Bizarrely humorous fighting action
Before the likes of Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat ruled the roost, the side-on fighting genre saw the release of classics like Yie Ar Kung-Fu, International Karate and of course, the original Street Fighter. While No Exit is certainly no classic, it is actually an enjoyably simple, and occasionally bizarre, little beat 'em up. In most respects, the game is similar to pretty much any other early fighter, lacking the variety of characters and moves that later games brought to the table, and instead simply presenting the player with a series of bouts between players. However, a few neat twists do give the game a little spark of originality, including the ability to tweak your character's abilities slightly. However, perhaps the biggest shock comes when you activate your destructive mode, which turns your avatar into a strength-enhanced monster capable of knocking down your opponent with relative ease. Beyond this however, it's business as usual and while No Exit does possess a certain amount of charm and humour, its lack of depth and complexity soon become clear. The graphics are quite decent however, with a unique style and some distinctive backdrops, while the various monsters are also quite imaginative. The animation is a little choppy and sound is little more than crude roars but in some way, it all adds to the game's strange appeal. No Exit is definitely not a must play, but if you have a soft spot for slightly unusual and bizarre games, it is certainly worth a look. Just don't expect it to last all that long though.
