You may have played other arcade compilations before, but never quite like Final Fight: Double Impact.
Both Final Fight and Magic Sword are represented accurately from their original source in spite of their aged graphics, and play exactly as you'd expect them to. But unlike other compilations that have showcased these games, there's an interesting new way to experience the titles. The screen can be adjusted to retrofit within the virtual arcade cabinet, and that includes the bezels with the horribly misrepresented comic-style artwork (stains and all). In essence, the developers have made every effort in replicating the feeling of quite literally being in front of the arcade machine--minus the loose joysticks, cheesy 80's music blaring in the background and the throats of screaming kids and quarter-crunching arcade-o-philes. (That includes me.) The results are nothing short of remarkable. Of course, if for some reason you don't want to play in that manner, the option for traditional widescreen and aspect ratios are available from the menu screen. The music for both games have undergone the remix treatment courtesy of the team behind Bionic Commando Rearmed, and it sounds really good, but if you prefer the original soundtrack, that option is at your fingertips.
Final Fight and Magic Sword are arguably two of Capcom's most valued arcade gems, and now for the first time ever, you have the opportunity to snag some achievements when playing them. Not just the traditional spoils for your Gamertag, mind you, but also in-game bonuses that unlock artwork ranging from conceptual drawings, samplings from Udon's Final Fight/Street Fighter comic books, fan art, and character studies. Many of these achievements can be earned during your first playthrough, but that doesn't make them any less challenging. As expected, these incentives are a great boost in the replayability department and, even if not for the bonuses and achievements you can earn, who among you wouldn't want to play Final Fight more than once?
The multiplayer for Double Impact is typically handled in two ways---locally and online through XBox Live. Just as it was back in the good old days, you have the option of having people join in your game at a moment's notice. Likewise, you can do the same by joining a game in progress, making it easier to find match-ups for cooperative sessions. This was typical back in the golden era of arcade parlors---whether you liked it or not, somebody would have taken the same interest in that cabinet you'd be pumping quarters into and play right alongside with you. (If you had been playing Street Fighter, the other guy might not have been your friend.) Of course, I am an advocate for cooperative play amongst friends and potential suitors, so the join-in feature for Double Impact is a nice addition especially if they'd like to make new friends (or enemies), or simply don't mind getting help from strangers. This is not the only methods of multiplayer as the traditional means of setting up matches is also available.
There have been many arcade compilation packages, but few, if any, are quite like this one. The games as they are will illicit the nostalgic feeling of the good old days, but the virtual arcade cabinets that you get to play them in will really drive that point home---minus the contrivances of busted buttons and the smell of stale butter popcorn. This is an wonderfully produced and competent package--one that fans of the original games will undoubtedly enjoy and, even if they already own previous compilations, they'll want to play for the achievements and unlockable content, which in itself is reason enough to dive in. For everybody else that never got the chance to play Final Fight or Magic Sword in the arcades or in subsequent re-releases, you can do no wrong with Final Fight: Double Impact.