Furi Review: Beautiful And Tough

February 14, 2018 Patrick Hickey Jr. Video Game Reviews, Video Games 0

If you missed Furi when it was originally released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, have no fear- the Nintendo Switch port is just as solid and thanks to the console’s on the go functionality, it may, in fact, be the best version of the game to date. Nevertheless, while its hybrid action/beat-em-up gameplay is enjoyable, it may not be the best option for Switch gamers who prefer to take their console with them wherever they go.

A beat-em-up by nature, but with adventure and action elements spiced in, Furi has this almost cinematic story that centers on mystery, vengeance and redemption. We won’t spoil the story, but in terms of combat, Furi is engrossing, deep and challenging. Much like Mega Man and classic action adventures of the ‘80s, every boss in the game has a unique pattern. Because of this, button-mashing in Furi is out of the question. And as a result, if you’re not looking to get better, quicker and more skillful, the game can be difficult as hell.

But there’s a method to all of the madness. The story is all about freedom and every fight is one that is all about life and death. There is no escape. There is also no filler. No goombas or wasted fights, at all. Although linear because of this structure, it’s a unique way to tell a story and a tribute to some of the greatest action adventures of all-time.

In terms of the game’s small letdowns, the interlude between battles can be a drag. Simply put, your character walks entirely too slow and although this is where many of the small gaps in the story are filled in and are charismatic in their own way, many gamers will want to move to the next battle as soon as possible. For those looking for a game with a faster pace, these small segments of Furi will hurt its overall appeal and its on-the-go playability. Those who value the art of storytelling and a more melodic game pace, however, will applaud this intriguing narrative style.

In the end, the beautiful anime-inspired visuals, Mega Man-feeling boss scenes and sheer difficulty make Furi one of the most unique beat-em-ups available and an indie gem on the Nintendo Switch.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14263 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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