14 DAY TRIAL // I hook kick someone just to gain some momentum next, then punch a guy in the throat to paralyze a guy with a tire iron. I then elegantly move my character out of the way of an enemy with a gun, making sure that he shoots one of his buddies in the face. With no more cards to play it’s time to think about how I might take out at least three of these four enemies next turn.
Fights in Tight Spaces is an interesting mix of ideas from two very different genres. It also needs its upcoming Early Access period to refine some mechanics and decide how it can introduce variety. At its core, the title is a turn-based brawler, with gamers asked to move his character around, dodge attacks from enemies, and find ways to take them out.
Everything the player does is controlled by a hand of cards, dealt from a class-specific deck (at the moment, the developers only offer one). Play a certain card to move around an enemy, play another to attack in a certain way. Momentum controls how much the main character can attack and certain choices can replenish it, while most offensive cards drain it.
Blocks are available to cut incoming damage while sidestepping to shift out of an enemy’s attack pattern is very important. Combo energy accumulates as the character deals damage without moving, opening up the use of more powerful cards that can take down the powerful opponents that show up.
The game starts off easy but the difficulty quickly ramps up. It is easy to take out a few punks with limited moves. It becomes very hard to deal with a mini-boss using block while avoiding bullets and tire iron attacks. Fights in Tight Spaces has a very stylized presentation that manages to deliver all the information a player needs. The main character is a stylish black silhouette and his moves are cool but the enemies are the stars, managing to quickly communicate what they can do and when at a glance.
The cards are mostly easy to read and understand, although they could use some more style. The sound design is also solid, although it quickly becomes clear that a more thumping disco or electro soundtrack is required for longer play sessions.
Conclusion
Right now the experience is interesting but limited. The card-driven combat system is cool and has a very dance-like quality, especially when capable enemies show up. But after a couple of hours of punching, it seems that the game has nothing new to offer other than more opponents and increased hit or block points.
