One of the best fighting games Capcom ever made was Pocket Fighter, a chibi-style parody crossover of the company’s well-known fighting games with a simplified control scheme. The gameplay was incredibly fun and fast-paced, and yet there was no fighting game sequel ever made. A spiritual sequel was something fans also wanted someone to make and now that prayer has been answered.
FightNJokes is a throwback to the classic ‘90s arcade fighting games from Capcom, Sunsoft and more, while being a welcome parody of them. The game uses two-button controls that are easy to learn but are difficult to master, which is ideal for fighting games. There is a training mode, a vs mode, and an arcade mode complete with endings, secret characters and more, and will give a real challenge to players.
FightNJokes will be receiving an update soon that will bring GGPO Rollback netcode, along with a number of other improvements and changes. Still, the game is fun as it is, with a fantastic art style that perfectly captures the look of a ‘90s arcade game and addictive gameplay. This may be a parody fighting game, but far from being a shallow experience, the gameplay is deep and fulfilling.
The roster is full of character parodies, such as takes on Street Fighter, Ghosts ‘n Goblins and even Star Wars, and yet nothing feels over the top outlandish. While playing the game, be prepared to spend time studying and learning it, because it is deceptive in how much there is to discover about the game. There are finishing moves called Dementialities and these are amazing to pull off because of how insane they are.
Each character has their own story in arcade mode, and the hidden characters are really fun to unlock and come across. The secret characters have their own stories and endings as well in addition to their own Dementialities, and it all feels just right. FightNJokes manages to capture the feeling of a classic arcade fighting game this way, and the developers must be commended for the effort they went to.
In addition to Pocket Fighter, FightNJokes also takes cues from games like Waku Waku 7, and while not taking its presentation too seriously, does treat its gameplay as a serious matter. Mental Drink, the developers of FightNJokes have been paying attention to fan comments about the game and are taking into account changes players want in order to improve the experience, which is ideal for a fighting game fan to see. This is a game that players can get into and enjoy for a long time knowing the developers are listening.
In conclusion, FightNJokes is amazing and an ideal game for all fighting game fans to try. It has proper reverence while not being overreliant on nostalgia, and has devs who truly care. The game is available on Nintendo Switch and Xbox, with PC and PlayStation versions coming soon.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided.