One Finger Death Punch

One Finger Death Punch is an excellent example of “less is more” game design in action. By eschewing player movement in favour of an accessible two-button control scheme, Silver Dollar Games have created an immediately satisfying gameplay loop that infuses the spectacle of a beat ‘em up with the pulse of a rhythm game. Despite the simplicity, there’s an impressive amount of depth here; weapons and timed skills improve your range and power, certain enemies will challenge you to one-on-one duels, and a handful of level types offer new goals and gameplay twists. Plus, having the game speed adjust itself based on your performance is an inspired decision.

The concept still could (and probably should) have been mined further, as several weapons and skills are functionally interchangeable. Combine this with a lightning pace, and you’ll find the unique content dries up well before you’ve completed the plotless campaign. Nevertheless, the first 2-3 hours of play are so stupidly entertaining that they alone are worth the price of admission. The intentionally campy style is hit and miss, however. The sound effects are glorious, and the music is cheesy fun, but the talkative announcer is just uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the visuals range from messy but serviceable to outright horrid.