In the unlikely event that you get bored of Guilty Gear X2 (which I might add is very unlikely) then Playmore has brought to you two King of Fighters games in one pack for the fairly low price of $55 CDN. Well, low compared to the $300+ you'd spend on each game if you were to buy the original version. If you're not familiar with King of Fighters, it's a series of fighting games that gets a new installment every year. Every new KOF brings with it new changes in gameplay, a reshuffled roster and more storyline. 2000 and 2001 are part of the rather corny NESTS saga. Both have some version of the Striker system, which is a love it or hate it addition to gameplay. If you've played any KOF games in the past, you have an idea of what these will play like. 2000 is a faithful port that's true to the arcade version. In it, the game has you choose 3 fighters out of your team of four to fight and your choice of strikers depends on who your fourth fighter is. There are several characters, such as Geese, that are only strikers. A nice addition is the ability to unlock the entrance cutscenes of KOFs past. 2001 is not only a faithful port but it has been touched up. New entrance video which while awesome, it's more or less a ripoff on Guilty Gear and the WWE ("Here Comes the Pain?") not that I'm complaining. Menu screens have been revamped and special effects in the game have been improved. For 2001, you can choose any number of your team of four to be strikers, and the more strikers you have, the more supers (ummm I mean "DOA thrashings") your meter can carry and the faster it builds. But to actually use a striker takes up a super. You'll get your typical modes out of this. Both have Arcade, versus, practice and Survival (oops, I mean "Party Mode") Though to its credit, the AI is decent and the bosses are hard. Single Player value comes in trying to learn as many characters as you can and seeing all of the endings for each team. But like any fighter, this game is best played in multiplayer. Terribly dated graphics aside, King of Fighters 2000/2001 is a solid fighter. Obviously not as good as Guilty Gear X2 or some of Capcom's best efforts, but still a great fighter to own. And if it sells well, perhaps it'll encourage the devs to do more PS2 ports.
Other Helpful Reviews for The King of Fighters 2000/2001
Ok just the other day I picked this fantastic double game disc up for just £8 brand new still wrapped, so it was clearly a bargain straight away, not to mention my love of 2D beat-em-ups so it was clearly a must get for ... Read Full Review
KOF2001 and KOF2000, both games created by Eolith/Brezzasoft, are excellent fighting games that today's world definately needs. Yes, graphics are not spectacular, as the game was run by the old system, but what makes up... Read Full Review
