Big Action Mega Fight! Review

Big Action Mega Fight! harkens back to the days when scrolling beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage and Final Fight used to rule the roost. These were the times when story and classy graphics were less important than simply brawling one's way through a series of enemies in order to rescue someone at the end of it. Thanks to that, Big Action Mega Fight! might seem quite simplistic to some players, but those who remember such titles will appreciate the nostalgic air it brings.

Over 25 stages are available in all, each pitting the player against a series of increasingly challenging opponents. Like the games it's paying homage to, each level is divided up into a series of waves of enemies with the player moving from screen to screen to reach the next one. Not a lot else other than beating them up needs to be considered here, with some well-designed touch controls initiating the action.

A swipe to the left or right initiates a simple punch, while a swipe upwards invokes an uppercut. Special moves can be activated with a two finger swipe, while drawing a small circle causes the player to throw the nearest enemy. Dodging is a matter of double tapping in order to move quickly. At times, it's possible to mistap and confuse a punch with an uppercut, but it's mostly quite an effective system.

Big Action Mega Fight! uses two types of currency in order to unlock more content. Gold teeth are used as the credits here, allowing players to restart once they're defeated. They're also used to buy temporary bonuses such as damage boosts and coin magnets. Coins are used to buy permanent upgrades such as increased damage and more health. Plenty of in-app purchases are available to circumvent all of this but they're not essential to progress. Timers unlock coins so waiting things out works just as well, and the game doesn't feel too much like one that implements a typical energy system.

Longevity mostly stems from one's enjoyment of an old fashioned genre. As someone who was around the first time I enjoyed such nostalgia, but I appreciate that it is pretty simplistic. Still, there's no denying the primal charm that comes from a scrolling beat-em-up, and Big Action Mega Fight! achieves this with aplomb.