(This review is dedicated to the people who are listed in memory within the games credits, because the game lists off some people from the original release who sadly have passed away at this point. To those people, you have my condolences, prayers and best wishes that go out to your families and friends. God bless ya'll and thanks for the fun game and good laughs)



I normally don't start reviews like this. But I just wanted to mention this for clarity

A lot of indie game fanatics (myself included) have known about this game for YEARS. LONG before it came to steam.

The reason I mention that is this game actually was originally made by a small group of designers,programmers, and artists etc in Italy way back in 1997. So, while the game technically isn't new, it has NEVER been re-released until now. Beforehand I folowed it via websites and youtube videos regarding it.

Just keep this tidbit in mind as you further read my review on this one

Anyway, enough formalities. onto the actual review


At it's heart, Fight N Jokes is a fighting game that feels and plays like a hybrid between Street Fighter 2 HD Remix in terms of pace, special moves, and a similar approach to sprites. While on the other hand it has arcade endings/hidden characters and finishers that make it feel like it took tidbits from Mortal Kombat, every character also has connections to others on the roster and there is some lore/backstory, even if it is basic.

But all this would make the game feel shallow and like a ripoff right? That's where people who assume are wrong, and if it's not obvious by the title of the game itself alone. Fight N Jokes BIGGEST influence is Clayfighter and it VERY much feels like it was the PC/DOS answer to that way back in 1997. Because parody, homage, and slapstick are ALL OVER this game, thankfully in the best ways possible and this game can still hold itself up on it's own while also still having it's own identity.

Every character and stage (hell even the background characters in stages) is either an absurd outlandish character that has moves and playstyles reminiscent of characters from other fighting games (Such as Maggilla feeling like a mix of Blanka from Street Fighter with Sasquatch from Darkstalkers) or otherwise a character is a painfully (in a good way mind you) obvious parody of common fighting game tropes or staple characters.

Other examples are where Judy plays a lot like a mix of Zangief and Kuma with a bit of range (SF and Tekken) while literally copying a win pose that is "totally not" Chun Li's SF 3/Third Strike win pose and design wise she's like Chun Li, Mrs Bighead (Rocko's Modern Life) and a 1950s mom fused together

to Rainbow being a tongue in cheek parody of the likes of Chief Thunder, Turok, and Nightwolf. while he attacks you with elements of nature such as a log, giant fish bone, or can shake the ground like how Tremor from Mortal Kombat could do it, except his is more literal

Ryno feels like a mixture of Ryu from Street Fighter mixed with Mr Potato Head (just less acerbic and almost golem like)
And Miopinja is a ninja minnow fish that takes design and vibes of ninja characters like Taki or Scorpion and instead gives it a literal and slapstick approach to his design and he plays like a mix of Chun Li and Liu Kang put together




Everything and anything is parodied and or mocked in this game, but it's never an attack, more like all in good fun. two of my favorites being grumpy bum approach to Aladdin's Genie cheekily called Lampaddin to Wildrocket looking like a mix of Goku and Vegeta with tidbits of Zangief and Jax. You can expect tidbits of any and all popular culture and or fighting game tropes/characters from that era/timeframe to have playful jabs sprinkled in. Clearly the guys and gals behind this game understood the assignment, if you will.

( Small disclaimer- This game obviously was LONG before Akira Toriyama's unfortunate passing, so the fact this launched this year is nothing more than an unfortunate coincidence/unlucky timing, as this game's release WAS going to come out in 2022 originally, but some internal delays prevented that)

Not to mention this version that was brought to steam features netcode, tournaments, and online play. It is a bit rocky as it IS in early access. But I am very happy Mental Drink LTD took the time to bring this obscure game to a much wider audience.

Maybe not every bit of the humor aged well for everyone and some may even find some tidbits mildly offensive. But as long as you are level headed and can take a joke (just like the games title) then you can very much enjoy Fight N Jokes, because despite it's age, it has honestly and suprisngly held up VERY well with it's art and how it plays

Here's to this game joining the ranks of Clayfighter and the like. And furthermore. I hope eventually we can buy the soundtrack or maybe even some of the original developers will give us some DLC characters as extras later down the line. Provided they're fairly priced I'd GLADLY slip the developers some extra money.

I'm a sucker for 90s nostalgia, and the game delivered on that for sure. Looks and feels like a throwback, through and through. Looking forward to getting the rest of the story endings for everyone - real Saturday Morning Cartoon vibes.

The game wears its heart on its sleeve - so if you like what you see, then this game is definitely worth your time to pick up and play