Pocket Bravery (Switch)

When it comes to gaming, the fighting genre has always been a favourite of mine. I'm old enough to remember the first Street Fighter (and Amiga games like Barbarian), but it was Street Fighter II that really opened the floodgates for a genre that became so popular it's now an e-sport. They've become flashier too, with grand opening animations, outrageous specials and a need for in-depth tactical knowledge - knowing hit box sizes to the pixel is a talent I have yet to master, but to watch two technically proficient players go at it is a real delight.

So where does Pocket Bravery fit into this illustrious lineage? It's certainly pared back in terms of presentation from the likes of Guilty Gear, going old-school with stylised pixel-art and a very traditional look when it comes to menus and on-screen health/special bars. It's everything you remember about fighting games as they were in the early 2000's, wrapped up in a friendly, chibi style.

The game comes with plenty of modes; story, arcade, training, online, combo trials and more. It's a full package featuring more than enough gameplay styles to keep you occupied. Presentation is good and the soundtrack throughout is the sort of pulse-pounding fare that suits a combat game - it even starts with a rock track and opening animation to get you in the mood (though the vocals are a bit flat). I have to say that the art style isn't really for me, it's a little on the ugly side (an Americanised Neo Geo Pocket), but looks nice in pixel form during bouts. 

There's lots of nice little nods to wider gaming culture thrown in - the shop owner refers to you as "stranger", referencing Resident Evil 4's merchant, and these little touches are greatly appreciated as it makes the experience seem friendly and informed. The more you spot, the more you feel part of the clique.

Once you get to the game proper, you have a choice of 10 fighters, with 3 more that can be purchased. They're a colourful bunch, but most could be background characters in a scrolling beat em up to be fair, with only Malika (with gorgeous Indian garb) and Ximena (a sort of "day of the dead" skeletal figure) really standing out as memorable.

The fighting however, is hardcore.

I'm pretty handy at fighting games generally, but even I'll admit to being surprised by just how aggressive the CPU is even in early rounds. I'd advise some training before you get started, as you'll certainly be needing it. The action is fast and fluid, the friendly nature of the presentation hiding something of a beast beneath. It's always fair though, as you start to get a feel for the moves and the abnormal reach of your toddler-proportions it all comes together to create a formidable rumble. There's a flow to the moves that adds real fluidity to proceedings, it's almost poetic once you get in synch with a character and unleash their full potential. It's definitely tougher than it looks.  

If, like me, you like to play fighters in single player, the game has you covered. I play mostly against the CPU (if I play multi-player at all it's with friends in the room rather than online) and Pocket Bravery has provided a points system that rewards repeat play. Get enough of these by completing story mode, combo trials or other game modes and you'll be able to use them to purchase stages, colours and special modes. I like that in a world of online services, those of us who play solo haven't been neglected. 

This is a bit of a gem. It places gameplay first and foremost, it's clear that the devs are well-versed in what a fighting game needs to bring to the table and the execution is fun and tongue-in-cheek. It's not bogged down by DLC or Season Passes, which is a welcome relief to just about every other fighting game on the market these days, so if you enjoy a good barney, this is a solid choice that should keep you busy - mastering this title is going to take time and effort, just as it should.