Treachery in Beatdown City

The enemy counter mechanics and just accuracy rates in general are so miserably implemented that it completely drains any enjoyment I was having with what I thought was a decent combat system that hadn't been seen since Hybrid Heaven. There is no counterplay to setting up a normal attack string and then getting a boot to the head on the first hit and losing your resources anyway. Any of the grappling is the same but worse, they at least warn you about that part though. I could go on about smaller stuff, but none of it is as egregious as that facet of combat balance. The developers seem very passionate about what they've got here so it sucks that I just can't gel with it. I mentioned Hybrid Heaven and at the end of writing this I just realized that game had the exact same problem with grappling. Some things never change!

[Review for the Ultra Remix version of the game] This game blew my expectations out of the water. I was expecting a good game, but it turned out to be a great one! It's a beat 'em up/turn based hybrid that's easy to pick up with deceptive depth and nuance if you want to master. Your 3 playable characters fit into the Brawler, Grappler, and Specialist archetypes and are kitted out with counters, parries, dodge rolls, OTGs, and revenge meters on top of the build-a-combo mechanics that makes this game feel really special. If you're a fan of fighting game, there's a lot to appreciate! Outside of the gameplay you're treated to story that's equal parts cheesy, campy, and social commentary set to a banging chip tune soundtrack. It can be over the top and long winded at times, but it was an enjoyable ride overall! Definitely worth the purchase and playtime with the Ultra Remix DLC (which adds 2 chapters worth of story, enemies, and mechanics it's the definitive way to play!)

It's a super cool concept on paper but it's just not fun to play.

Treachery in Beatdown City takes the familiar concept of a retro street brawler and transforms it into something far more tactical than its pixel-art appearance initially suggests. Instead of relying on rapid button presses and straightforward combos, the game blends beat ’em up movement with menu-driven RPG combat, creating battles where planning is often more important than reflexes. Developed by NuChallenger and HurakanWorks and published by NuChallenger, it stands apart from conventional genre throwbacks by using nostalgia as its visual foundation while introducing a combat system with its own distinctive personality. The story begins with an intentionally outrageous political crisis. President Blake Orama has been kidnapped by ninja terrorists, while Mayor Mike Moneybags responds to the situation in a manner that only makes Beatdown City more chaotic. Suspended police chief Antonio Santiago eventually turns to his daughter Lisa and her allies Bruce and Brad to investigate the increasingly bizarre situation. What follows is a journey through neighborhoods filled with criminals, aggressive citizens, corrupt personalities, ninjas, and other eccentric opponents. The kidnapping pr…

I do have one issue with this game. Games can have political commentary. Games can even have long winded cutscenes of political commentary. Games can be satirical. My issue is that I played the tutorial and spent more time listening to political preaching instead of getting to play the game, and I don't have the patience for that.

I've played enough to form a solid opinion and have a good idea on the trajectory of this game. Originally found out about this game through Limited Run and then picked it up sale here for $2. On the surface, this seems like the type of game I would glance at for a second or buy at part of a bundle, but then never play. What caught my attention was the design for Lisa Santiago. Had it not been for her or had her design been toned down as usually is the case for these games, I probably would not have given it a chance. For the game itself... it is good enough. You move across an over world similar to a game board or Super Mario Bros 3. Each square you move usually contains an NPC to talk to, automatic save/restore point, a dumpster to search for items or an enemy. There doesn't appear to be much in the way of branching paths beyond a few optional enemies that give you items. The battles often open up with a conversation cut scene between you and the enemy. The humor here is a bit on the urban side and can personally say some of the events are true to life. When the battle starts, the game shifts to a one screen side scroll arena where you fight the enemy. Game uses an ATB t…