i think they should just stick to 2D games.
User Rating: 7.5 | KOF Maximum Impact PS2
i've been a kof fan ever since 94. snk made their best 2D titles and turned into 3D for their 10 year anniversary (what's with this anniversary these days?) is snk want to repeat what capcom made a mistake by making stf:ex series? regardless of what, being a snk fan i decided to purchase this title. i've been playing this game couple of hours and would like share my thoughts. Gameplay: as i can expect from snk titles. at first, i wan't quite used to new fighting systems and felt like button mashing, but as i was playing more and more, i found out there are some deep gameplay hidden inside. there are many button combos from fatal fury real bout title, but quite different. i wanted to see some new super moves from classic characters, but unfornately, they are all same and same commands. new characters however have their own personalities and as well as their unique super moves. able to side evading is a neat idea, but side walking is just way too slow compare to soul calibur 2. people out there, this doesn't feel like 3D fighting game. it's fast gameplay just like it's 2D counterparts. well not as fast as previous 2D ones, but good enough. it's very unique experience playing 3D version. P.S. kof last boss was always known as "IMPOSSIBLE TO BEAT!" this title seems like snk relaxed last boss difficulties and made impossible to challenging. last boss doesn't look all that "cool" compare to previous titles, still okay. Graphics: characters are look smooth enough. not smooth as a butter ^^ but enough. snk censored Mai's jiggling animation for previous ps2 kof titles, but good news! jiggling is back! lol. in fact every female characters jiggle big time! backgounds look pretty good. not quite detail compare to first leading 3D fighters, but i say good enough. there are no destructive objects in backgrounds but if you do hard blow attacks and make your opponent fly to the fence and stuff, it does bend. this snk's first attempt of 3D fighters, and i say they did a pretty good job. there are many things to improve, but i will see what snk will do for the next 3D titles if there ever will be. Sound: many of the japanese fighters either use their original japanese voices or put options when players can choose between english and japanese voices. kof:MI uses only english, and i will tell u... i am still not used to each characters' voices as they use special moves. for an example: Athena when she teleports in other previous kof she says "telepooorto" now she says "teleport" in native english speaker's pronunciation. u get the idea? why can't snk just leave japanese voices as it was and put english subtitles, it will just save them money as well as make hardcore kof fans happy. i just don't get it. BGM really didn't captured me neither. opening theme is pretty nice, but in-game BGMs are just average. Controls: control responsive very important in the fighters. this game is very responsive and fast. Conclusion: first attempt of snk's 3D version of kof, and they did a great job porting 2D to 3D. i am an animator, and i know it's very hard thing to do to move classic 2D game to 3D without losing its originality. still feels like classic kof and at the same time gives new feeling. there are pretty neat ideas but need improvements. hey~ sequels are improvements right? i hope snk will "wow" instead of "pretty good" me for sequels. o! characters' designs are awesome!
