Mini Review: Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers (PS5) – Revival Turf

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Despite some technical limitations on the Super Nintendo, most people agree that Final Fight was the best fighting game of its kind on the system.

The 16-bit era was full of fighting games, and we still have a soft spot for Jaleco’s unique 1992 title, Rival Turf – known as Rushing Beat in Japan.

The original game led to two follow-ups, Brawl Brothers and The Peace Keepers, and now, over 30 years later, the series is returning, building on the success of recent beat ’em up revivals like Streets of Rage 4.

From the very beginning, this sequel throws you right back into the wonderfully weird world of the original Jaleco games! Seriously, you’re immediately facing off against zombies and… well, frogs that throw up. It’s as crazy as it sounds, and I love it!

The story isn’t very complex, but it strongly references the events of the classic games, frequently showing screenshots from the original Super Nintendo versions as reminders of the past.

Jack Flack and Oozie Nelson are back, though they’ll be known as Rick Norton and Douglas Bild in this version. They’re joined by characters like Lord J and Wendy Milan, who appeared in previous installments.

Every fighter feels unique and boasts a wide variety of moves, including grabs, stomps, throws, and powerful combos.

The game moves surprisingly smoothly, and it’s more complex than it appears, with features like canceling moves and countering attacks.

The game is visually striking, with over-the-top, comic book-inspired effects during fights. However, characters can feel a little clunky when moving around, and some later levels introduce frustrating obstacles like lasers and mines.

We had a few crashes during the final levels, which slowed us down, and the last boss can be really challenging. However, the gameplay is fast-paced and feels more skill-based than many similar games, like Marvel Cosmic Invasion and others.

Despite some uneven parts and a lack of fresh ideas towards the end, we still recommend this game to fans of beat-’em-ups. The combat is surprisingly complex, and the game’s quirky style makes it memorable.

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2026-03-24 13:06