Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance – Review

It used to be that violent videogame vengeance was delivered within a simple 2D/3D arena. Corruption was stamped out swiftly—as were windpipes and intestines—rather than via a game-wide drawn-out narrative. Retribution was attained with blistering immediacy, and to hell with the plotlines! But as hardware power steps ever closer to realms of realism the games we play become all the more convoluted in their portrayals. Where once a character-specific rendered sequence was all we needed to convey motivation, we now play through layered stories and cloudy history as we seek pixelated payback. Bearing that in mind, is Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance a pleasant ramble down memory lane, or a cloying hike through future’s forest?

Well, it’s neither. Fists of Vengeance centers around 5 battle-hardened members of an all-powerful crime cartel known as The Zanetti Family. As the story dawns, we find the bickering team heading for the Las Sombras city docks to quash the drug deal of a rival gang. However, upon arrival, they discover the bloodied corpses of the entire gang and no sign of the drugs. To make matters worse, masses of Zanetti Family thugs soon emerge from the shadows with poorly disguised deadly intent. Recognizing that they’re pawns in a set-up, the team members abruptly split and fight their separate ways toward freedom as the betraying brethren close in. Once safely clear of the crime scene, the police, and the murderous attentions of their so-called ‘family’, the quest for knowledge, power, and vengeance can finally begin.

With the game’s premise explained, the player then adopts the persona of any single member of the now vigilante team. Each has distinctive—if somewhat clichéd—personality traits, as well as a wealth of ferocious fighting moves. To more accurately portray the female gaming angle, Gina (The Dark Rose) was chosen from the 3 guys and 2 girls in the team. Sporting a sassy, short blond hairdo, Gina—almost predictably—is initially dressed in a cleavage-friendly halterneck top, a split leather miniskirt…and stockings. Thankfully, the game’s many clothing stores soon allow for due alteration; indeed, Gina looks considerably more attractive kicking ass in ripped jeans, biker boots, and a plain white vest. Each of the 5 available team members has their own accompanying back-story, which is played out along the way to provide structure to their individual motivations. In Gina’s case, she just so happens to be the love interest of Zanetti Family bad boy Eugene, who, to her dismay, mercilessly lead the dock betrayal and seems rather keen on her demise. Confusion abounds, and answers much therefore be sought.

Feeling somewhat like a cobbled hybrid of Dead or Alive, Shenmue, and Grand Theft Auto, Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance unfolds as a free-roaming foray into gangland control, eventual revenge, and unabashed bloodletting. There’s little on show in terms of gameplay originality, indeed the game ‘borrows’ many elements from all the above titles. Yet at least it attempts to expand upon them. For example, players can escape the tottering on-screen ‘recognition gauges’ of Zanetti Family thugs and brutal cops—should they wish to—by changing their appearance. This can be achieved via established GTA routes, such as clothing and accessory stores, as well as through tattoos and hairstyles. However, check-in to a local hospital while stocking up on invaluable medicine, and the attending doctor will happily slap some plastic surgery on your willing skull. How nice.

Interaction with NPCs is reminiscent of Shenmue, but without the tedium. Hapless civilians, street thugs, and gang members can all be squeezed for information, be that via the game’s simple conversational menu or its fight-invoked negotiation system. The latter involves physically eroding an opponent’s on-screen ‘pride’ level before your character can then apply a grapple and select from the pop-up negotiations menu. This entails the attempted recruitment of said opponent (usually a scripted secondary character), the attainment of mission-relevant information, a simple mugging to gather weapons, cash, and medicine, or the delivery of a vicious ‘beat down’, which doesn’t merely defeat the opponent, but executes a fatal flurry of gory blows that robs them of life rather than info or valuables.

Once an opponent finally agrees to join your swelling ranks (sometimes further slaps of humiliation are required) and aid you across the game’s various missions they can either directly join the street-fighting quest for revenge and participate in any ensuing rumbles, or they can be kept ‘on call’ for when the extra muscle is truly needed. This gives the game a genuine sense of progressive power as your embittered character begins to gather a rival force with which to topple the Zanetti Family. Again, nothing especially innovative but certainly entertaining and enthralling in its application.

The game’s battle dynamics are well grounded in terms of multiple moves, weapon integration, arena mobility, style execution, and sheer brutality, yet the control system is often patchy, and weakened further by awkward camera movement. Standard street brawls are acceptable despite these glitches as single opponents are never too tough—though multiple pile-ups can become taxing without recruited assistance. Yet it’s the boss battles that cause the most discomfort, as specific fight moves learned throughout the game are readily abandoned in favor of frantic button mashing against a foe who’s often massively superior…and usually brandishing deadly weaponry. Luckily the game allows for instant and unlimited continues, which maintains an element of perseverance that probably wouldn’t exist otherwise. It’s certainly detrimental to the player’s defined interaction when expectant boss encounters devolve into little more than repetitious trail and error frustration.

Graphically, Fists of Vengeance lands just the right side of gritty, while the perpetual night and shadow cleverly covers any visual shortfalls. On the whole, environments are thoroughly competent if somewhat under-whelming, and character models are well crafted and appealing. Though the fight effects, blood spattered camera, and death animations don’t quite walk the gory annuls of Mortal Kombat, they still add fair amounts of cartoon realism to proceedings. Aurally, the game is decent enough, packed as it is with catchy urban, techno, and industrial music to accompany each city area and explosive battle. Fight sounds are suitably meaty; the cries of pain and defeat resonating well alongside the fleshy slicing of knives and swords, or the heavy connections of steel pipes, wooden planks, golf clubs, etc. Gamers suffering with hearing impairment can always follow the storyline in Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance thanks to the optional implementation of subtitles, which are fast becoming a standard-issue extra these days.

Capcom’s Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance is an entertaining battle jaunt of retribution with plenty of flailing action and variety, a semi-engaging multi-character narrative, and enough elements of interest and interaction to see dedicated fighter and RPG fans through to the finale. It may not tread new ground in terms of innovation, but it assimilates established highlights from various sources and reproduces them with convincing verve. Unfortunately, twitchy camera control and frenetically uncontrollable boss battles tarnish an otherwise respectable release.

Review by Stevie