Customer Reviews

King of Fighters 2006

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The next addition to the king of fighters series.... is it a hit? Hell yeah it is. The original 3d hit: King of fighters Maximum Impact was a great addition to the King of Fighters series. SNK took one of the best 2d fighting series and puts it in to 3 dimensions with 3d character models and 3d backgrounds. The King of Fighters 2006 takes this engine, and gives it a work out. The fight system is extremely fast pasted, which is a little different from the 2d King of Fighters games, which have always been slow. The game makes a big emphasis on using combos and special moves. This game, unlike many other 3d fighters, is not a button masher. Meaning, I cannot just hit X over and over, and win the round. The AI is not the best I have played with, but playing it on hard was tough as nails. Sometimes I think the game knows what moves I am going to be dishing out. Even while playing on easy, I am not able to win fights using only projectiles. The AI has been upgraded significantly from MI.
A huge addition to this game is a Counter System. Hit L2 while standing to counter high attacks, or while crouched to counter low attacks. These will basically, block and stun the enemy unit for a split second allowing you just enough time to attack him. I did not find myself using it very much, since the game is so fast paced, it is extremely hard to counter and attack. Overall the battle system works great. You can fight using just combination attacks, special moves, or a mixture of both.
A total of 38 characters to choose, from most of which you have to unlock along with over 15 costumes per characters, make each fight different. The addition of Billy Kane and Kula brought back some of the best characters to tournament. Some of the unlockable characters are characters with a very identical move set. You can unlock Wild Wolf, who is Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves. They decided yet again not to add some of the most important characters from the KOF series: Andy Bogard and King.
Gameplay: Very few times I run into frame rate issues, other than that the game runs smooth as silk, and very easy control scheme.
Graphics: The backgrounds are some of the best backgrounds I have seen on ps2 fighting games. It seems the focus for the characters was the clothing and the hair. Their faces and bodies could have been worked on a little more, but the character movements are classic, and realistic.
Online: How much I would have wanted online play, there is no online play, but there are many verses modes.
Overall: This is one of the best additions to the series, and shows that SNK can make a fighting game that critics can compare to bigger titles such as Tekken and Virtua Fighter. King of Fighters Fans will love this game to death.
Rating: 9/10

The King Of Fighters 2006 shows how far the series has come, 12 years after the initial breakthrough arcade release of The King Of Fighters 1994. Although some key KOF characters fail to make an appearance, the cast is vast and wide, totaling to 38 characters with a few refreshingly obscure members, such as B. Jenet from Garou: Mark of the Wolves and Hanzo Hattori from Samurai Shodown. New moves and combos are available for all characters as well as the old ones players know and love. The graphics, as the title implies, are stellar on the PS2. It is evident that there are dramatic improvements made from the previous 3D endeavor, KOF Maximum Impact. The bouncing breasts of Mai Shiranui and other female characters are animated more realistically than ever before, and other key elements such as facial styles and hair are rendered in exquisite detail. There is an exorbitant amount of bonus material as well, including a "Party Mode" and a large number of missions to complete and special features to unlock. I couldn't reccommend a better fighting game this year.

The game is fun...fast paced...has a lot of characters...yadda yadda...

I'm sure other reviews have touched on all that.

As a long time fan of these SNK characters, my favorite part of this game is the dialogue and character interactions that actually take place between fights. Never before and never since have you seen the King of Fighters characters portrayed as so...real. Depending on the match-up, you're treated to a little pre-fight conversation, like Geese vs Billy Kane, Mai vs B.Jenet, Iori vs Kyo, Terry vs Ryo, etc. There are a lot of them.

And, then there are the mid boss fights and endings, which display each character's personality to a degree we don't get to see very often.

There are even some special character specific win poses.

It's a very character driven experience, that transcends any other 2D KOF game.

Perhaps the most unappreciated aspect of this game. I'd recommend it for fans of these characters.

(Oh, and don't worry, you can choose English or Japanese with subtitles)

Well to those who do not know already, this is the sequel to SNK's first King of Fighters 3D released back in 2004 entitled Maximum Impact. (everywhere else in the world besides here in the states this game is known as KOF Maximum Impact 2) Anyway for those turned off by the first game put your apprehensions aside and pick this one up quickly! The fighting system has been reworked (parries, supercancels, Max Desperation Moves all available), also the roster is almost double what it was before with over 10 unlockable characters ranging from Hanzo from the Samurai Shodown fame to Fio from Metal Slug, bringing the roster to almost 40. If you are a fan of SNK Playmore or just of fighting games in general this package comes highly recommended! Even if you are unsure I suggest you give this game a try, with several play modes including mission, quest survival, extra mission, along with many more you will be entertained for many hours on end.

Since SNK's long 2-D King of Fighters series made the move to 3-D, there have been some ups and downs, but what we get here with King of Fighters 2006 is a more than solid fighter that manages to transport much of what made the previous 2-D games so good into a 3-D realm. There are a horde of fighters to select from, which is a big plus in itself, and the fighting system itself is wonderfully complex and satisfying to get the hang of. However, there is nothing in KOF 2006 that we haven't seen before. Much of the gameplay still feels rooted in SNK's 2-D days, leading to some stiff movements and moments. Not to mention that while we get a huge roster of fighters, there are no specific character endings which have become a hallmark of fighting games. There are also no additional features to be found besides what has come to be expected either, which is a big disappointment. The game looks quite good however, which in itself is a big plus as well. Though it's much better than SNK's earlier attempts at bringing their franchise to the 3-D world, King of Fighters 2006 doesn't offer anything new, or better, than what can be found in Tekken 5 or Virtua Fighter 4. That aside though, this is a more than solid fighter for the PS2, but one can't help but yearn for the franchise's 2-D glory days.

I had reservations about this game. I was always a fan of the 2D originals and Maximum Impact this game's predecessor did not do so well. Sadly many people likely think KOF 2006 is just a repeat of the first 3D outing. In truth it improved many of the cheap broken fighting mechanics of Maximum Impact and added alot of new characters. If you think this is simply a re-tread you are mistaken.

Any kof fan knows it is a fast,furious, combo heavy fighter. If anything KOF 2006 keeps this tradition and plays just like past KOFs though it is in 3D (or what is often termed as 2.5D). Regardless SNK playmore did not gyp its followers. They could have tried making a Tekken clone but instead they stuck with the game-play that makes KOF what it is.

As you expect this game has a story line and a huge slew of unlockables. KOF rarely prided itself on being a simple brawler. It always tries to explain why each character or group of characters are fighting and every flamboyant or dark villian introduced has a deep ulterior motive besides simply hosting a tournament. KOF 2006 likewise keeps to its roots in this regard.

The only negative metal nails driven into KOF 2006 that may make it a dying martyr amongst certain unforgiving fans is there are no team matches and some of the new character designs go a bit too far into left field. At the very least many all time favorites such as Terry,Mai,Billy Kane,Kyo,Iori,Leona,Kula Diamond,K Dash, Ralf, and Rock Howard return easing the blow to the fan-boy or fan girl crotch area a bit.

Besides Story mode and versus mode there are a few fun side games such as smashing vehicles SF style and even facing a metal-slug tank. Many of the unlockable side characters are also neat sich as Fione (cute italian girl from metal slug) and a certain well known ninja from samurai shodown fame. Even Geese can be uncovered. However again the negative down side is like unlockable characters in other SNK games these ones have no story lines. They're fun to play but do not get excited and expect a grand climax. To once again soften another blow to the fan crotch SNK allows you to unlock character profiles with a detailed history of their pasts. This is a literal god send for players new to KOF that need to catch up on the mythos it has estabalished thus far.

KOF 2006 looks "good" but not great. The music however is likely some of the best I've heard in an SNK kof game.

It is possible to beat the game with each character so at the very least it is balanced enough so anyone can jump in and have fun using their favorite fighter.

Fans have had mixed reactions about Falcoon's new fighters. While some are a bit "eccentric" I liked Minon for the very fact she was a klutz and Nagase likewise for the fact she was not so charming and had an abrasive personality. The characters came off as real people because they were in fact flawed and not graceful social butterflies. Speaking of butterflies Luise is hot and enigmatic. I immediatly liked her for her gentle demeanor and hope she gets more appearances in the future.

Though Falcoon may come off as a bit "pompous" with some of his injected fan boyism would you not do the same if you had a chance to work for SNK? I cannot fault the guy for wanting to introduce his own characters. All artists want a small amount of self expression and freedom to be alloted to them. At least Falcoon's characters are not invincible behemoths that have no personal faults. Give the guy a break, aye?

If you are open minded enough and tolerant enough you'll love this game. As fighters go you can do alot worse and not much better. (Though yes there are a few better fighters out there.)

Once I compared KOF 2006 to that cute girl next door with braces that helps you with your home-work. She does not look like a super model but she is still attractive and on top of that has a big heart willing to give alot in a relationship. KOF 2006 is not a perfect fighter but it is a deep fighter with alot of hidden content and extras to keep you playing for a very long time! On top of that you cannot beat the price!

I haven't played a fatal fury game since the first one on Sega Genesis in the 1990's. King of Fighters has brought your favs from "fatal fury", "art of fighting", and other titles together in KOF 2006; the transition from the 2d world to the 3d world is flawless.

Many fighting games have dissapointed me, including virtua fighter, mortal kombat deception, and DOA. KOF 2006 is the exception. The fighting engine is very good, the graphics are great, and the controls are solid.

If your an old school fan or street fighter and SNK games, you need to get this worthy update.

While fun at times the game feels unpolished. Some characters were clearly meant to be over powered (Alba.) It's very interesting to see how the characters work in a 3D environment.

Being a hardcore KoF fan, I just had to pick up this game when I saw some gameplay footage of it (back in 2008)! This is a direct sequel to maximum impact and includes a much larger roster of characters each with their own unique fighting styles. This game is extremely fast paced, as any king of fighters game should be! It's one of my top 5 favorite fighting games of all time! I highly suggest this one!

I didn't get the opportunity to play this title until I went to my friends house.
Good combos and loyal to past titles of KOF.
Even it's a 3d combat game, is way faster than tekken or DOA and I enjoy fast and hard as hell games.
It's a must have game for your collection!!!