I actually got to play this on a arcade cabinet! Outfoxxies represents a diametric opposite of competitive Smash Bros. in terms of its design as a platform fighter. Melee attacks do little-to-no damage and combos are nonexistent in favor of item drops doing the bulk of the damage; the stages are so large and difficult to traverse they make New Pork City look quaint; so much is happening on-screen at any given time that it’s impossible to take everything in at once without some sort of sensory overload. Outfoxxies laughs at the need for other fighting games to be “fair” and “balanced” and instead delivers a uniquely manic experience that is equal parts frustrating and mesmerizing.

I love the espionage-thriller aesthetics paired with some goofy characters and stages. You have John Smith and Betty Doe to select if you want to play the assassin role straight… or you can play as the chimpanzee or pair of homicidal twins, fighting in the middle of a circus show. Suda51’s love for this game makes so much sense. I was so enamored by this wonderfully weird, dark sense of humor that I kept pushing through even when I lost and felt frustrated because I really wanted to see what oddities the game would throw at me on the next stage. The style is the substance, and I think everybody owes it to themselves to try this game once, preferably with friends, even if my description of the gameplay sounds unpleasant to you.