Sega fans got one of the best releases of the 16-bit era with Final Fight CD. Its amazing presentation and brilliantly-arranged soundtrack were the icing on the cake for a game with two-player capability, all the arcade stages, and an exclusive Time Attack mode. Later versions, like Final Fight One on Game Boy Advance, may have been more complete and had more features, but there was just something special about that CD port that Sega CD owners love.
Well, it appears that the Genesis has stood up and said, “Hold my controller.” A new version of Final Fight is coming to the base console with everything the CD port has and more – much more. It’s being ported by Brazilian developer MXRetroDev, the same talented group that’s working on the racing game Driftin Rage. I’m not sure if the team are aiming for an arcade-perfect port; but it’s clear that it wants to make Final Fight MD the most fun and feature-rich version of Capcom’s classic arcade brawler anywhere. Throughout development, MXRetroDev has listened to user feedback and periodically gone back to refine things, including redoing hitboxes and algorithms to make enemy behavior closer to that of the arcade. From what we’ve seen and played, it looks like they’re going to meet their goal and more.
Final Fight MD is built from the ground up and brings back many features missing from earlier console versions. These include all three original fighters, cooperative three-player (!) gameplay, and every stage from the arcade release. MXRetroDev has also added new options, such as allowing both players to choose the same character, including Maki from Final Fight 2. Not content to stop there, the team is considering possible future content inspired by Final Fight 3, as well as making the game compatible with the Sega CD soundtrack.
The game includes several helpful upgrades that we would have killed for back in 1993. It has three save slots that automatically record progress at the end of each stage. There is also a detailed achievement system with 60 unlockables tied to a “Mega Mode.” This mode offers cosmetic customization and lets players adjust character colors using simple directional inputs. A new “1 Player+” mode (accessed by pressing right on the D-pad at the menu screen) boosts performance by using more system memory, which allows for smoother gameplay and up to seven enemies on screen with little slowdown. This mode doesn’t let a second player join and can reportedly add up to seven enemies onscreen at once with no loss in performance.
As I stated earlier, Final Fight MD supports three-player gameplay. It’s compatible with accessories like the Sega Team Player or EA’s 4-Way adapter. Depending on performance settings and available video memory, players can select either 30 or 60 frames-per-second (FPS) modes, with higher framerates are recommended for overclocked hardware or emulators. While some visual improvements are still underway, the project is already impressive with its technical ambition and fidelity to the arcade original. I can safely say that it surpasses the Sega CD versions in scope and quality in every aspect except for sound, for obvious reasons. Not that Final Fight MD doesn’t sound good; it does. It’s just that MXRetroDev hasn’t finished polishing this port yet, and the sound may likely improve. I doubt it will reach CD quality, but it should be great for a cartridge version.
I want to go into a bit more depth about those 60 unlockable achievements I mentioned. The achievements will progressively unlock new features and gameplay modifiers through the “Mega Mode” menu. Players will be able to turn on or modify different power-ups and challenges to customize their experience as they achieve more. The early rewards are all gameplay and cosmetic changes, such as changing boss themes from Final Fight 2 or 3, enabling air combos, or adding instant knockout punches. Other unlocks will include new modes, such as a boss rush mode and bonus stage challenges. They will also include gameplay modifiers such as changing food item rates, modifying weapon availability, and randomizing enemy appearances.
After the 30-achievement milestone is reached, harder challenges with a higher level of difficulty and new mechanics become available. Players can unlock a “Nightmare” level of difficulty, stage select, and special modes like Vampire Mode, Lunar Gravity, One Punch Man, and God Mode. These end-game modes significantly modify gameplay balance or physics, adding more replay value for experienced players; however, the moment any of these special modes is activated, progress towards new attainments is halted to preserve the challenge.
Xavier was hoping to make this version of Final Fight a legitimate one, but Capcom hasn’t opined one way or the other. Without an official license, it’s doubtful that anyone can give it a true physical release, as Retro-Bit did in 2021 with Mega Man: The Wily Wars. I’m sure such a launch would sell out quite quickly, but it doesn’t appear likely to happen. Xavier appeared frustrated with the multiple instances where publishers reportedly made it seem like they could obtain a license, only to back out in the end. “I have held back the development of the game countless times at the request of supposed publishers and distributors,” He commented on his Patreon page. “I can no longer stand being stuck and unable to move forward with other projects definitively because of this pending promise to deliver a game that I promised.” Xavier has vowed to continue development now at his own pace and to his own satisfaction. Given the man’s track record, I don’t think he’ll disappoint.
Patreons to Xavier’s page can download and play the latest version of the game, and he’s very consistent with updates. If you just want to try it out, it’s available now for free! We can’t recommend this one enough. If you’re a fan of Final Fight and you have a Genesis, there’s nothing else to be said. Get it and take down the Mad Gear gang like never before.
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