Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Capcom
  • Release Date: Aug 23, 2005
Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance Image
Metascore
48

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

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  • Summary: In an area brimming with cartels battling for power and influence, no one comes close to Zanetti’s group, the strongest force in Las Sombras. When Zanetti learns of a rival clan's drug deal, he dispatches five of his top mercenaries from his inner circle to intervene. When they arrive on theIn an area brimming with cartels battling for power and influence, no one comes close to Zanetti’s group, the strongest force in Las Sombras. When Zanetti learns of a rival clan's drug deal, he dispatches five of his top mercenaries from his inner circle to intervene. When they arrive on the scene, they find their targets have already been executed and to their surprise, they are ambushed by members of their own cartel. They were set up to appearas traitors who were out to nab the drugs and money for themselves. They had been double crossed, but by who? Was this some scheme by the cartel to exploit them as scapegoats? Did one of the five betray the others? Outnumbered and pursued by both their previous cartel and law enforcement officials, the five are forced to split up and disappear into the shadows of Las Sombras. Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance puts gamers in the role of one of the five fugitives as they seek revenge against their foes. Betrayal comes at a high price and to survive in Las Sombras, you need power. With enemies everywhere, the only hope is to find the other four and build enough power to strike back. Using a low-key downtown bar as a hideout base, players will wanderthe town in search of information and add allies to their growing opposition. Taking different jobs around town will add much needed funds to fuel the growth of the posse. By proving themselves in street battles, effectively utilizing negotiation skills and using clever disguises, they will be able to build their influence on the mean streets. Soon no one will stand in the way of cold hard vengeance! [Capcom]… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 33
  3. Negative: 15 out of 33
  1. Total Video Games
    70
    Beatdown: Fists of Vengeance is a really strange game; a mixture of ideas that comes across as extremely hit and miss. The amalgamation of traditional beat-em-up gameplay and one-on-one works really well; but on the other hand the disguise system seems flawed, who wants to buy a beat-em-up when the aim is to avoid confrontations?
  2. Cheat Code Central
    60
    Capcom did the right thing by allowing 2 player battles and extending the replay value with 5 characters but some gamers will have had enough of the load times and mind-numbing decisions by the end of the first story.
  3. TotalPlayStation
    60
    It's a beat-em-up. You beat people up. If nothing else, it offers the bare minimum of gameplay to meet the name, but all the other claims of deeper gameplay are half-assed.
  4. GamePro
    50
    Despite offering a laundry list of moves and button combinations, the game's complicated controls feel shallower than the three-buttoned Capcom arcade classics like "The Punisher" or "Alien vs. Predator." Group battles feel too constricted with the auto target locking mechanics, and the simplistic one-on-one fights are somewhere on the level of "Pit Fighter."
  5. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    43
    Bland gameplay, however, stifles what inspiration there is. The fighting action is fundamentally underwhelming, and a poor camera and constant loading further handcuff things.
  6. Edge Magazine
    40
    Yes, Beat Down revives the warped charisma of Capcom’s beat’em up heyday, but that’s the only area where it actually triumphs. [Oct 2005, p.90]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Game Revolution
    16
    I cursed plenty while playing, and it came straight from my own beat down heart. Get your revenge on bad games and leave this stinker in the shadows of the bargain bin.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Kojiro94
    Dec 10, 2020
    10
    One of my favorite games on PS2! It had such a great atmosphere, a great soundtrack, a unique then open world and free roam play style, thatOne of my favorite games on PS2! It had such a great atmosphere, a great soundtrack, a unique then open world and free roam play style, that today everything coped to this style! It was so ahead of its time, with many new ideas and many characters and scenarios to keep you busy! it had many different endings! the fights were intense! you could also play vs mode as a beat em up game!

    Very underrated game! But Famitsu who were more experienced, gave this game a 30/40 score! User score today is 8/10! I wish we could have a remake of this game! Its ideas are still solid!    … Expand
  2. MarcusT.
    Sep 3, 2005
    10
    An awesome beat 'em up with tons of customization, variety, and fun!
  4. JeffD.
    Aug 24, 2005
    9
    I really enjoyed this.
  5. Dtom
    Sep 8, 2005
    9
    I don't know why all the critics don't like it... but i thought it was a all right game. It does need a lot more work but i enjoyed I don't know why all the critics don't like it... but i thought it was a all right game. It does need a lot more work but i enjoyed playing it a lot.… Expand
  6. BrunoF.
    Apr 14, 2007
    9
    When you approach a game of this kind you cannot, by any means, apply the same criteria that you apply to any other game. Beatdown promises When you approach a game of this kind you cannot, by any means, apply the same criteria that you apply to any other game. Beatdown promises great amount of visual violence, rudeness, slang, and tough battles. And it provides so. It is true that the graphics aren't as polished as, let us say Urban Reign, but the characters are much more realistic - vulgar, uninteresting, much like any street thug is! Also, being published under Capcom, it provides a feeling which Final Fight players will understand, mostly due to the places where it is played (cliché names such as Harbor, Slum, Police District, Downtown). Also it is quite realistic in the sense that you can either peck a fight until one of the fighters is knocked out, or you can just go wild and choose to take his life - a level of violence which is seldom found on a game of this sort. A rude game for people who enjoy a little violence every now and then. Not galons of blood. Just the same amount of blood you'd get for beating someone up on your backyard. Sometimes I could almost sense the awfully stinking smell that emanated from the back alleys. Great!… Expand
  7. DavetheSlave
    Dec 7, 2005
    8
    id say more like an 8 and two-thirds....this game was definately fun, (im a fan of pointless violence,though a pacifist *shrugs*) i kinda dig id say more like an 8 and two-thirds....this game was definately fun, (im a fan of pointless violence,though a pacifist *shrugs*) i kinda dig the idea that different routes can be taken in the story depending on choices made/character picked from start.whens the last time you saw a rated M capcom game that didnt involve zombies... *thinks* anyway, the game did have its drawbacks... long loading screens, bad stage sound tracks, and poor voice overs... though im not all together sure whether the game was originally released in english... or japanese, then poorly voiced over for american release (im assuming the latter). if you liked this game (or if you hated it) i think yall would love 'the warriors' by rockstar... its the same idea with less loading, no fashion changing,and more action! as well as better soundtrack, graphics, controls, and atmosphere. makes me wonder if rockstar has influenced capcom on this one~~>beat down: fists of vengeance.… Expand
  8. Megacritic99
    May 24, 2023
    7
    This game feels pretty reminiscent of shenmue when it comes to the exploration formula overall a very solid beat em up game by Yours TrulyThis game feels pretty reminiscent of shenmue when it comes to the exploration formula overall a very solid beat em up game by Yours Truly Capcom there are other better beat them up games like viewtiful Joe yet again it is very much hard to find these days… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2005