Masters of Combat

Ah, Masters of Combat. You probably won't get any more precise and concise about the game and what it will play like. As you likely guessed, the game is a fighter that didn't exactly break boundaries on its release but brought a decent entry into the genre. But as a game without a franchise, what did it get to the table?

Masters of Combat is a standard fighter that incorporated a richer story to stand out against other popular game series. While it doesn't deliver the most compelling narrative globally, it sets the scene enough to tag some lore around each fighter. So why does Master's of Combat feel to be lost against the retro gaming nostalgia?

Test Your Limits

Suppose you are a fan of the old fighting genre or retro games in general. In that case, nothing will trigger more nostalgia than Masters of Combat. It gives players a perfect blast from the past with its pixelated graphics, colorful palette, and traditional fighter mechanics. However, comparing the game to similar ones would lead you to understand why it never took off.

The futuristic narrative of aliens invading a fighting tournament takes precedence around the gameplay. You'll progress through a map of levels where each task is inherently the same - battling foes one on one. It's come to be expected that older fighters won't diversify much, but it's their execution that matters more than anything. Is each fight challenging or bland?

Masters of Combat provides enough of a challenge offering your playable characters a variety of moves. However, the gameplay still feels limited, with only so much you can do to defeat your enemies. Eventually, the game does get bland with the repetitive combat, both in enemies and playable characters. If you have a second person playing with you, it doesn't improve.

Masters of Combat works pretty well as a fighter, and players can get enjoyment out of the adventure. It's really the limitations behind what you can do with the game that keeps it from competing with rival games. Sure, you're working to be the strongest, but who cares if nobody notices? It's a good game that lacks enough immersion to be a cult classic.

The Strongest Will Stand

Masters of Combat doesn't hold a candle to Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, considering the latter's impact on the fighting genre. However, there's a little bit of warmth in the nostalgia behind the game. Sure, it wasn't the biggest on release, but it's a decent number that's worth playing if you're even a little interested in retro games.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A polished fighter with all the traditional mechanics
• Character abilities help make gameplay engaging
• A good look into one of the more unknown retro fighters

Cons:

• Playable characters are limited
• Gameplay becomes bland after a while
• Control schematic confusing compared to other fighters