Dogma

Overview

Dogma emerges as a shining gem in the freeware fighting game scene, delivering an adrenaline-fueled experience that punches far above its weight class. This anime-inspired brawler captures the essence of arcade classics while carving its own identity with flashy special moves and diverse character designs. Though rough around the edges with control complexities and content limitations, the sheer quality of its core combat makes it an essential download for fighting game enthusiasts. What it lacks in polish, it more than compensates with heart and exhilarating gameplay that keeps players hooked for hours.

This game has the greatest gameplay for any freeware action game I've ever seen! It has extremely good special effects and is very fast paced.

Speculate

Classic Combat Reimagined

At its heart, Dogma delivers lightning-fast combat that faithfully channels the golden age of fighting games. The gameplay feels like a loving homage to genre titans, with clear influences from Street Fighter II's precise inputs and Samurai Shodown's weapon-based duels. Matches unfold at a breakneck pace where split-second decisions determine victory, rewarding players who master each fighter's unique move sets. Special moves erupt with spectacular visual effects - fireballs blaze across the screen, scarves transform into deadly weapons, and sword slashes leave afterimages that dance before your eyes.

The nine-character roster offers impressive variety despite its modest size. Each combatant feels distinctly crafted with specialized techniques that encourage different playstyles. You might choose the fireball-tossing angel for zoning control, the scarf-wielding schoolgirl for unpredictable close-quarters combat, or the swordmaster for devastating reach attacks. This diversity creates meaningful matchup considerations, though some fighters clearly outshine others in competitive viability. Combos flow naturally once you grasp the timing, striking that perfect balance between accessibility for newcomers and depth for veterans.

Anime Aesthetics and Character Charm

Dogma's visual presentation bursts with anime personality that immediately catches the eye. The sprite-based characters exhibit detailed designs reminiscent of beloved series like Ranma ½, featuring colorful hairstyles, dynamic poses, and fluid attack animations. There's a delightful predominance of female fighters in the roster - a refreshing departure from genre norms - with only two male characters among the playable options. Each warrior radiates personality through their fighting stance and special effects, though the absence of voice acting leaves their characters feeling slightly underdeveloped.

The anime influence extends beyond character designs into the overall presentation. Special moves explode with vibrant energy effects that pop against the backgrounds, while victory screens showcase dramatic portraits of the triumphant fighter. However, the visual package suffers from noticeable limitations. Only a single background stage exists for all matches, creating visual monotony during extended play sessions. Some interface elements appear unfinished, and the Japanese story text remains untranslated, creating barriers for international players. These shortcomings suggest the game might be an unfinished beta, yet the core artistic vision shines through regardless.

You can choose between a fireball-tossing angel, a cute schoolgirl with a dangerous scarf, a tall girl who likes to slash up her enemies with a long sword and many others.

Evil Wraith

Modes and Longevity

Beyond standard versus matches, Dogma offers multiple ways to engage with its combat system. The Sequence mode provides a story-driven arcade ladder where players battle through the entire roster with narrative interludes (in Japanese). VS-User and VS-Comp modes cater to both competitive local multiplayer and solo practice against AI opponents. A dedicated Watch mode allows spectators to observe CPU-controlled matches, perfect for studying advanced techniques or simply enjoying the flashy combat as digital theater.

Replayability emerges as one of Dogma's strongest suits. The inclusion of a replay management tool suggests potential for community content expansion, though currently no additional stages appear available. Mastering each fighter's move set provides hours of discovery, especially when experimenting with different matchups. The absence of online multiplayer does limit long-term engagement, but the core gameplay proves so inherently satisfying that local versus matches remain compelling long after other fighters grow stale. Considering its freeware status, the amount of content feels remarkably generous.

Control Challenges and Technical Quirks

The most consistent criticism centers on Dogma's control scheme, which presents a significant initial barrier. Inputs demand precision that can frustrate newcomers, with special moves requiring Street Fighter-esque motion commands that feel unforgiving during heated exchanges. The lack of any tutorial or FAQ compounds this issue, forcing players into trial-and-error experimentation to discover advanced techniques. Multiplayer sessions reveal additional friction as players scramble to configure second-player controls, though persistence eventually yields satisfying mastery.

Technical limitations also surface beyond the visual constraints. The Japanese victory quotes remain completely unintelligible to non-Japanese speakers, creating a disjointed experience after matches. Some reviewers noted occasional undone graphics elements and speculated about the game's beta status. While no major bugs or crashes were reported, these rough edges constantly remind players they're experiencing a passion project rather than a commercial release. Still, the fact that these issues barely dent the overall enjoyment speaks volumes about the quality of the underlying combat system.

The graphics are a bit old school, but are still very crisp and clear and the gameplay is awesome. The controls make the game a bit hard to play but you will get used to it eventually.

Zero