_{Image source}

Final Fight 2, released in 1993, is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game by Capcom for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom. This game serves as the direct follow-up to the 1989 arcade classic, Final Fight, which was also brought to the SNES previously. Unlike its predecessor, Final Fight 2 was exclusively developed by Capcom's consumer division for the SNES and didn't originate as an arcade game.

This was Capcom's dry attempt to counter the great popularity of Sega's Streets of Rage 2 during the early 1990s.

Japan only Super Famicom box cover art. (Image source)

The Story

It's a crazy situation with the Mad Gear gang! They're back, and they're even more determined to get back at us. They've got a new mysterious leader and a plan to take over the whole world. What's worse, they've kidnapped Genryusai and his daughter Rena.

Now, Haggar is on a journey across the world to find Genryusai and Rena. But he's not going alone. Carlos and Rena's sister, Maki, are joining in to help put an end to this gang once and for all. Along the way, you can find weapons like knives, nightsticks, and boards to defend yourself. And don't forget to grab some food to keep your energy up.

You can choose to play as Haggar, Carlos, or Maki, each with their own fighting style. Or, if you want even more power, grab a friend to join in, and together, you can take down any troublemakers that get in your way.

Box and cartridge of the game. (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

In the game, you'll hear various sound effects like kicks, punches, and throws, which are typical for beat 'em up games. The music in Final Fight 2 is fitting for this kind of game, mostly featuring jazz-style tunes. While the sound effects and music match the game's atmosphere, they might not be incredibly memorable.

When it comes to the visuals, the graphics are quite good and detailed, but they don't show a significant improvement over the first Final Fight game. In summary, the audio and video aspects of the game are decent and contribute to the overall experience.

https://youtu.be/haXOox99DlY?si=70rp_UupdOLOBSz6 Gameplay video sample of Final Fight 2 in 2 Player Mode. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time.

The Gameplay

Final Fight 2 is a beat 'em up game where you walk through levels and face enemies that you need to defeat using punches, kicks, weapons, and special moves to progress. It's a simple but very enjoyable concept. You can choose from three characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses: Mike Haggar (strong but not very agile), Carlos (well-rounded), and Maki (quick but not very strong).

To complete the game, you must go through six levels, each filled with minor enemies and a powerful boss at the end. Capcom improved upon the original Final Fight for SNES in several ways. They added a two-player mode, adjustable game options, more stages, a higher difficulty level, and three selectable characters (compared to two in the original SNES version).

However, due to the limitations of the Super NES's processor, only three enemies can be on screen at once, unlike the arcade version where there can be more. This occasionally causes in-game slowdowns when lots of sprites appear together. Nonetheless, the game still delivers a great gameplay experience.

Replay value is decent. You might want to play through the game with all three characters to explore their unique moves and abilities. However, aside from that, there aren't many specific reasons to replay the game other than the fact that it's enjoyable. There is a higher difficulty level and a few other interesting elements that might add some replay value. Ultimately, the game's fun factor is a significant motivation to play it again.

My Verdict

Overall, Final Fight 2 is an excellent beat-'em-up game that, while it doesn't introduce anything groundbreaking, excels at delivering a solid gaming experience. The addition of a two-player mode and improved graphics enhances the game, but it does have a few minor issues. Despite these shortcomings, it remains a great example of its genre.

Play it on the desirable Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a respectable emulator.

Let's keep on gaming in the free world!