Fights in Tight Spaces stuffs a lot of good into a small package

Its title says it all In tight places, fights very kindly lets you know exactly what you’re getting into. Everything seems very straightforward at first glance. Agent 11, a black-and-white figure, falls into small spaces like an apartment balcony or a prison cell. A series of cards are then presented to the player. It’s possible to make some great moves if you choose the right capabilities and position the agent correctly. If I play my cards incorrectly, I will end up slamming the ground and returning to the beginning of the game.

But there’s a surprising amount of depth to Fighting in tight spaces; it’s the kind of game I can play for a few hours, close, and then I find myself opening it back up again within minutes. The roguelike’s sleek and elegant style is paired with a slow, methodical strategy game that rewards clever thinking. All that is In tight places, fightsWhile it lacks the narrative breadth and level of variety that some other programs have, its strengths are in being fiendishly creative Breach into the BreachIt features battle-like gameplay and highly tuned mechanics.

Image: Ground Shatter/Mode7

This is the story of In tight places, fights doesn’t matter. My spy handler tells me Berlin has “a ninja problem,” and that’s all the explanation I get. But that’s really all the explanation I need to get started. There are several levels to my fight, beginning with some bikers then moving on to prison guards or tougher enemies like European hitmen and ninjas.

Every level has a turn-based system. I can use my cards for navigation and attacks, or defense, in order to defend myself and/or launch attacks. To do big damage, I could kick an enemy goon towards the bar and then move towards him to smash his head against the bar. Another option is to vault on top of a table, perform a counter move that activates an enemy attack and flip the guy who will attack me next time.

You can either use premade decks or make your own. Pre-made decks can be defensive or defensive. They use counters and grappling to return enemy damage with a hit. Some are focused on using my hands and feet to inflict damage and take out the bad guys. Luckily, there are occasional slow-mo, slightly zoomed in highlights that show Agent 11 smashing a guy’s head or landing the perfect shot.

Image: Ground Shatter/Mode7

My strategy is affected by the enemies that I encounter. Someone with an assault rifle can have different tactics than someone who is a big guy. Certain enemies will attack me automatically if I get too close, and some others may have their own abilities that they can fire on my turn. Ideally, I want to stay out of their attack range and area of effect abilities, and if I’m really clever, I can use the environment to my advantage. Soon, I start getting my foes to kill each other by shoving a guy into his buddy’s attack range, or I just boot them off a railing and into oblivion.

As I advance, I get smarter. Each time I win a battle, I receive a card that I can add to my collection. However, there are less obvious paths to advancement. First of all, I have to make sure I’m balancing my deck with enough movement, attack, and defense cards. While I am able to stay in safety, I also burn combo points which makes it harder for me to earn bonus achievements. Combat is a fast way to get bonus points and clean up, but it puts me at risk because my health pool stays constant between fights.

Each run I do requires me to choose how to proceed. You have a restricted overworld map that the roguelike allows you to select which fights to do. Or, swing by the local gym or hospital and exchange cash for power upgrades. A big advantage I could get is a cool new ability, extra health, or a situation where I have to pay more money.

Image by Ground Shatter/Mode 7.

You can sometimes also choose to use Enhancements which give you powerful abilities. A single Enhancement causes my Agent three damage points at each start of every turn. It then heals her fully at the end. But the Enhancements are an area where developer Ground Shatter could have swung for the fences a little more; most of them are just straight increases to stats, and it’d be nice to have some more “out there” effects that change my strategy significantly.

Overall, though, In tight places, fightsIt’s a very engaging and simple game. Suave is very forgiving. I have the option to abandon my run, return to the map or restart the level every time I lose. A chunk of my XP is awarded to me when I end a run. This allows me more decks, cards, and cards. I’m always learning and moving forward, and so losing feels pretty fair, especially because there’s a solid range of difficulty options.

It feels amazing to win, however. Whether it’s kicking a samurai over a balcony railing or diving at a lady with two shotguns so I can kick her in the face, there are tons of satisfying little moments. Fighting is FunIt’s easy to do in tight spaces, which naturally results in beautifully cinematic moments. If you’ve been craving the small-scale, ramped-up chess feel of a title like Breach into the Breach, In tight places, fightsThis is an amazing game with lots of energy.

In tight places, fights It was launched on Windows PC and Xbox One on Dec. 2. PC was the first to review this game. Vox Media is an affiliate partner. They do not affect editorial content. However, Vox Media might earn commissions for products bought via affiliate links. Here are some links to help you find. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.