Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers

I really enjoyed Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers. The core beat ‘em up combat is fantastic, and the goofy story gives the game a unique flavor. I never thought we would see another game in the series, and the devs obviously have great love for the source material. Unfortunately, Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers is lacking in features, which puts it behind all the modern genre greats. But I easily recommend the game to anyone who’s a fan of beat ‘em ups, or in the mood for something nostalgic.

Back in the 90s, there was an insane number of challengers all trying to claim the beat ’em up crown. For every Streets of Rage, Final Fight, or X-Men that nailed what made the genre click, there were plenty that just didn’t quite get it. Rushing Beat, known outside Japan as Brawl Brothers, The Peace Keepers, and Rival Turf, was one of those attempts. It picked up a bit of a cult following over time, but never really broke through in a big way. Now, Rushing Beat X: Return of the Brawl Bro...

Even in its compromised home console format, few would disagree that Final Fight was the king of Super Nintendo brawlers.

Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers isn't as rewarding to play as, say, Streets of Rage 4, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. Inconsistent visuals and a poorly localised story will be the biggest gripes with the game for some.

Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers can be an absolute joy to play when everything comes together. Unfortunately, that often doesn't happen due to the game's lack of polish and features that other beat 'em ups have. The clunky gameplay can also be another barrier in what could have been a great action game.

I’ll be honest, before reviewing Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers I hadn’t heard of the Rushing Beat series. If, like me, you’re unfamiliar with these games, there were three Rushing Beat titles released in the early 1990’s. Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers is both a revival and a sequel, carrying on the narrative of the original games, continuing the iconic brawling, and bringing the series kicking and punching into the modern era.