VR developer Kluge Interactive has officially launched its latest title, Final Fury. Given the similarity in name to a certain SNK franchise, you’ve probably already guessed what kind of game this is. And it feels that this is intentional, as fighting games aren’t exactly common in VR. Has Kluge Interactive set the template from which a popular genre will spring into VR action? 131XR’s Final Fury review examines just that.
What is Final Fury?
Final Fury is a one-on-one fighting game, bringing the genre kicking-and-screaming – or rather, punching – into VR. The game was announced quite some time ago, with a Final Fury beta test having taken place back in 2023. Now that the full launch is upon us, everyone has a chance to take their fisticuffs into the VR arena.
The plot of Final Fury is the usual trite fighting game affair: set in a distant future, the galaxy’s most formidable combatants vie for supremacy in an epic fighting tournament. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff. However, as 131XR’s Final Fury review attests, the game stands as a first step into a very difficult world. The storyline has certainly taken a backseat – as have many other features – in order to get the basic fighting mechanics to a certain level of polish.
Final Fury Review
Final Fury has all – or at least, most – of the fundamentals required in order to deliver the fighting game experience in VR. A small selection of combatants boast their own unique fighting style and move set. They may not be particularly memorable, but players will undoubtedly find a favourite with ease. The game is designed to be approachable for all skill levels, with Kluge Interactive aiming to appeal to both hardcore fighting game fans and VR enthusiasts alike. However, that could be less of a blessing than a curse.
In 131XR’s Final Fury review (below), we learn that the game is an enjoyable facsimile of the genre in VR, however there are certainly some improvements to be made. A foundation on which to build, opposed to an all-encompassing VR fighting game experience. For example, while each character does have a small selection of unique special moves, the basic attacks are identical across the board. Simple punches, with no depth in speed or impact location. According to 131XR, this means that Final Fury is a great starting point for the fighting genre in VR, but there’s more work yet to be done.
Kluge Interactive: A Brief History of VR Works
A studio primed for the task of building on these foundations, Kluge Interactive is no slouch in the VR scene. The company planted a flag early with the hugely popular rhythm action game, Synth Riders. This was also recently ported to Apple Vision Pro. In addition to this, Kluge has been one of the first AAA studios to dive deep into Horizon Worlds, thanks to a partnership with Meta.
Given this pedigree, and the long standing post-launch support for Synth Riders, it would be foolish to think Kluge wouldn’t continue to develop Final Fury long after launch.
Future Final Fury
Exactly what continued support for Final Fury looks like however, is not yet known. There’s plenty of scope for added content. That aforementioned storyline could obviously be fleshed out. But fighting games are also known to be havens for new character releases, arenas and gameplay modes. Furthermore, as mentioned in 131XR’s Final Fury review, there are some basic mechanics that could do with some work.
Given that Final Fury is a great jumping-off point, there’s certainly hope that Kluge will continue to develop the game and inspire others to add to the genre in VR.
Are you playing Final Fury at launch? Did you join the beta? Let us know in the comments below!
