KOF 2000/2001 dup reviews
King of Fighters 00/01 (SNK 2004) B-
10/8/2004
Neo Geo fans are very familiar with the King of Fighters (KOF) series, and many feel it represents the pinnacle of 2D fighting. Since 1994, a new edition has been released each year for the Neo Geo system, and these oversized cartridges typically sell for hundreds of bucks each. Considering that fact, this package is a terrific value. It contains both the 2000 and 2001 versions of King of Fighters, neither of which were previously available for a reasonable price. With basic controls and special moves inspired by Street Fighter 2, KOF is fun and easy to play. If you have any experience at all with 2D fighters, you'll feel right at home with these games. The 2000 edition has a whopping 35 characters and the 2001 edition boasts 40. Although you can always fight one-on-one, the "team" modes are more interesting and strategic. In addition to selecting the fighters for your team, you also select a "striker" character who can jump into the fray on your command and deliver a well-timed blow to the enemy. Thanks to years of fine-tuning, the control is tight and the characters are well balanced. I really appreciate how the fighters tend to be "normal people" and not a bunch of shape-changing freaks. I wasn't familiar with most of the characters, but I could easily "feel out" their special moves and determine their fighting styles. One aspect of King of Fighters that apparently has not evolved much over the years is the graphics. The characters look somewhat pixilated and the scenery isn't very interesting. Surprisingly, the backgrounds in the 2001 version look worse, with spectators in the distance who would be more at home in an Atari 5200 game. Still, the fighting animation is good and the old-school graphics have a definite charm. Both games have minimal loading times, and if you have an arcade-style joystick, you'll want to drag it out of the closet. The arcade and versus modes are great, but I found the "party modes" to be surprisingly dull, forcing you face dozens of opponents in a row who barely resist your onslaught. The music features a wide range of styles, and although most are okay, a few are utterly horrendous. In general, this is a package for fighting game enthusiasts. King of Fighter's gameplay changed little over the years. It's always been good and always will be.
Rating: Teen (blood, violence)
1 or 2 players
Check for King of Fighters 00/01 on Ebay, Amazon
King of Fighters 2000/2001 (SNK 2003) B-
9/8/2006
Originating on the Neo Geo console way back in 1994, Kind of Fighters (KOF) combines characters from many of SNK's famed 2D fighters. Even after the console was discontinued, yearly editions of the game continued to be produced, making for some very expensive collectables. Thankfully, this fine two-in-one package lets casual gamers see what all the fuss is about. As the sixth and seventh editions in the series, King of Fighters 2000 and 2001 don't stray far from the original formula. Sure, there are more characters (35 and 42, respectively) and a few minor tweaks, but the visual style and core gameplay are vintage 1994 - for better or worse. While the SNK roster has never been as compelling as Capcom's Street Fighter 2 lineup, you'll still find some interesting characters like the silver-haired K' (pronounced K-Dash), the scantily clad Mia, and the ball-and-chain toting Chang. Many of the characters seem androgynous in nature. The fighting action is rock solid, and Street Fighter veterans will feel right at home with the controls. One interesting feature is the ability to call in a "striker" partner to apply a quick hit. Both games play pretty much the same, but their graphics look slightly different. KOF 2000's stages, while modest, are far more attractive than anything Capcom has come up with in recent years. Locations like the aquarium and wind-swept desert look terrific, and occasional surprises include a bulldozer crashing through the junkyard stage. If only there were as many stages as there are characters! Surprisingly, KOF 2001 is actually a step down in terms of graphics. The characters look more pixelated, and the stages have a dull, washed-out look. Backgrounds tend to plastered with "King of Fighters" signs, which are both gratuitous and dumb. The menu interface was revamped for KOF 2001, with detailed illustrations on the character selection screen that will appeal to anime fans. Both games feature Japanese voiceovers and high scores are automatically saved. The single-player modes are entertaining enough, but you can't beat these games for some sweet two-player action, especially with an arcade-style joystick. King of Fighters 2000/2001 may still have a foothold in 1994, but for some fans of the old school, there's no place they'd rather be.
Rating: Teen (blood, violence)
1 or 2 players