This compilation reminded me that Fatal Fury Special still rocks!!!
For the rest that had the opportunity of playing 2D fighters in the 90's and didn't liked the Fatal Fury or King of Fighters series… I would also pity you…because you are plain stupid.
That leaves us… SNK fanatics, people that actually know how great 2D fighting games were.
But don't take me as a person that can't recognize a piece of crap because Art of fighting always sucked hard. But this isn't the case with Garou Densetsu (Fatal Fury). This fighting series was the foundation of the KOF series and Garou: Mark of the Wolves, the most refined and spectacular 2D fighting game ever created by SNK. This compilation tells a story about vengeance, lone wolves and more important the beginnings of one of the most influential companies in the fighting games genre.
Garou Densetsu may be a little difficult to digest at this day and age, there is not denial about that.
Garou Densetsu 2 is a different story; the game learned from Street Fighter a stellar combo system and borrowed from his brother, Art of Fighting, the desperation moves that became a standard in SNK games. The gameplay enhancements in combination with better graphics and sound effects created one of the best 2D games at the time. Garou Densetsu Special, a clear enhancement of FF2 (a very common tendency at that time thanks to Street Fighter) is the hidden jewel of this collection. I remember the first time I saw this game… I was completely hypnotized… I loved it and spent so many quarters in that machine that I was on financial bankruptcy at the age of 12. This game is the reason why I bought this compilation, and I don't regret it…
Garou Densetsu 3 is the defining moment were the series begun to lose importance for SNK. With Garou Densetsu Special being so damn good, SNK took its gameplay mechanics, art style, and general feeling and put it into their new flagship series… the King of Fighters. With the new KOF series borrowing everything that made FF Special an excellent game, they needed to make mayor changes to differentiate Garou Densetsu from KOF. The result is a little bastard called FF3: road to the final victory. I never liked this game and probably never will. I don't like the subsequent sequels of FF3 also, the Real Bout series, so I would not buy FFBAV2 when it comes out in America. The Garou Densetsu series banished in the shadow of KOF until Garou: Mark of the Wolves came along. Unfortunately Garou: MOTW is not available on PS2 and is not included in this compilation.
The only thing that I never liked from the Garou series was the cheesy 2nd plane gimmick… it sucked… I truly think that one of the reasons why MOTW was so damn good is because it removed that crappy mechanic.
In the end this compilation is worth my money, and any 2D fighting game fan… specially a FF or KOF fan. I just hope that SNK brings to America more compilations… I'll have to wait to see if the KOF Orochi files compilation game will reach American stores and also if I'll ever play on PS2 my SNK favorites of all time Garou: MOTW and Bakumatsu no Roman 1&2 (Last Blade).