Burning Fight

{{Infobox video game

|title = Burning Fight

|image = Burning Fight arcade flyer.jpg

|developer = SNK

|publisher = SNK

|designer = Naoto Abe{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201808/24162612.html|title=SNK|magazine=Famitsu|issue=1545|publisher=Gzbrain|date=July 26, 2018|lang=ja}} ([http://www.onemillionpower.com/snk-40th-anniversary-talking-to-the-snk-creators-that-made-history/ Translation] by One Million Power. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223213831/http://www.onemillionpower.com/snk-40th-anniversary-talking-to-the-snk-creators-that-made-history/|date=2019-12-23}}).

|composer = Yasumasa Yamada

|platforms ={{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Arcade}}|Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD}}

|released ={{collapsible list|title={{nobold|1991}}|Arcade{{vgrelease|WW|20 May 1991}} Neo Geo AES{{vgrelease|JP|9 August 1991|NA|9 August 1991|EU|9 August 1991}} Neo Geo CD{{vgrelease|JP|9 September 1994|NA|October 1996}}}}

|genre = Beat 'em up

|modes = {{flatlist|

Single-player
Co-op}}

|arcade system = Neo Geo MVS

}}

{{nihongo foot|Burning Fight|バーニング・ファイト|Bāningu Faito||lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a beat 'em up arcade game released by SNK in 1991 for the Neo Geo MVS system.{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:BeepMD_JP_1991-02.pdf&page=133|title=VG: バーニングファイト|magazine=Beep! MegaDrive|issue=17|publisher=SoftBank Creative|date=February 1991|page=131|lang=ja}} Introduced to capture a share in the then-popular beat 'em ups market, it was meant to compete with Technōs' Double Dragon, the leader of the genre at the time. Three years after its release in the arcades and on the Neo Geo AES, it was released on Neo Geo CD as the only other home version.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_The_Cutting_Edge_Spring_1996#page/n109/mode/2up|title=Neo•Geo CD: The Arcade In A Box - Burning Fight|magazine=GamePro|issue=Premiere Supplement|publisher=IDG|date=Spring 1996|page=104}}

The game is produced by Eikichi Kawasaki, one of SNK's founders and the man behind various well-known SNK titles, such as Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting and Samurai Shodown series.

A re-released version of Burning Fight is included in SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1, which was released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Wii in 2008.

Story

Duke Edwards and Billy King, two popular and renowned New York City Police detectives, are hot on the trail of a dangerous Japanese crime syndicate. Their investigation has led them to the mean streets of Japan where they meet a police officer and martial arts expert named Ryu Saeba. Ryu agrees to join the NYPD detectives as they track down the crime syndicate bosses and end their reign of terror once and for all.

Gameplay

File:NEOGEO Burning Fight.png

Burning Fight follows a formula and concepts commonly seen in titles of this genre, such as Streets of Rage, Double Dragon and Final Fight: balanced character selection, objects and weapons found on the ground cause greater damage to opponents, and semi-interactive environments (players can damage objects like phone booths and street signs along the way). The game is set in a fictional version of Osaka city (during a train station scene the platform even shows an "Umida" station sign).

The five levels must be completed (Casterora is the last enemy) to win the game.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

|GR = (NG) 55%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/neo/582031-burning-fight/index.html|title=Burning Fight for NeoGeo|work=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=2019|accessdate=2019-07-21|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194058/https://www.metacritic.com/game|url-status=live}}
(NS) 30%{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/switch/223218-aca-neogeo-burning-fight/index.html|title=ACA NeoGeo: Burning Fight for Nintendo Switch|work=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=2019|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194106/https://www.metacritic.com/game|url-status=live}}

|Allgame = (NG) {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|last=Knight|first=Kyle|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16994&tab=review|title=Burning Fight (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review|work=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|date=1998|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115224240/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16994&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-15|url-status=live}}

|CP = (NG) 92%{{cite magazine|author1=Loulou|author2=El Nio Nio|url=https://archive.org/stream/Console_Plus_Numero_005#page/34/mode/2up|title=Neo Geo Review - Burning Fight|magazine=Consoles +|issue=5|publisher=M.E.R.7|date=January 1992|pages=34–35|lang=fr}}

|CVG = (NG) 92/100{{cite magazine|last1=Rand|first1=Paul|last2=Boone|first2=Tim|url=https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-122/CVG122_Jan_1992#page/n33/mode/2up|title=Reviews - Neo Geo -- Burning Fight|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=122|publisher=EMAP|date=January 1992|pages=34–35}}

|EuroG = (Wii) 7/10{{cite web|last=Whitehead|first=Dan|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup_8|title=Virtual Console Roundup - Paradroid, Burning Fight, Pokémon Puzzle League and Samurai Shodown|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|date=June 2, 2008|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194113/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup_8|url-status=live}}

|GamePro = (NG) 24/25{{cite magazine|last=Quan|first=Slasher|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_030_January_1992#page/n104/mode/1up|title=Neo Geo For Real! - Burning Fight|magazine=GamePro|issue=30|publisher=IDG|date=January 1992|pages=101–102}}

|IGN = (Wii) 4.5/10{{cite web|last=M. Thomas|first=Lucas|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/07/07/burning-fight-review|title=Burning Fight Review|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=July 7, 2008|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194059/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/07/burning-fight-review|url-status=live}}

|NLife = (Wii) 5/10{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/neogeo/burning_fight|title=Burning Fight Review (Neo Geo)|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=May 31, 2008|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194107/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/neogeo/burning_fight|url-status=live}}
(NS) 3/10{{cite web|last=Frear|first=Dave|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/burning_fight_neogeo|title=Burning Fight Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=October 2, 2017|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194122/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/burning_fight_neogeo|url-status=live}}

|JP = (NG) 92%{{cite magazine|author1=Steph|last2=Demoly|first2=Jean-Marc|url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=84&num=1771&album=oui|title=Test - Neo Geo - Burning Fight|magazine=Joypad|issue=2|publisher=Yellow Media|date=November 1991|pages=122–124|lang=fr|access-date=2021-01-13|archive-date=2017-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917110220/http://abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=84&num=1771&album=oui|url-status=live}}

|JS = (NG) 92%{{cite magazine|last=Demoly|first=Jean-Marc|url=https://archive.org/stream/joystick020#page/n130/mode/1up|title=Tests - Neo Geo - Burning Fight|magazine=Joystick|issue=20|publisher=Sipress|date=October 1991|page=131|lang=fr}}

|PO = (NG) 85%{{cite magazine|last=Drevet|first=Cyril|url=https://archive.org/stream/playerone-magazine-016#page/n79/mode/2up|title=Tests De Jeux - Neo Geo - Burning Fight|magazine=Player One|issue=16|publisher=Média Système Édition|date=January 1992|pages=80–81|lang=fr}}

|SUser = (AC) 74%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-113/SinclairUser_113_Jul_1991#page/n38/mode/1up|title=Coin Ops - Burning Fight • Neo Geo|magazine=Sinclair User|issue=113|publisher=EMAP|date=July 1991|page=39}}

|rev1 = Pure Nintendo Magazine

|rev1Score = (NS) 5/10{{cite web|last=Gould|first=Trevor|url=https://purenintendo.com/burning-fight/|title=Review: ACA NEOGEO Burning Fight (Nintendo Switch)|work=Pure Nintendo Magazine|publisher=Pure Media, LLC|date=October 18, 2017|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194131/https://purenintendo.com/burning-fight/|url-status=live}}

}}

In Japan, Game Machine listed Burning Fight on their June 15, 1991 issue as being the eighth most-popular arcade game at the time.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=405|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=15 June 1991|page=25|lang=ja}} Likewise, RePlay reported the game to be the second most-popular arcade game at the time.{{cite magazine|title=The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Software|magazine=RePlay|volume=16|issue=10|publisher=RePlay Publishing, Inc.|date=July 1991|page=4}} The title received generally mixed reception from critics since its release in arcades and other platforms, with most reviewers comparing it with better known competitors in the beat 'em up genre.{{cite magazine|last=Knauf|first=Andreas|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=5065&s=2|title=News - Neo Geo - Burning Fight|magazine=Video Games|issue=5|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=January 1992|pages=10–12|lang=de|access-date=2021-01-06|archive-date=2021-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106234557/https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=5065&s=2|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|author1=Yanma|author2=Itabashi|url=https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1992-07#page/n232/mode/1up|title=Super Soft 大特集 - 今、『NEO・GEO』がおもしろい！: バーニングファイト|magazine=Micom BASIC Magazine|issue=121|publisher=The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation|date=July 1992|page=209|lang=ja}}{{cite magazine|last1=Noak|first1=Philipp|last2=Hellert|first2=Stefan|url=http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=8807&s=3|title=Special - Neo Geo - Burning Fight|magazine=Mega Fun|issue=11|publisher=Computec|date=August 1993|pages=28–30|lang=de|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021232116/http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=8807&s=3|archive-date=2018-10-21|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/HiTechMagazine/HiTech%2001#page/n28/mode/1up|title=Reportaje - Clásicos en CD -- Titulos disponibles para el nuevo formato de SNK: Burning Fight|magazine=Hobby Hi-Tech|issue=1|publisher=Hobby Press|date=March 1995|page=29|lang=es}} Both the Neo Geo and Nintendo Switch versions hold a 55% and 30% respectively on the review aggregator GameRankings.

AllGame{{'}}s Kyle Knight regarded Burning Fight as a Final Fight rip-off of inferior quality. Knight criticized the "jerky and stiff" character animations, lack of enemy variety, as well as the repetitive fighting system and gameplay but commended the controls and audio. In contrast, Consoles Plus{{'}} Loulou and El Nio Nio compared the game with both Final Fight and Streets of Rage but praised the presentation, graphics, animations, hard rock-style soundtrack, gameplay and longevity. Computer and Video Games{{'}} Paul Rand and Tim Boone also regarded the title as a Final Fight rip-off, while Rand in particular drew comparison between Cody and Guy with two of the playable characters. Unlike Knight, both Rand and Boone praised the visuals, sound, gameplay and longevity but criticized the absence of unlimited continues in the AES version.

GamePro{{'}}s Slasher Quan remarked that it was similar to Final Fight in terms of visuals and gameplay but also praised the presentation and music. Both Joypad{{'}}s Steph and Joystick{{'}}s Jean-Marc Demoly compared Burning Fight with Final Fight, Ninja Gaiden and Streets of Rage but praised the audiovisual presentation and controls. Player One{{'}}s Cyril Drevet compared its two-player mode with Double Dragon but commended the visuals, animations, audio, difficulty and longevity. However, Sinclair User highlighted a sense of dullness in the game, stating that "Burning Fight is a competent journey along the usual beat-'em-up road..."

Burning Fight has been met with a much more mixed reception from critics in recent years,{{cite web|last=Osange|first=Elliott|url=https://www.bonusstage.co.uk/2017/10/01/aca-neogeo-burning-fight-review/|title=ACA NEOGEO BURNING FIGHT Review|website=bonusstage.co.uk|publisher=Bonus Stage|date=October 1, 2017|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-date=2021-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194122/https://www.bonusstage.co.uk/2017/10/01/aca-neogeo-burning-fight-review/|url-status=live}} with Eurogamer{{'}}s Dan Whitehead in particular regarding the game as a blatant copy of both Final Fight and Streets of Rage. IGN{{'}}s Lucas M. Thomas also compared its gameplay to Double Dragon but regarded it as more playable than Ninja Combat. Nintendo Life{{'}}s Damien McFerran and Dave Frear were critical of the title when reviewing the Virtual Console and Nintendo Switch releases respectively, comparing the playable cast of characters with those of Final Fight, while McFerran criticized the poor character animations.

Notes

References

{{reflist}}26 YouTube channel SupremeJudge, "Sex, Lies and Dancing Hobo Blowjobs - The Burning Fight Sex Scandal - Neo Geo" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4vsyOygKVc

External links

[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/575702-burning-fight Burning Fight] at GameFAQs
[https://www.giantbomb.com/burning-fight/3030-16610/ Burning Fight] at Giant Bomb
[https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7242 Burning Fight] at Killer List of Videogames
[https://www.mobygames.com/game/burning-fight Burning Fight] at MobyGames