King of Fighters: Neowave

Andrew enters a 2D world brimming with arcade nostalgia

More Images

With over three dozen titles in the series, SNK's King of Fighters line has become one of the most well respected, (not to mention punctual), beat-em-ups of all time. In years gone by each title was, a la FIFA, tagged with the date of the year it was released. However, growing worries over whether each new game would just be seen as a tired cash-in, as well as time issues that saw the game released a year 'late' in certain territories prompted a change. That change? Dropping the number and adding suffixes instead. Problem solved. King of Fighters: Neowave is actually an extended and enhanced version of King of Fighters 2002, a title originally created for the arcade. Nevertheless, it has hit this generation nearly five years on, and, with little change for right or for wrong, is still as charming as some of the better examples of its predecessors.

King of Fighters: Neowave boasts nearly 50 or so playable characters to choose from, though in doing so continuity has been thrown right out of the proverbial window. This is because previous King of Fighters story modes have centred around one main character, some whom have lost their lives in battles. However, regardless of their past predicaments, many return to help amass one mightily impressive fighter-selection screen. If you've never played King of Fighters, you're looking at pure, unfiltered 2D beat-em-up action. Basically, the best of three rounds are contended where the winner of each is the fighter still standing. For further proof of the genre's conventions, look no further than the slow motion, overly dramatic death of the loser at the tail end of each round, complete with generic 'Noooooo!' as they collapse in a heap on the floor.

Spy beneath the surface, though, and what you find is a complex, tactical beat-em-up that, like a good quality cheese, has matured with age. Every round is awash with a sense that the smallest of crucial decisions can help swing the advantage of the bout in your favour. This theory is best exemplified by the three types of fighting style available to you before you play, each of which relate to an on-screen power bar whilst in battle. Super Cancel allows a move to be disregarded just before its execution or to combine moves for double the 'ow, that really, really hurt', especially handy in the heat of battle; while Guard Break enables the player to render any offensive move indefensible by their opponent. The result, if executed correctly, is comprehensive amounts of damage. Lastly, Max2 allows a final move of desperation to be taken when your health is low. This requires weighing up the odds between success and failure in pulling such a risky manoeuvre off, all in exchange for different amounts of power. Additionally, Heat Mode, never before seen in a King of Fighters title, allows players to increase the ferocity of their attacks in exchange for health during a battle. Again, as Noel Edmonds might wisely advise you in a game of Deal or No Deal, risk versus reward should always be in the forefront of your consciousness while playing. Interestingly, different players and fighters will be suited to different ways of fighting, adding a welcome layer of depth to what could well have been an indistinctive experience.

Away from the single-player mode, the wealth of extra options are few and far between. There's a return for the series to three-on-three battles which further complicate the selection of offensive and defensive tactics, though the choice to switch between your chosen trio of characters at will is disappointingly absent. Despite a survival and multiplayer mode there isn't much else to see, which wouldn't be so bad if this wasn't a re-release on next-generation platforms with, perhaps, the most demanding gamers ever. Xbox owners have Live play at least, but for the PS2 you're looking at a lot of lonely playing time or a sibling or friend who likes King of Fighters as much as you might.

If, however, said buddies are allergic to a graphical style that found its feet in the final decade of the 20th century, then be prepared to be duelling solo. Some of the 2D sprites on show date back as far as 1996, although they have been polished up somewhat for showing on a more modern platform. They're actually graphics designed for the arcade, not for the Neo Geo for which SNK and King of Fighters were synonymous. Despite their age, the wealth and variety of spectacular moves still have the capacity to impress. It's the imagination and creativity through each character and their actions that commands a pause for kudos even today. Less can be said for the game's backgrounds. They've had the sparkly, shiny, 3D treatment but they're really nothing special, not least because you really won't have time to look at them. Neowave's accompanying soundtrack is enough to transport anyone old enough back to a time when you never had enough 10ps and wish you could take the videogames arcade home with you. All that can be said about the characters' shouts and taunts is that you and any passing persons will be shouting along with them in tandem and repeating them at regular intervals throughout the day, often at stupidly inappropriate moments. If that's not enough praise for them, then nothing is.

While King of Fighters: Neowave offers nothing new to the genre, it does throw up the opportunity to play a classic beat-em-up for those always too afraid to drift beyond the realms of Street Fighter II - and at a budget price. Sure, a challenge mode, time attack and many more bells and whistles would have been welcome, but like the endless waves of retro compilations out there at the moment, there's something endearingly simple about Neowave that everybody can enjoy.

70%

By Andrew Macarthy