Final Exam is a side-scrolling action game that blends the exaggerated energy of a comic-book brawler with the atmosphere of a monster-infested horror film, resulting in an experience that is loud, chaotic, and unapologetically focused on combat. The story begins with four former classmates returning to their hometown for what should have been a harmless reunion, only to find the city engulfed in a bizarre outbreak of grotesque creatures. The premise is intentionally simple, serving mainly as an excuse to throw players into nonstop conflict across abandoned subways, eerie school corridors, ruined industrial zones, and other danger-filled environments. While the narrative never tries to become anything deeper than a backdrop for action, it provides enough personality and forward momentum to keep the adventure from feeling directionless.
At the heart of Final Exam lies its combat system, which mixes melee brawling, ranged shooting, and explosive weaponry into a combo-driven rhythm. Each character—whether the athlete, the nerd, the cheerleader, or the bruiser—has a distinct fighting style and set of abilities that subtly shape how you approach encounters. The controls are responsive and fluid, allowing you to chain attacks, roll through danger, juggle enemies in mid-air, or blast them apart from a distance. When everything clicks, the game delivers a gratifying sense of flow: swinging a bat into a crowd, following up with a shotgun blast, and then tossing a grenade into a second wave feels punchy and exaggerated in just the right way. The upgrade system expands each character’s arsenal over time, contributing a sense of progression without overcomplicating the action.
Co-op play enhances nearly every aspect of the experience. With friends, the frantic rhythm of combat becomes a coordinated dance, where players revive one another, combine attacks, and divide tasks during objective-based missions. The levels are clearly built with teamwork in mind, and certain challenges become significantly more manageable when multiple players cover different angles or specialize in complementary abilities. The chaotic humor and exaggerated violence also land better in a social setting, making co-op the most enjoyable way to experience what the game has to offer. Played solo, Final Exam can still be fun, but the difficulty spikes and repetitive enemy waves feel more punishing without allies to share the burden.
On the visual and stylistic front, Final Exam leans into an animated aesthetic that balances horror and humor. The monsters range from grotesque abominations to more cartoonishly designed creatures, and the environments are stylized with bold colors, heavy outlines, and dramatic lighting. This mixture keeps the game from feeling too dark despite its horror trappings, presenting a world that is dangerous but still playful. Explosions, weapon impacts, and environmental hazards stand out vividly against the backgrounds, making the game feel visually lively even when enemy designs repeat. While it’s not the most technically advanced title, the art direction supports the over-the-top tone and complements the fast combat style.
However, the game’s limitations become apparent as the campaign progresses. Levels often reuse the same structural ideas—backtracking, fetch tasks, escort segments, or clearing waves before unlocking the next area. While the core combat is enjoyable, the lack of more varied objectives can make some chapters blur together. Enemy variety also reaches its limits quickly, leading to a noticeable sense of repetition when fighting similar foes for extended stretches. Difficulty can spike unpredictably, with certain encounters overwhelming players through sheer numbers or awkward enemy placements. These moments interrupt the otherwise smooth momentum and can feel unfair, especially for solo players.
Despite these issues, Final Exam remains a spirited and entertaining brawler, especially when approached with the expectation of arcade-style action rather than a deep or innovative narrative experience. The game is at its strongest when you embrace the simplicity of its premise and lose yourself in the exaggerated combat, flashy abilities, and frenetic pacing. There is a raw fun here—something that recalls the energy of older beat ’em ups while layering in enough modern polish to feel fresh. It may not be groundbreaking, and it certainly has structural flaws, but it offers a satisfying blast of monster-smashing chaos for players looking for a straightforward, action-heavy experience. With the right group of friends, it becomes even more memorable, turning its rough edges into part of the charm rather than obstacles to enjoyment.
Rating: 8/10
