Genre: Brawler
Developer: Bitmap Bureau
Publisher: Numskull Games

As its name, the presence of ample barrels throughout its stages, and the inclusion of an elbow-dropping long-haired dude betrays, this game seems to be a spiritual successor successor to the 1991 arcade game "Vendetta"-- except drawn a style similar to those of Henk Nieborg, who did Bitmap Bureau's previous game "Battle Axe". The characters are massive, filling the screen in a similar way to those which captivated players when "Final Fight" hit back in the day. If anything the players, baddies, and colorful Hi-Bit backgrounds are almost too perfect, lacking some of the personality which imperfections bring. Still, Final Vendetta is one handsome looking game.

If it looks good, it sounds even better: Final Vendetta's soundtrack is a combination of rave and trance music, with the kinds of hard-hitting riffs associated with Yuzo Koshiro's "Streets of Rage" Mega Drive work back in the day. The various keyboard, police siren, bass hit-laden, shout-filled tracks don't always leave an impression after play, but the sheer quality of their recordings sure turn-tables its way into the brain during gameplay. There is even some light disco, and drum n bass! The game's sound effects are similarly well done, with hard-hitting punches.

Final Vendetta essentially uses the "Streets of Rage" control scheme, and it works great: the attack button does a combo, jump and attack can be combined to do a panic move, while enemies can be grabbed and flipped over. Unlike the "Streets of Rage" games though the stages aren't as memorable or interesting: they are mostly just corridors which move left-to-right, with the occasional destructible objects. To its credit, some of them do have hazards, like swinging chains. Each enemy type has its own personality and move set.

Just like in "Battle Axe", there are no continues in Final Vendetta-- and it is one tough game on its default difficulty, almost impossible to beat in fact, bringing back memories of "Streets of Rage 3". Thus and also just like "Battle Axe", this is primarily a high score chasing game. The Hi-Bit graphics are absolutely right on the money, as is the remarkable soundtrack. The whole package is missing that intangible "thing" which makes genre classics so... classic. But one could do a lot worse with a modern brawler than to play this one.