Fighting EX Layer Review
Official Score
Overall - 70%
70%
Fighting EX Layer does not have a lot of options or fighters to choose from, but it does have a lot of heart. A lot of work went into its design, and those looking for a fighter that is a little out of the ordinary should set out to master its unique system.
Those with a hankering for some good ol’ fashioned fisticuffs are in luck, as ARIKA’s new fighter Fighting EX Layer is now available. Featuring a number of familiar faces and a six button setup, is everything old new again?
Fighting EX Layer Review
The 13 characters that make up Fighting EX Layer’s roster are a motley crew of characters. In fact, many were pulled from the Street Fighter EX line of fighters. There’s certainly no shortage of variety – there are charge characters, characters that use quarter- and half-circle movements, and supers galore. The design of each fighter stands out too – though some steal moves from legends like Street Fighter’s Ryu, there are others that fight with burning fists and baseball bats. This game has a lot of soul to it, and you can tell the development team had fun working on it.
Combat works as it should, with one twist – the Gougi system. Players will still be using super abilities and racking up combos, but players can now choose from one of 15 different “Gougi” decks based around their playstyle. Featuring such vivid names as “Aggro,” “Juggernaut,” and “Stealth Raptor,” it offers perks based on actions done in battle. Getting knocked down a lot? There’s a perk for that. Use the super meter a lot? There’s a perk for that too. Some may think that it offers an unfair advantage, but outside of a handful of perks, the benefits they provide are either minute or a novelty. It’s not exactly a game changer, but it is not game breaking either.
Those going in solo might be disappointed in Fighting EX Layer’s suite of options. There is no arcade or survival mode; rather, the game offers a robust Training Mode and a mission-based Expert Mode for players to sink their teeth into. This is kind of an odd exclusion, as the Training Mode has the ability to fight against the AI and even choose its difficulty setting. Training Mode offers a bevy of data for players to digest, and even offers the ability to record snippets of data – a nice touch.
Rather, this is one game where it helps to bring a friend along. A two player versus mode is available for couch play, along with both casual and ranked online play. The connections we had were somewhat hit and miss – some battles went smoothly, while others were somewhat choppy. As of this writing, it takes a few minutes to find a match, but time will tell if the community adopts it in the long term. In the meantime, players can turn matchmaking on and be notified if a connection is found, so there is no reason to sit idly by while waiting for the next battle.
Fighting EX Layer does not have a lot of options or fighters to choose from, but it does have a lot of heart. A lot of work went into its design, and those looking for a fighter that is a little out of the ordinary should set out to master its unique system.
