Besides lack of originality, some critics criticized it for repetitiveness and took issue with how the control configuration assigns multiple actions to the same button while leaving other buttons on the controller unused, saying this often results in the character performing a different action than intended and leaving them open to enemy attacks. "GamePro" nonetheless opined: "Despite its few flaws, "Fighting Force" delivers the fierce fun and beat-fools-silly action that PlayStation gamers are looking for". "IGN", while contradicting "GamePro" by actually praising the game's controls, offered a somewhat more pessimistic overall take: "With solid graphics, impeccable control, yet almost zero innovation or variety, "Fighting Force" is a mixed bag. If in doubt, rent before you buy". "AllGame" gave the game three stars out of five: "All in all, "Fighting Force" isn't a bad game. Just some problems that lie in the gameplay department and some graphical glitches that keep this title from achieving the status of the games it was modeled after". In Japan, where the game was ported and published by Electronic Arts Victor under the name on 15 January 1998, "Famitsu" gave it a score of 25 out of 40.