Speed Brawl (2018) Review: Fast-Paced Combat Meets High-Speed Racing
Looking for a fresh, energetic take on the classic side-scrolling brawler? Released in 2018, Speed Brawl delivers a unique blend of momentum-based movement, tag-team action, and fast-paced arcade combat. It pushes players to clear levels as fast as possible while pulling off massive combat combos.
Context & Gameplay Mechanics
Speed Brawl redefines the traditional 2D beat 'em up formula by introducing speedrun mechanics. Instead of moving from room to room at a relaxed pace, players must build up momentum, dash through dangerous arenas, and annihilate waves of enemies against a strict countdown timer. The core gameplay loop rewards fast reaction times, smart positioning, and effective use of character swapping to keep momentum alive.
Story and Narrative: A Victorian Alien Dystopia
The story of Speed Brawl takes place in an alternate 1888 Victorian London, ten years after humanity won a brutal war against an invading insectoid alien species known as the Selenites. Under the leadership of officer Hugo Wells, human victory resulted in the enslavement of the remaining aliens. To keep the disgruntled working-class population entertained, the ruling elite created Speed Brawl—an aggressive gladiatorial sport where fighters enter arenas to slay waves of Selenites for sport. Narrative progression follows a varied cast of fighters, primarily led by the duo Ebba and Bia, as they climb the league ranks and uncover a deeper conspiracy behind the games.
Graphics and Visual Style
Visually, Speed Brawl features vibrant, hand-drawn 2D graphics inspired by modern animated shows and anime. The animations are remarkably smooth, accentuating every punch, dash, and special ability with impactful visual effects. The level environments capture a rich steampunk aesthetic, combining smoky London industrial landscapes with sleek, brightly lit gladiatorial combat arenas.
Developer and Publisher
Speed Brawl was developed by Double Stallion Games, an independent game development studio based in Montreal, Canada, known for creating visually striking action titles. The game was published by Kongregate, bringing this fast-paced indie project to a broad global audience.
Playable Platforms
Speed Brawl is accessible across a wide variety of gaming systems, making it easy to jump into the action:
- PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG)
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
Final Recommendation
Speed Brawl is a thrilling entry in the 2D action subgenre that successfully marries beat 'em up mechanics with speedrunning dynamics. Its gorgeous hand-drawn visuals, catchy soundtrack, tag-team roster depth, and satisfying sense of speed make it a standout indie title.
Final Verdict: Highly Recommended for fans of arcade brawlers, fast-paced action games, and score-attack speedrunning challenges.
