Speed Brawl is a Brawler at Breakneck Speeds!

Speed Brawl is fast paced side scrolling beat ’em up that adds a twist to the classic genre; it’s also a race! Adding the elements of racing against the clock and racing to get the fastest time makes this new take on the popular genre memorable. Unlike a lot of other brawlers, Speed is a key component to the combat system and allows you to perform all sorts of crazy moves. The stunning stylized graphics make this game like a visual candy shop as well.

Hit ’em Fast and Hit ’em Hard

In Speed Brawl, your ability to move fast is important. You can perform a sprint that give you a bevy of moves to take down your opponents. You can use it to bounce of a wall and perform a bounce attack. In addition, you can use it conjunction with poles sticking up from the ground to rapidly change directions and knock your enemies on their backs. Your ability to increase your velocity quickly also makes aerial combat thrilling. There are basic combos you can perform along with special super and attacks. The special and super attacks are very useful for clearing out enemies on different platforms. I found the combat to fluid and the speed at which you can string attacks is fun. Performing counter moves and moves involving the sprint feature proved to be difficult for me, but that could just be my skill, or lack thereof.

Fight with a Friend

Speed Brawl has two ways you can bring another combatant onto your side. You can either play co-op (online or local) but you can also bring a tag team partner in to give one character a breather. I didn’t play online or co-op, but I made good use of the tag team function. If you can time your tag just right, the incoming pugilist can perform an attack right away. There isn’t much of a cooldown on tagging either, so it is sometimes advantageous to do it often. Having the option to bring another fighter into the fray, can help you make it through a tough level and keeps the fighting interesting.

Fight with a Friend

Speed Brawl has two ways you can bring another combatant onto your side. You can either play co-op (online or local) but you can also bring a tag team partner in to give one character a breather. I didn’t play online or co-op, but I made good use of the tag team function. If you can time your tag just right, the incoming pugilist can perform an attack right away. There isn’t much of a cooldown on tagging either, so it is sometimes advantageous to do it often. Having the option to bring another fighter into the fray, can help you make it through a tough level and keeps the fighting interesting.

Speed Brawl is a Visual Homage to it’s Predecessors

I really like the art style in Speed Brawl. The game is set in an alternate timeline in 19th century England after an alien invasion. The steam punk setting allows the beautifully drawn graphics to shine. The movement and combat blends well with the vibrant colors. I don’t think realistic graphics would work in a game like this due to the nature of the combat. By using bright colors over a subdued background, the characters really pop out. Overall, the game is visually stunning. The sound effects and music are noteworthy as well. The music reminded me of games I played as a kid. Speed Brawl is an artistic masterpiece.