 |
| Fighting Force Collection brings both late-1990s action games together in one preservation-focused release. |
By Jon Scarr
Fighting Force Collection brings back two late-1990s action games that carry the same name but go in very different directions. The package includes the original Fighting Force from 1997 and Fighting Force 2 from 1999, both kept close to their original form with a few quality-of-life additions to make them easier to play on current hardware.
This isn't a remake, and it is not the kind of remaster that rebuilds old games for a newer audience. It is much closer to loading up the originals again with a few modern conveniences layered on top. Save states, rewind, and display options help, but the core design, pacing, and older limitations are still here.
The first game still gives this collection most of its appeal, while the sequel doesn't hold up as well.
Fighting Force Collection Details
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch
Developer: Core Design / Implicit Conversions
Publisher: Limited Run Games
Genre: Beat 'em Up, Action
Game Modes: Single-player, Local co-op (Fighting Force)
Light Setup, Bigger Gap Between the Two Games
Neither game puts much focus on story, but they handle it in different ways.
The first Fighting Force keeps the setup simple. Dr. Zeng is the one causing the trouble, and a small group of fighters steps in to stop him. The game gives just enough setup to move from one area to the next, then gets out of the way. Streets, transit spaces, and indoor areas become the backdrop for a straight-ahead 3D brawler that never pretends to be more complicated than it is.
Fighting Force 2 takes a much heavier approach. Hawk Manson returns as the only playable character, now wrapped up in a corporate cloning plot that tries to push the series toward a more serious action-thriller direction. There is more mission framing, more narrative setup, and more effort put into making the sequel sound bigger.
The problem is that the extra story doesn't help the game. It slows things down, clashes with the action, and makes the weaker parts harder to ignore. The first game uses story as a quick setup. The sequel keeps pushing it further than the series can support.
 |
| Fighting Force 2 pushes the series toward a darker mission-based setup, with Hawk Manson moving through industrial interiors instead of open brawling spaces. |
The First Game Still Feels Better To Play
The original Fighting Force is still the better game by a wide margin. It is built around moving through open areas, clearing crowds, and using whatever is nearby to stay alive. Punches, kicks, grabs, throws, and special attacks keep the action moving, but the real hook is the environment. Pipes, guns, knives, and larger objects can all be picked up and used in the middle of a fight.
That environmental interaction gives the game most of its appeal. Weapons don't last long, so fights keep changing as enemies close in and objects break. The action is messy, but that is part of why it still works. The game is not asking you to play perfectly. It's asking for quick decisions, crowd control, and a willingness to use every cheap trick available.
Co-op also helps a lot. With a second player, the original game becomes much easier to enjoy. Crowds are easier to manage, recovery is easier when things go wrong, and the older limitations are easier to forgive when the action turns into a scramble.
It is still an old 3D beat ’em up, so there are limits. Characters can feel slow to move, button presses don't always register right away, and the camera often makes fights harder than they need to be. Even so, the core loop still holds together because the game keeps things simple and gives the player enough room to recover from mistakes.
 |
| The original Fighting Force still stands out most in open street fights where crowd control and environmental interaction drive the action. |
Fighting Force 2 Takes a Different Approach
Fighting Force 2 takes the series in a very different direction, and that shift gives it a very different feel from the first game.Instead of open spaces and crowd-based brawling, the sequel moves into tighter indoor areas and places much more focus on firearms. Hawk works through rooms and corridors one encounter at a time, with slower movement, more careful aiming, and less freedom to adjust once a fight starts to turn.
Melee attacks are still part of the experience, but they no longer sit at the centre of it. Environmental interaction also plays a smaller role here, which changes the feel of combat quite a bit compared to the first game. Co-op is absent as well, so the sequel leans more heavily on a slower single-player pace from start to finish. Without that second player element, fights can feel more controlled, but they can also feel less lively over longer stretches.
The collection makes the sequel easier to revisit by improving convenience and overall access on modern hardware. Smoother play and quicker access help on that front, even if they do not change the game’s original design. As a result, Fighting Force 2 still comes across as a very different experience from the first game, and it is likely to be the more divisive half of the collection.
A Preservation-First Visual Approach
Visually, this collection stays very close to the original games, so what you see here is unmistakably late-1990s 3D. Character models, environments, and textures all reflect the look of that era, and the collection keeps that style intact rather than trying to reshape it.
The display options help smooth the experience out a bit. CRT-style filters and scaling tweaks can soften the sharper edges, which helps the image come across a little more cleanly on bigger screens. These settings do not change the original art, but they do give you a few useful ways to tailor the presentation on modern displays.
Animation and audio are also presented much as they were. Character movement, enemy reactions, and attacks all carry that older arcade-style look, and the sound design keeps things simple with looping music, straightforward effects, and limited voice work. It all fits the kind of preservation-focused release this collection is aiming for.
Menus are clear, and the quality-of-life tools are easy to access. Save states and rewind make both games much easier to jump back into now, especially if you are coming back to them after a long time away.
 |
| Fighting Force Collection keeps the original visual style intact, from simple character models and UI elements to the unmistakable late-1990s 3D look. |
Fighting Force Collection Balances Two Very Different Games
As a package, Fighting Force Collection does a solid job of preserving both games in a way that keeps the focus on the originals. That approach works well for players who want these releases presented close to how they remember them. The bigger question is how evenly both games hold up today.The original Fighting Force still comes across as the clearer draw, especially in co-op. Its straightforward 3D brawling and environmental interaction give it a kind of scrappy appeal that still comes through. Fighting Force 2 goes in a different direction, with slower combat and tighter level layouts that will likely be less appealing depending on what you want from the collection. That difference shapes the overall experience.
If your main reason for picking this up is to revisit the original Fighting Force, there is a clear case for doing that here. If you are hoping both games will land the same way today, your mileage will likely vary more with the sequel.
Fighting Force Collection Review Summary
Liked
- The original Fighting Force still has a fun, physical beat 'em up loop
- Environmental weapons and destructible objects keep fights changing
- Local co-op gives the first game a much better flow
- Save states, rewind, and display options make both games easier to revisit
- The collection preserves these games cleanly without overcomplicating the package
Didn’t Like
- Fighting Force 2 drops much of what made the first game enjoyable
- Slower movement and heavier gunplay make the sequel harder to stick with
- Stiff animation, rough textures, and older design limits are fully intact
- The overall package is held back by one much weaker game
Overall Assessment of Fighting Force Collection
Gameplay: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.0 / 5)
Presentation: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.0 / 5)
Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0 / 5)
Story / Narrative: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2.0 / 5)
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.0 / 5)
Overall Value: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.0 / 5)
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated. Please stay respectful and on topic.