Where Has The King Of Fighters Gone!?

User Rating: 5.5 | The King of Fighters XII X360
I'm a Huge fan of King Of Fighters, and this game was a big let down for myself and others. If you like any of the other King Of Fighters, this game does not compare to any others in the series. It's really nice to see them try something new, but they leave alot to be desired. The characters are very bland, all the hype they put on the new re-designed characters and yet, they still leave you wanting more. Plus they leave out some of the favorite characters that are pivotal to the series. (Which I hope will be available for download in the near future). The backgrounds are very active but also, very dull for hand drawn. Don't misunderstand, the characters are very well drawn and so are the backgrounds, but they do not blend well together.

The game doesn't feature a story line, so if you where hoping for more on the Crimson Ash saga your not going to find it here. Another big flaw is that you play through 5 levels and there is no final boss, but in its place a congratulations screen. As I said there are 5 levels and it's the normal 3 on 3 matches. The game is nothing more than a time trial. After each match you are asked if you would like to retry for a better time but it's only once per match. Which is a neat idea to better your skills, and show off how fast you can dispatch your foes. Very nice for bragging rights.

The game feels sluggish, and very dry. You'll find yourself cornered while the A.I. will do the same move repeatedly. I pre-ordered the game 3 months ago, and the game got pushed back once. After having played it, I'm not sure why it got pushed back. I beat the game on hard in 11 minutes and it really took no skill at all. There really was no challenge to the game what so ever. It's a nice game for someone who is just starting to play 2-D fighters or wants to learn. There is in no way though that this is a 60 dollar game, 20 dollars is even pushing it. If your a collector of King Of Fighters such as myself you'll still get it and keep it.

Bottom line and it's sad to say, if you want to play a good hand drawn, 2-D fighting game on the 360 this isn't the game for you. Instead you might want to try BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. If your a fan of SNK in general and want to play a good 2-D fighter just download, Garou: Mark of the Wolves on xbox live. This game just wasn't worth the money or the hype.