Kung Fury: Street Rage – Ultimate Edition | Switch Review

As a long-time fan of 80s culture, I was immediately drawn to Kung Fury, an action/comedy short film that’s a send up of all things 80s. It completely captured the essence of the decade with its over-the-top action, neon-soaked visuals, and tongue-in-cheek humor. Developed by Hello There Games, Kung Fury: Street Rage is a fast-paced, pixelated beat ’em up that similarly captures that same essence in video game form, just as well as the film it’s based on.

Originally released on mobile platforms in 2015, Kung Fury: Street Rage would eventually release on consoles along with two DLC expansions in the ensuing years. This “Ultimate Edition” brings them all together on console for the first time.

A Prophecy Has Been Foretold

Kung Fury: Street Rage is a pixelated throwback beat ’em up reminiscent of the 16-bit classics of the time, like Streets of Rage and Double Dragon, but with much simpler controls. In terms of narrative, there is a loose storyline that ties everything together. You can play as one of five selectable characters, each with different fighting styles and abilities. They all must fight their way through the streets of 1980s Miami to take down an army of dangerous criminals. As Kung Fury and his team battle their way through wave after wave of enemies, they eventually face off against a series of boss characters, only to discover that they’re all working for the ultimate villain, Adolf Hitler, aka “Kung Führer!”

Like the short film it’s based on, the story is absurd and can be best described as dumb fun. In the last expansion, Kung Fury and friends are joined by none other than Michael Knight himself, David Hasselhoff. As tongue-in-cheek and hilarious the story might be, it still takes a back seat to fast-paced and simple arcade action.

Your Pecs Are Epic

So far I’ve described Kung Fury: Street Rage as a Double Dragon-style beat ’em up. That description however only applies to a portion of the game. Kung Fury: Street Rage – Ultimate Edition is a collection in three parts. There’s the base game which is just you taking on an endless wave of enemies, a first expansion called The Arcade Strikes Back which adds a storyline, and a second called A Day at the Beach. The base game and first expansion are far more simplistic, owing to the fact that these were once mobile games.

These portions can be more accurately compared to simple games like One Finger Death Punch, where only two buttons are used; the left and right buttons on a D-Pad. If an enemy comes from the left of the screen, you hit the left button and vice versa. The second expansion A Day at the Beach is the only portion that plays in the typical free moving beat ’em up.

I’m afraid to say that I found the first two portions to be too simplistic and the gameplay got stale almost immediately. But the saving grace was the third portion. It’s also where The Hoff becomes a playable character. That’s not to say this Ultimate Edition is a terrible package. Far from it, the visuals, the humor and the absurd story kept me engaged when playing all three portions.

Karate Chops and Synth Drops

The visuals and soundtrack of Kung Fury: Street Rage is the best thing about this game, paying homage to classic arcade games of the 80s and early 90s. The game’s visuals are designed to look like an homage to the VHS-era of action movies, with neon colors and flashy effects. Even going so far as adding a scanline overlay to emulate the look of a vintage television in all its cathode ray glory, a filter by the way that can’t be turned off. The game’s backgrounds are also rich with detail, featuring a variety of locations such as city streets, sewers, a subway station and even cyberspace itself.

As an 80s throwback game, it’s fitting that the soundtrack is predominantly synthwave, drawing heavily from the iconic soundtracks of classic 80s films. This connection is particularly appropriate for a game based on Kung Fury. The synthwave genre was born out of a desire to pay homage to the work of composers like Wendy Carlos (Tron), Harold Faltermeyer (Beverly Hills Cop), and Jan Hammer (Miami Vice), whose pioneering use of synthesizers helped define the sound of 80s cinema. As a self-proclaimed fan of synthwave music, the soundtrack of Kung Fury: Street Rage was a highlight for me. The pulsing beats and driving basslines perfectly complement the game’s fast-paced action.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent…FOREVER!

Overall, Kung Fury: Street Rage – Ultimate Edition is a fun and engaging tribute to the 80s era of action movies and arcade games. While the gameplay in the base game and first expansion can be a bit too simplistic and repetitive, the addition of the second expansion and the inclusion of David Hasselhoff as a playable character make for a more satisfying experience. It’s not without its flaws, but the absurd story, pixelated graphics, and infectious soundtrack all work together to create an experience that’s both entertaining and perfectly captures the neon-soaked aesthetic that defined the decade. Whether you’re a fan of 80s nostalgia or just looking for a fast-paced beat ’em up, Kung Fury: Street Rage – Ultimate Edition is definitely worth a look.

To hear me talk more about Kung Fury: Street Rage – Ultimate Edition, be sure to listen to the April 12, 2023 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:20:40 time stamp.

This review is based on a purchased copy of Kung Fury: Street Rage – Ultimate Edition on Nintendo Switch. It is also available on PlayStation, Xbox, Mac, and PC via Steam.