SNK Dilemma Panics Fighting Game Fans

Here’s to more Mai and Bouncy Beat ‘Em Ups for Years to Come.

This past week, some events occuring within Japanese gaming company SNK-Playmore got gamers up in a tizzy. When it came to light that the producer of the King of Fighters series had left the company some time ago and that the new President had ideas of dissolving their videogame division and just concentrating on Pachinko and figurines, gamers were certainly up in arms. SNK wasn’t just some game company. It was one of the icons of the fighting genre as well as other great gaming titles. Fatal Fury, King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown… and the whole Neo Geo vintage collection… would they all just go to the bargain bin?

Granted, SNK has never been the same since their first fall from the heights that led to the creation of the current SNK-Playmore. In their glory days, they had their own (albeit overpriced) console, tons of arcade hits and fans in their legions. These days, titles are fewer, and good ones rare. The last Samurai Shodown was a disgrace, and KOFXII was regarded by many as incomplete. KOFXIII looks to correct that, but with the troubles at the company, would it even reach gamers outside the arcade? Petitions were started, and some even tried to approach other fighting game gurus (such as Capcom’s Ono) to perhaps step in and get SNK titles if the worst happened.

In the end, SNK apparently answered the issue with a message that indeed, they will continue to create games for years to come. So worry not, Mai Shiranui fans, there will be more bouncy brawling coming. I myself can’t picture the fighting game genre without SNK’s titles in there, so this is really a relief. So perhaps now I’ll give KOFXIII the time of day.

Nah, I’ll just wait for the next batch of SNK fighters instead.

King of Fighters XIII Boss Battle Vid

Story cinematics, check. Super-frustratingly-powerful end boss… check!

The latest KOF has hit the arcades in Japan. King of Fighters XIII is currently beating the coins out of players, sporting a big improvement over bare cupboards XII with story cutscenes, new characters and, DRUM ROLL PLEASE, an Uber-Powerful Final Boss fight!

Hey, it wouldn’t really be a complete KOF without God Final Omega Ultra Apocalyso Rugal X waiting to kick your ass into oblivion once you chewed up the other obstacles on the way up. This time there are two boss fights to test your wits and abundance of tokens (apparently the extra one is to make up for the lack of a finale in XII).

The encounter is with a being named Seiki, who takes out former end boss Mukai and turns into a naked black-tar-for-limbs-and-face thing that loves to grip and punch you silly. After you defeat this Tar Baby wannabee, there’s still a possessed Ash (Black Ash?) to take on, and he seems even more powerful than the first guy.

Anyway, if you do manage to win, you’ll be treated to an ending, and judging from the Fatal Fury team resolution posted over at Hadoken.net, they should be worth seeing.
No word yet on when this hits consoles, but count on that in the next few months or so.

35 Minutes of King of Fighters XIII?!

Let the vid load first, then go grab some chips and soda. It’s a long one.

Now playing on ebtvjp’s Youtube Channel is the King of Fighters XIII Player’s Guide– a more than half-hour long vid with tons of gameplay footage from SNK-Playmore’s upcoming 2D fighting sequel. Thankfully unlike many such vids, the vid is mostly all gameplay, with no annoying commentary or dialogue to grate on the ears… just lots of KOF fighting, looks at the new characters and stages, and that’s it. You’d be hard-pressed to find any other vid with this much goods on KOFXIII than this special gameplay feature, so check it out.

King of Fighters XIII New Promo Trailer

The plot thickens!

SNK-Playmore just released a new spot for their upcoming fighter sequel, King of Fighters XIII. Some story scenes, lots of fighter artworks flashing around, and the promise of anti-hero Ash Crimson’s just desserts being thrown about.
With quite a few new additions, including a truckload of newcomers, such as the original KOF female team of Mai Shiranui, King and Yuri Sakazaki, as well as the K’ Team with, well, K’, Maxima and Kula Diamond. Vice returns as well to rejoin her teammate Mature.
Also new are some really flashy-looking Neo Max super attacks, which seem to fill the whole screen with impressive pyrotechnics. A Color Edit feature and Story cutscenes rounds out the game.

KOFXIII seems to be the game that the previous placeholder XII should have been. This looks like something for 2D fighting fans to look forward to. More as we get it.

Check out the King of Fighters XIII Arcade Intro!

The End of the Ash Crimson?

Here’s the exciting, if extremely brief- intro attract cinematic from the upcoming arcade brawler King of Fighters XIII. While the previous KOF was a bare-bones kit, this seems to be very much plot-heavy, with the finale of the current Ash Crimson saga in its sights. So far the double-dealing androgynous anti-hero has had his way… but that may change. So what does the intro show? A lot of so far unknown characters who probably won’t actually appear in-game, although the end boss is probably one of those sinister robed dudes. The intro probably also shows off some characters who’ll be playable in the game’s final roster. This is expected out in Japanese arcades later this year, with a console release being a no-brainer. More as we get it.

King of Fighters XIII Artworks, Screenshots

Adriasang has just posted a pretty hefty gallery of King of Fighters XIII screens and character art. As reported earlier, newly-debuted in KOFXIII are the classic girls’ team of Mai Shiranui, King and Yuri Sakazaki. So far it seems that everyone from the previous chapter has returned and raring for more fighting.

According to news, this latest upcoming chapter in SNK-Playmore’s premiere beat ’em up will be making up for the lack of narrative in the previous game. KOFXIII will bring to an end the Ash Crimson story arc, so fans of the effeminate double-dealing charge fighter get ready for some comeuppance or big reveals. Anyway, check out the big bunch of lovely artworks and screens here.