Review
Release Date: 12.12.2000
Platform:
Sega DreamcastDeveloper:
SNK Co.Publisher:
Agetec, Inc.Reviewed by
Wade Monnig on 4.28.2003
| Review Rating: 7/10 | User Rating: 8.33/10 |
King Of Fighters: Evolution may have found a new group of fans with the release of the Capcom Vs. SNK series. All of the Capcom fans that played the mega-fighter clash and were intrigued by the SNK players and set-up have a chance to experience them in their natural setting. While what they will be greeted with doesn’t quite match up to the quality of the ultra-fighter-merger of Capcom Vs. SNK, it is a good representation of what SNK battlers are all about. Of course, old time SNK groupies will instantly fall in love with the progressions Evolution has taken over Dreammatch 1999.
The biggest innovations in KOF: Evolution lay in the form of three-dimensional backgrounds and the inclusion of the tag-team Strikers. Much of the gameplay advancements are focused on the Strikers, who are called in for a quick attack with a simple button press. Strikers can be selected from the normal range of fighters or special secret strikers can be unlocked via a point system. The higher your difficulty setting the more points you can earn through battle, allowing you to unlock SNK favorites such as Billy Kane. Oddly, points are only earned in arcade mode or by linking to the Neo Geo Pocket. So, all the additional modes that are included (Versus, survival, etc.) take a back seat to the traditional arcade mode.
The combatants are divided into seven teams, with four fighters per team. If you're in trouble, you can slip into Armor mode for a few moments to recover or resort to the flashy Desperation moves that can change the flow of a fight with a vicious counterstrike.
The backgrounds are a great step up from previous releases and even feature alternative level configurations, essentially giving you twice as many backgrounds as before. If you have seen Capcom Vs. SNK in action, you know what to expect. These detailed 3-D backgrounds do have one negative effect; they tend to bring out the flaws in the look of the characters. While the animations are passable, the pixilated/grainy look is showing its age.
With Playmore taking the helm to produce new and original King of Fighters releases, the series will most definitely continue. But if you are looking for one of the last “True” SNK fighters, this Dreamcast release is one of the best options for gamers who can’t afford a Neo-Geo Gold system.
