by familiar and unfamiliar faces, and go on an adventure that connects Metro City with other parts of the globe.
You'll also encounter Mad Gear, the gang that terrorized Metro City until Mayor Mike Haggar and his crew took to the streets in the original Final Fight; Carlos Miyamoto, the sword-toting hero from Final Fight 2; Thrasher Damnd, a boss character from the OG Final Fight; and several other characters and references if you take a break from the rumbles and study the environment. Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode is a fun reintroduction to Final Fight's characters and settings that elevates them to heights that they haven't experienced in a long time.
Mad Gear leader Thrasher Damnd plays an important role in Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode.2. SF6 Embraces the Beat 'Em Up Renaissance
Final Fight isn't the only beat 'em up in gamers' thoughts. The last half-decade saw the genre return in a strong way, after years of existing on gaming's fringes. River City Girls, Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, and Treachery in Beatdown City brought the genre back in a varied and exciting manner. The titles no longer lean into their quarter-munching roots; they give you the tools that facilitate rich combat, strategy, and fighting game-like elements. They're so much more fun than their predecessors, priced to move (typically under $40), and typically feature online multiplayer to let you remotely play with homies.
Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode is a fun reintroduction to Final Fight's characters and settings that elevates them to heights that they haven't experienced in a long time.Capcom dabbled in the resurgence with the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle, which included seven popular and obscure brawlers. One of the headlining titles? None other than Final Fight. In fact, Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode has sections (particularly the subway rides!) where you guide your created character into battle against multiple foes at once. They play less like traditional Street Fighter battles, and more like a wild beat 'em up with fighting game aspects.
World Tour is packed with Final Fight references, including this poster for former jailbird, Mayor Cody Travers.3. SF6 Was Part of the Infamous Capcom Leak
In late 2020, Capcom suffered a data breach that revealed the company's roadmap for 2021 to 2024. The leak made its way online and proved worthy of our attention. Except for the dates, several mentioned titles were eventually released or unveiled: We got the excellent Resident Evil 4 remake, a much-anticipated Dragon's Dogma 2 announcement, and the game-changing masterpiece that is Street Fighter 6. This lends some credence that the leaked information has merit.
Among the many leaked titles was a mention of "Final Fight Remake," set for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. Now, this could very well be shenanigans, but considering how beat 'em ups have returned to much acclaim and how Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode dives deep into the Final Fight world, it could be that a long-awaited new series entry is in the works at Capcom.
The Fight Isn't Final
It's been almost 20 years since the last Final Fight release, and the time is right for the series to return. Nothing is confirmed, however. The video game industry is highly secretive, with surprise announcements at trade shows such as PlayStation Showcase, Summer Game Fest, and Xbox Games Showcase being the norm, but we can still hope and speculate. So while we may have to keep waiting for the Final Fight series to continue, our fingers are crossed that it won't be too long.
For more, check out the best beat 'em up games and the best fighting games. Eager to see the new titles on the horizon? Visit The Best Video Games Coming Out in 2023. And don't forget to visit PCMag's Pop-Off YouTube channel.