The King Of Fighters: Neowave
Verdict: A purists pinata.
Platform: PS2
Rating: 3½/5
If you’re into 2D beat-em-ups you’re either a fan of Street Fighter or The King of Fighters. Mortal Kombat doesn’t even come close and shame on you for even suggesting it. From a once glorious and crowded past these two heavy weights are the only ones loved enough to truly survive the de-pixelisation of 3D’s dominance.
Born from a fusion of SNK’s Art of Fighting and Fatal Fury games, the modestly titled KoF features a recognisable play style to anyone familiar with the more popular Street Fighter series. With two buttons for punch and two for kick it initially appears simpler than its peer but what it lacks in buttons it more than makes up for in complex special moves.
KoF: Neowave is SNK Playmore’s flagship title for new arcade hardware - the Atomiswave board. Utilising the increased power of the system it introduces hi-res backgrounds and improved music to the series. Beyond that though it seems to do little more and on a console, adds even less.
Featuring re-drawn sprites, KoF still looks dated in this age of cell-shading, with it’s rough, pixelated edges paling in comparison to the modern, smooth lines of Guilty Gear and the high frame rates of Street Fighter 3. What it lacks in aesthetic sophistication it makes up in style and character, featuring a cast of individuals full of charm, attitude and a particularly Japanese fashion sense.
Bringing back the old three-a-side team battles last seen in KoF: 2002, the large character roster is mainly composed of teams taken from each iteration of the series and it’s this that is most likely to please the fans as Neowave acts as more of a greatest hits compilation than a true sequel.
Without offering anything new beyond improved background visuals the same action can be found elsewhere in past iterations. For the purist who knows the character roster of the entire series there may be something to glean but for those of us with a passing interest there is the far superior Capcom Vs SNK 2, combining characters from Street Fighter and KoF into one almighty package.
So, are you a Kyo or a Ryu?