Waking up in your apartment, the sounds of chaos erupting outside your window and a mysterious talking drone entices you to do what you do best. That's right, it's time to break some necks and cash some checks in Midnight Fight Express. Humble Games and solo developer Jacob Dzwinel have released a demo on Steam to offer a taste of what this game has in store for us when it finally releases in August and things are feeling great so far.

Gameplay

This game gets you hyped from the start. The adrenaline-fueled soundtrack and fast-paced combat prepare you for the whirlwind to come. Non-stop action and fighting is the premise of this title and boy does it deliver. Midnight Fight Express places you in the shoes of an ex-underground criminal that goes by the nickname, “Babyface.” You are highly skilled at taking out opponents with extreme prejudice, with any means necessary. Whether it's with your fists, a gun, or a bat, the game gives you the freedom to dish out pain in many creative ways.

Combat may feel a bit familiar for anyone who has played brawlers recently. Combos can be performed with different button inputs, attacks can be countered, and weapons can be picked up freely. There are a variety of enemy types ranging from brutes, bosses, and weapon-wielding enemies that can not be countered. These enemy types give a great mix to the gameplay and keep you on your toes in combat.

Although the Hotline Miami vibes are strong with this one, the game doesn't end when you take damage. You have a health bar, focus bar, and rage meter. Health can regenerate over time, depending on which difficulty mode you choose to play on, and the focus meter slows down time and highlights interactable objects in the level, allowing you to plan your next move accordingly. Your rage builds up as you kick ass and tear through the criminal threat and once it fills completely you begin to move fast and deal extra damage for a short burst of time.

There is also a decent amount of unlockables and character progression present in the game. Everything from new skills to customizable skins can all be unlocked as you progress through the game. Every level is scored based on performance and players are rewarded money that can be spent on unlocking their new skills and cosmetics. It's a good system that feels beefy enough to hold your interest as you journey through the criminal underworld.

Expectations

I went into Midnight Fight Express expecting a John Wick simulator of sorts, and it's exactly what I hoped it to be. Smashing faces with baseball bats, roll dodging knife wielders, roundhouse kicking two guys at once, and picking up a 9mm to finish off the rest of the room in quick succession. This chaotic flow was consistent throughout my time with the game. The combat is fluid, the soundtrack is booming, and there's enough depth here to allow players to customize their experience and play exactly the way they want to. Difficulty options allow for intense and near impossible success. Geared toward the most hard-core fighting enthusiasts while also catering to the casual fan base and everyone in between.

For the full release, I hope to continue to see variety in the levels and bosses. Some levels seem to act like mini-bosses themselves, a highlight being an entire level taking place on top of a moving train with waves of enemies and a sniper taking aim at you from a helicopter. The vision this developer had for an intense action game is just unreal and very entertaining. It would be great to continue to see this throughout the campaign.

I do not believe the game has any kind of multiplayer but I am always rooting for a solid co-op brawler. Maybe it's in the cards for post-launch content? Only time will tell.

Verdict

Midnight Fight Express delivers exactly what the trailers depict, and some. From the insanely crafted stages to the in-depth character progression, and the non-stop fluid combat that offers lots of freedom to fight in creative ways. This demo excels in all of it and gives a good start for things to come, leading up to its full release. I am very much looking forward to continuing my ass-kicking journey this coming August.

Midnight Fight Express launches on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on August 23, 2022.