The King of Fighters 98 Ultimate Match coming to PS2 and XBLA in 2009
Source: videogamesblogger.com
A King of Fighters ‘98 remake titled The King of Fighters ‘98 Ultimate Match was released in Japanese arcades back in March 2008. This was later followed by a retail PlayStation 2 release in Japan in June 2008, which SNK Playmore promises will come to America sometime in 2009.
But that’s not the only way you’ll be able to play the versus fighting game, as a Tokyo Game Show 2008 games list showed King of Fighters 98 Ultimate Match will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade in 2009! According to Siliconera this remake of the King of Fighters ‘98 has a healthy dose of 10 extra characters (now 64 total), cleans up the graphics and includes balance changes for top tier players. It’s also expect that the Xbox 360 release will be modified for online play through Xbox LIVE, much like the recent remake release of SNK’s Samurai Shodown II on Xbox Live Arcade. More details about the new features will be unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show 2008 expo that starts on October 9th.
You’d think for a 10-year-anniversary they’d release the remake worldwide in 2008, but then again, getting it a bit later outside of Japan beats not getting it at all.
The important thing I needed to remember while playing the titles in the SNK Arcade Classics Vol 1 collection is that they were first and foremost arcade games. The fighting games are purely quick brawls, the adventuresome titles are very short in length, and the sports titles are fairly simple in their controls. That said, I had a great time playing a group of NEOGEO games I had never experienced before. Unfortunately, the menu system is a bit clunky since it didn’t seem to recognize the Classic Controller automatically (like pretty much every Wii game). I didn’t think the medal achievement system would be that interesting to me, but it was always neat to see a medal show up at the bottom of the screen when you accomplished something. It’s also nice for some games (like Metal Slug) that the system would automatically set resume points for you to come back and play after you die. It sure was fun to play some of these games and the $30 price tag is definitely worth it for some games like Shock Troopers, Metal Slug, and World Heroes. (Of note, you can find this same collection online at a price of $15 for the PS2 version.) It’s a great treat when you have a friend to play these games; highly suggested if you and a room mate want to spend a night blasting bad guys in multiplayer. Read on past the break for my take on each title.
The first of the titles to be jointly published under the new partnership in America will be 
Fatal Fury (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Violence, 900 Wii Points = $9): Released in 1991 and one of the longest-running series in the fighting-game genre, this title introduced players to Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard and Joe Higashi. Select one of the three and visit many locations as your chosen fighter engages in numerous street fights around the fictional city of South Town. If you’re good enough, you’ll eventually take on Billy Kane and then his boss, the notorious crime lord Geese Howard. Use each fighter’s own finishing maneuver and battle in two different planes on the screen, one in the foreground and the other farther away in the background. The game also features a two-player mode that is well known for its unique setup, which allows fighters to both fight and help each other. Do you have what it takes to win the King of Fighters tournament?
(NEOGEO, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Animated Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points = $9): A fighting game released in 1992 featuring eight characters, including Hanzo, Janne and Rasputin, modeled on historical figures from throughout the ages. The fighters compete against each other to become the world’s toughest combatant, with players using a setup consisting of only three buttons (one each for punching, kicking and throwing). Adding to this unique system is the fact that the strength of your offensive blow depends on how long the button is pressed and held. Along with regular match styles, Death Match mode is also available and features mines, electrified ropes and other dangerous objects in the battle arena that can change conditions during the fight or damage players. Enjoy the wide range of combat forms as you take on history’s best!
Art of Fighting (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Animated Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points = $9): This fighting game, released in 1992, began the story of the Sakazaki family and Robert Garcia, further developed in two later sequels. Yuri Sakazaki has been abducted by Mr. Big to punish her father, Takuma, and her brother, Ryo. To rescue her, Ryo and Robert must take on numerous enemies around South Town, eventually reaching the mysterious Mr. Karate. The passion of the game’s creators is evident in the unique game-play elements introduced. These include an energy gauge that is depleted every time a fighter uses a special maneuver, Desperation Attacks that are usable only when a fighter’s health is low and camera zooming that adjusts on the fly as fighters move around the stage. All these features ensure that players use strategy and tactics, rather than simply mash buttons. Adding to the mix are little touches such as characters showing cuts when they are injured and voice-over samples during cut scenes. Can you perfect the art of fighting and save Yuri?
