Final Fight CD
Release year - USA:1993
Company: Sega
System: segacd
Genre: Beat 'em up
Players: 1-2

Review by: PrimeOp


In the same year that SNES owners got Final Fight 2, Sega CD owners were treated to the best home version of Final Fight available until the Capcom Classic Collection release. Even in a world with multiple ways to play an arcade-perfect version of the game, this lovingly made port still has enough noteworthy extras that keep this game from being obsolete.

A criminal organization known as Mad Gear controlled Metro City for years through the muscle of it's thugs and the manuevers of it's bribed politicians and officials. That was until ex-wrestler Mike Haggar became the mayor and waged a war against city corruption. In a plan to stop Haggar's crusade, Mad Gear kidnaps his daughter Jessica. Instead of submitting to the gang, he gets his friends Cody and Guy to team with him for a rescue attempt. Granted, you probably knew all of that. But what few people expected was that the best versions of Capcom's Final Fight would be programmed by Sega. This Sega CD port has nearly everything missing from the SNES versions are here: All 3 heroes are playable, the Industrial Area and it's boss Rolento, along with Poison and Roxy. Of course, the usual boss names have been changed to protect the innocent and the bad girls traded their Daisy Dukian ensembles for slightly more modest wardrobe, but the main point is that this was the most complete Final Fight on the many years.
That's right: two simultaneous players and all three heroes. Sega CD does what SuperNintendidn't!


Here's the fun 'Time Attack' mode where you have to fight off waves of Mad Gear cronies. You fight against them as well as the clock to see how many you can defeat. A very cool extra mode that should've been in later Final Fights!
Now let's get into the extras. The first thing you'll notice is the enhanced intro scene that includes some new graphics and enhancements of the old arcade parts. A special version of the ending is waiting for you if you beat the game, too. You'll also be treated to nice remixes of all the Final Fight tunes. You'll also have to put up with some spots of bad voice acting. Just try to ignore all that. As a nice bonus, there's a new mode called 'Time Attack' where you try to beat down as many Mad Gear members as possible before the clock runs down or you run out of lives. Each character has their own new background to brawl in. One thing that some will complain about is the dithering. The Genesis just doesn't have the palette to do Final Fight justice without dithering effect to make up for the loss of colors. Since this game was made before emulators and TV screens sharp enough to count grains of sand, this wasn't much of an issue back in the day. That, the small bits of editing and the slight sprite flickering are the only flaws in a great overall package. Not as extensive as the overhaul Sega gave Capcom's 'Mercs' but still more than even Capcom did until Final Fight One for the GBA.

This was the most complete version of Final Fight until the Capcom Classics Collection, but the game still has enough extras to deserve a place in a beat 'em up fan's collection. The new music, cutscenes and Time Attack Mode add to a version of Final Fight with nothing missing.

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