9.0/10 - Final Fight: Double Impact is a re-release of arcade classics Final Fight and Magic Sword.
So, they're 100% arcade perfect ports. What makes them better than the arcade? There's the standard fare of leaderboards, unlockable comics/artwork and achievements. Then there's the fact the designers went a step further with their creativity and designed game themed back drops for the arcade cabinets to live in. A medieval them for Magic Sword and a rundown urban street for Final Fight. Also, you have a wide choice of screen options. Widescreen, Centered (to get the whole picture on a standard full screen CRT television set with a black border), Zoomed (for standared televisions minus the black border) and my personal favorite: Cabinet, which is a view from directly in front of the arcade machine. That's right, worn bezel art around the convex monitor and all! Just wish I could see hands moving the joystick and buttons! Capcom's given us plenty of in-game goals to motivate us even beyond achievements, not only for an extra challenge, but to unlock artwork and comics in the vault. Trust me, you're going to want to finish a level under 5 minutes or gain 400,000 points in a stage to see some of this amazing stuff. Both game's soundtracks have been remixed and graphics touched up for HD sets (touched up, not redrawn a la SSF2THDR) which both look and sound great, but for retro fans you can still change the options to listen to the classic beats of the arcade originals and for the pixel junkies, you can leave the graphics untouched as they were back in 1989 and 1990.
This is Capcom fan service at work again. First with Bionic Commando Rearmed, Mega Man 9 and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Capcom continues to listen to fans of their games and give them EXACTLY what we want. What a wonderful, hardworking and caring game company! It's a nicely presented package and I can't stress enough that aspect: the presentation is high caliber AAA beauty.
The title of the package Final Fight: Double Impact may be misleading. Though it's "Double Impact" this is no sequel to Final Fight. It is indeed a package of two great Capcom arcade classics. The "Double Impact" refers to two awesome heavy hitting titles. I sure hope we can see Double Impact becoming a series of Xbox Live Arcade releases with other great Capcom arcade titles packaged together. Imagine a Strider: Double Impact with Strider and Commando packaged together or Ghosts 'n Goblins: Double Impact with Ghosts 'n Goblins packaged together with Forgotten Worlds. Maybe even a Darkstalkers: Double Impact of Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors together with Legendary Wings. Let's make it happen, Capcom! If you liked Final Fight back in glory days of the arcades, are a fan of the Street Fighter universe and its characters, love beat 'em ups like Streets of Rage 2 or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, need a new medieval hack 'n slash to play, are a fan of Capcom's work or love nostalgic retro games then download this one as soon as possible!