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2D fighters on the big consoles invariably irritate me. I guess I just can't get past the fact that fighting games moved into the third dimension early on in the PSone era. As a handheld property, however, I find myself able to enjoy them for what they are rather than despising their lack of depth. This latest edition of The King of Fighters doesn't do anything new, but it doesn't do much wrong, either.
For anyone who's not familiar with the franchise, KoF is a Street Fighter-esque tournament between a bunch of SNK characters. KoF has been around forever (nine years is forever in video games), and each successive iteration takes a very small step forward while keeping the gameplay almost exactly the same. Howling Blood is no exception – at first, it seems to be a direct port of the PS2 port of the Dreamcast port of the arcade KoF 2001.
Fans of the series will no doubt buy this no matter what, if only for the three exclusive characters. However, any GBA owner could easily do worse than pick this up. The control is solid and responsive, there are 21 unique characters to learn, and quite a bit of new content can be unlocked. By no means is this new, revolutionary, or the best GBA title ever, but it's a good way to get in a fight on the bus without getting thrown off and arrested.
Concept:
Become the King of Fighters on a wee little screen
Graphics:
Animations are a bit light on frames, but the sprites look awesome
Sound:
Tinny and repetitive, but the Japanese smack-talking is funny as usual
Playability:
About as good as it can be, considering the number of buttons on the GBA
Entertainment:
If you feel that three dimensions is one too many for a fighting game, this is for you
Replay:
Moderately High
Rated: 7.75 out of 10
Editor: Adam Biessener
Issue: March 2004
2nd Opinion:
One of the concerns with any handheld 2D fighting title is the issue of replay value. If you have a friend with a GBA you can go head to head, but otherwise the game will largely be a single player experience that gets really boring really fast. After going through once, often there just isn't any incentive to play again. King of Fighters EX2 addresses this problem by enriching the single player game in addition to having multiplayer versus and team battles. Each group of three combatants has a specialized ending, and characters gain experience and levels as they are used, ultimately leading to unlocking the boss as a playable character. Add to that a satisfying variety of cool (though sometimes difficult to execute) moves and the team-based play KoF is known for, and you have a solid fighting game that is worth sinking your fists into.
Rated: 7.75 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty good,
By TwistaG "Quoth the Raven 'Nevermore" (Moncks Corner,SC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood (Video Game)
The deep fighting system that has become synonymous with the King of Fighters franchise is alive and well in The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood for the GBA. Among the 21 available characters, you'll find old favorites alongside three newcomers who are exclusive to this title. King of Fighters' classic three-on-three battles are the mainstay of this GBA version with a special story mode that lets you vie for the throne. The character art and animation are fantastic, as are the detailed backgrounds. The effects for special attacks are similarly striking. Unfortunately, the soundscape doesn't follow suit and is actively annoying in places. Each character's unique fighting style offers special moves and combos, though some of them are unreasonably difficult to execute. When you get it right, though, the results are sufficiently devastating. A "Striker" command lets you call in a teammate to make a quick attack on your behalf, which can also make a huge impact on the outcome. Cancels are a piece of cake and can lead to counters that annihilate your opponent. Due to the fast-paced action, the controls will leave you with aching hands and thumbs. It's especially noticeable if you play on the quadrangular GBA SP. Of course, this level of intensity means that there's a good game underway, and you'll want to keep at it despite the pain. It is a must have for KOF veterans on the go.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A small size game, Of Butt kicking action!,
By Brandon (Olathe, KS USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood (Video Game)
I'd give this 5 stars because this game is TIGHT! A special sequal to kof EX 1. With a 3 on 3 battle, With charecters from Kof 2000. This game includes 7 teams and 21 charecters, With a story mode, And a VS mode to compete with your friends( Or your rival). There's a judging system that will rate your skills.With charecters named, Moe,Terry from the legendary Fatal fury, Charecter from art of fighting series and much much more! And a new charecter named Miu. The graphics are highly smooth and great for a small vdo game. Better than street fighter! To rent or to buy: Rent it first to see what you think, But i'd buy it!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Fighting Game,
By death gleamer (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood (Video Game)
This is an awesome game. Lots of characters, 20+. Each one is unique not generic. The graphic is very good, sound is excellent. What makes this game different is the ability to use 3 players instead of 1 like most fighters and this adds more replay and fun. Gameplay is solid; AI is good, loads of options, smooth animation, and great fighting engine which is pretty deep.
If you like street fighter you will like this game. This is a hard game to find but if you spot it pick it up for sure.
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