Reviewed
05.23.2000
Publisher
SNK
Developer
SNK
Format
16
Megs
Origin
Import
Available
1998
(Japan)
Exclusive
Yes
Difficulty
Adjustable
Dimensions
2D
View
Side
Genre
Fighter
Players
1-2
Options
Backup
NGP
Link
Requires
n/a
Importable
100% |
INTRO:
> First of all, before I start this review, I must admit that it will be
biased. I love not only fighting games in general, but the King of
Fighters games especially. When I first saw pictures of this game
in a magazine, I was ecstatic. Finally, a real game of KOF on the
go. I rushed to my favorite import shop and bought a NeoGeo Pocket
Color months before it was officially sold here in the U.S. I had
the shopkeeper order a copy of this game and once it arrived, I was in
heaven. Well, almost. As far as the King of Fighters series
goes, unless you've been living under a rock for the past six years, it
should need no introduction. KOF R-1 is based on KOF '97 and features
characters, music, and stages from that game.
GRAPHICS:
> Despite the black and white graphics, this game is as detailed and well
animated as the color sequel, R-2. Granted, the lack of color does
impact the total experience, I don't feel it in any way detracted from
the title's presentation. The character sprites are easy to see and
blur is pretty much nonexistent. If only one could say that about
virtually any GameBoy title (color or no).
CONTROL:
> Ahh... the folks at SNK obviously knew what they were doing when they
designed that control stick on the NGPC. But, I digress. It's
standard King of Fighters in the control department, although it could
have been a little better. Sometimes the game doesn't seem to recognize
a movement unless you do it just right, and you have to barely even tap
the button to get your character to perform a weak attack. Hitting
the button with any real amount of force always results in a strong attack.
The lack of two separate buttons for kicks and punches doesn't really hurt
the gameplay, but if you're used to using that setup it does take some
adjustment to play the Neo Pocket way.
SOUND:
> The music is just 8-bit versions of the 16-bit tunes that any KOF fan
would know. Nothing special, but it never becomes annoying.
Punches, kicks, and hits are pretty clear but unremarkable.
FUN:
> Fun factor depends entirely upon whether or not you enjoy games of this
nature. Since all NGPC titles, import or no, display text based on
the systems internal settings everyone can enjoy the wonderfully butchered
English text that has come to be known as SNK-glish. For a KOF fan,
this is the next best thing to a portable NeoGeo Arcade system.
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