Final Fight
Clean up the streets of Metro City, one punch at a time.
Final Fight is a classic side-scrolling beat 'em up series developed by Capcom, debuting in 1989. Set in the fictional Metro City, the franchise follows heroes like Mike Haggar, Cody, and Guy as they battle the criminal Mad Gear gang. The series is renowned for its gritty urban setting, cooperative gameplay, and influence on the genre, spawning sequels, crossovers, and spin-offs across Capcom's fighting game universe.
- First release
- Final Fight (1989, arcade)
- Latest main entry
- Final Fight: Streetwise (2006, PlayStation 2/Xbox)
- Total main entries
- 5
- Notable characters
- Mike Haggar, Cody Travers, Guy, Sodom, Poison
- Crossover appearances
- Street Fighter series, Marvel vs. Capcom series, Capcom vs. SNK
- First crossover character
- Cody in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (2000)
- Genre
- Side-scrolling beat 'em up
Lore & Background
The Final Fight series began with Mayor Mike Haggar's crusade to rescue his kidnapped daughter Jessica from the Mad Gear gang. Alongside martial artist Guy and former street punk Cody, Haggar fought through Metro City's slums, factories, and hideouts. The original arcade game was a landmark for its detailed sprites, cooperative play, and brutal combat, later ported to home consoles with additions like the character Guy's replacement in some versions.
Reader's Guide
The Final Fight series is significant for establishing the beat 'em up genre on arcades and home consoles, and for its deep integration into the Street Fighter universe. Multiple Final Fight characters have appeared as playable characters in the Street Fighter series, closely tying the stories of the two franchises together. This first began when Guy and Sodom appeared in Street Fighter Alpha (1995), followed by Rolento in Street Fighter Alpha 2 (1996) and Cody in Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1998). The series also spawned a competitive 3-D fighting game spinoff, Final Fight Revenge, released for Sega's Titan arcade hardware in 1999, and a 3D sequel titled Final Fight: Streetwise in 2006. A compilation called Final Fight: Double Impact, which bundles the original Final Fight with Magic Sword, was released in 2010. Outside of Street Fighter, Final Fight elements have appeared in several other Capcom games, including Captain Commando, Saturday Night Slam Masters, and Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, where Mike Haggar became the first character from the Final Fight series to be featured in the Marvel vs. Capcom series.
Did You Know?
- Cody Travers was the first Final Fight character to appear in a Marvel vs. Capcom game, debuting in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (2000).
- The character Poison was originally designed as a female but was changed to a trans woman in some localizations due to censorship concerns.
- Mike Haggar later became a playable character in the Street Fighter series, starting with Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1998).
- The Mad Gear gang's name is a pun on 'Mad Gear' as a reference to the game's arcade hardware, the CP System.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Final Fight?
Final Fight is a side-scrolling brawler series created by Capcom, first launched in arcades in 1989. Players take on the role of street-level heroes clearing out the Mad Gear gang from the city of Metro City.
Who are the main playable characters in Final Fight?
The core trio consists of Mike Haggar, a former boxer; Cody Travers, a young martial artist; and Guy, a biker. They appear across the series as the primary fighters you can control.
Who is the villain in Final Fight?
Sodom heads up the Mad Gear criminal organization and serves as the series' principal antagonist. His henchman Poison is also a recurring enemy figure throughout the games.
How many main Final Fight games exist and what is the newest one?
There are five main entries in the franchise, starting with the 1989 arcade original and ending with Final Fight: Streetwise, which shipped for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2006.
Do Final Fight characters appear in other Capcom titles?
Yes—Cody Travers made his crossover debut in Marvel vs. Capcom 2 back in 2000. Characters from the series have also shown up in the Street Fighter lineup and Capcom vs. SNK.
More in Capcom franchises 1-24
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