Fading Afternoon

I love beat-em-ups and have done since the 80s so when I tell you that Fading Afternoon is one of the most special beat-em-ups I have ever played, you can take that to the bank. Not only is this great because the beat-em-up gameplay is solid. It is great because it tells a fantastic story that is deep, emotional, and brutal. Plus, the gameplay is somewhat unique and offers a different take on the genre that I am pretty sure I have never seen in a beat-em-up before.

You Cannot Outrun Father Time

As far as the story goes, I cannot think of another beat-em-up that tops what Fading Afternoon is doing. We play as a man called Seiji Maruyama. Seiji was a major enforcer for the Yakuza, but he went to prison where he got old, his family moved on and he also got lung cancer too. He has just been released and the story is about him trying to find his place in a world that has moved on, but also coming to terms with the things that he has done, the things that he has lost, and also the fact that his time is running out. This is truly amazing and gripping stuff, I will 100 percent play through this more than once.

New Game Plus

The way that Fading Afternoon goes about its gameplay is so unique. Seiji Maruyama is the ultimate badass, he knows all there is to know about fighting, but he is old. The way the game deals with this is that you start off with half his max HP and it is always dwindling due to him getting older and sicker. You do have all of his powerful moves right off the bat though, it is such a unique twist on the beat-em-up genre. The hand to hand combat feels fantastic, it is a bit more timed based where your timing in grabbing enemies can make all the difference. One moment you will feel super strong then something will happen that will make you remember that Seiji is old and not in the best health. I have played a ton of beat-em-ups and it may not be the most fluid, but it still feels great and you do feel connected to Seiji as you play. It also offers a range of mini-games and exploration too so it is not just all fighting!

A Picture Is Worth A 1,000 Words

Fading Afternoon is brought to life with some truly outstanding pixel art. The way that they are able to tell this dark and emotional story with these pixel art characters is incredible. Also, this may be a game that uses pixel art, but this deals with some very extreme and mature themes. I am not just talking about the stuff you would expect in a game about an old Yakuza enforcer either. Stuff like suicide, self regret, self loathing, and family troubles are able to be told thanks to the incredible pixel art that this game uses.

The Perfect Song For The Perfect Punch

Rounding out the perfect package that is Fading Afternoon is a soundtrack that hits harder than one of Seiji’s Superman style punches! This game has a great mixture of laid back jazz like music, traditional sounding Japanese music, and the odd harder song when needed. The soundtrack in this game is fantastic and I was impressed each time a new piece of music would grace my headphones. However, it is the clever placement of the music that I think really makes the soundtrack shine. It is like each song was perfectly chosen for the exact moment in the game where it would make the most sense for it to be!

Pros:

• This is the best story I have ever seen in a beat-em-up
• The pixel art is amazing
• The soundtrack could not be any more fitting and perfectly placed
• This is legit one of the greatest beat-em-ups I have played

Cons:

• The dodge mechanic takes a while to get used to
• It may not be as fast paced as some beat-em-up fans are used to

Fading Afternoon is a pixelated beat'em up action game that tells the story of the life of a yakuza who has been released from prison and is forced to learn to live outside the cage again. Seiji Maruyama was once the most feared warrior of his yakuza clan and the boss counts on him more than all the young fighters put together. However, after prison, Seiji is no longer the monster his comrades remembered him to be. Old age sneaks up on him with noticeable deterioration of well-being and heavy reflection.

Pros of the game:

• Multiple endings
• Open world
• Mini-games for fun