Released back in December of 2021, Fights in Tight Spaces received decently high reviews across the board. Now it’s our turn – well, specifically mine. Now when I first received this game, I was addicted right off the bat. Ever since, I’ve consistently returned back to it with high hopes that my new strategically-planned altercations will prevail.
Well, 55 hours later, I can assure you that it’s absolutely a give-and-take. Some of my well thought out plans of action have succeeded. Others had me completely obliterated in my steps, leaving me dumbfounded with my tail between my legs, so to speak. So if anybody is prepared to talk about this addictive yet thrilling pursuit, then it’s me.
PLOT
The player has assumed the role as a Section Eleven agent. As part of this elite intelligence organization, it is your responsibility to hunt and punch miscellaneous criminal units, regardless of what it might take. Players will be sent on a variety of missions, each with a specific goal in mind, but all requiring some level of…persuasion.
GAMEPLAY
John Wick: The Deckbuilder. A suiting alternate name that sets the tone. “Deck-building, turn-based tactics, and thrilling animated fight sequences in classic action-movie settings” – the three major features to keep in mind as the game is described by creators. Players begin with a pre-made base deck determined by their preferred fighting style, and will move onto picking from over 200 cards as the game progresses to not only curate to the player’s experience, but to randomize each and every playthrough. Random encounters are sprinkled throughout the missions that could throw you headfirst into a fight, give you a power-up through a stronger card, or even leave you with a debilitating injury. Half is strategy, and half is pure luck.
PROS
Fights in Tight Spaces truly blends a variety of gameplay options together, perfectly tailoring a personalized experience for every type of player. The graphics and cinematic scenes are dramatic and flashy, while also portraying the professional nature of the main, unnamed character. With an endless amount of combinations for players to create their decks, every single playthrough differs, giving this game an infinite amount of replayability – something that is so, so lacking in many games.
CONS
While constructing my critiques, I always try to make notes of feedback or criticism as I play. Though earlier on in its lifespan, the decks may have felt “lacking” or the enemies’ AI felt unbalanced, the creators have made vast improvements over the nearly two years since its release, and I’m happy I’ve stuck by to see it reach its full potential.
VERDICT
I’m usually not too keen on deckbuilders or turn-based strategy games, but Fights in Tight Spaces completely flipped the script for me. In my initial post about this game, I expressed how simply intrigued I was…oh boy, was that an understatement. I was truly, pleasantly surprised, and I really still enjoy this game down to my very core.
