Garou: Mark of the Wolves

"The Future of Garou Densetsu"

Well now, I guess I'm going to be the first person who is going to put their two cents on one of the finest games currently out at this time. It's really shame too, because this game is easily one of the funniest and most addictive games out there. Why? Well, I'm about to get to that. All I can say is that I've enjoyed all the Garou Densetsu games, I've always been a fan of the series ever since it came out 10 years ago, but this new addition to the series blows the rest of the games away. But anyway, let's get on with the review.

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Gameplay
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Thankfully the ever so irrating 3 button attack system is gone (Punch, Kick, Fierce Attacks) and is now replaced with the old Garou Densetsu/King of Fighters system of 4 buttons (Weak Punch, Weak Kick, Strong Punch, Strong Kick). Okay, that's a HUGE plus, and it makes pulling off Super Moves a little bit easier as well.

Speaking of the Super Moves... the game uses a a Ki meter very similar to the Real Bout games. There is once again a S Power (Special Power) and a P Power (Potiential Power) which enable you to use super moves.

The S Power allows you to use lower powered versions of the super moves as the P Power allows you to use a high powered version of a super move, or allows you to use 2 S Power moves. But there is one thing to it, if you want to use a S Power move you have to use the approiate weak button, and to use a P Power move you have to use the apporiate strong button (One exception is Rock's Neo Deadly Rave). This system, which is very similar to most fighting games, is a lot easier to understand than the confusing system in the Real Bouts.

Now for characters. Ok, there is more than enough characters here to content any player. Sure there isn't the vast amounts like the KOF games or Capcom's Versus games, but there's enough. And each character has very richly detailed and powerful moves so that you might have some stupid looking characters (K. Butt), but that stupid character also has enough useful moves to hold his own (K. Butt).

Oh yeah, and I can't forget about the Just Defend system and the T.O.P. Attacks. As it is, after you pick your character, you have a chance to place a red section on any of three places on your character's life bar. So, when in battle, the character's health reachs that red shaded part of his/her health, they get into T.O.P mode. T.O.P mode is simply this: it makes you a bad mojo. Your strength is slightly increased, it enables another special move (activated using the strong buttons), and it gradually increases your health intil your out of the red area of your health. VERY cool, and VERY helpful at times.

Just Defend is basically when you defend at a correct time you get a certain amount of defensive advanatges such as: recovery of some life, and ability to counter quickly. Ok, think of this as like Street Fighter 3's Parrying system. And this is a God sent too, because it'll allow you to air-defend (if your quick enough) against annoying moves such as the Rising Tackle.

So what do I have to say about the gameplay? Excellent! Extremely well done by SNK, as usual.

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Graphics and Sounds
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About the best you can get out of the ole Neo-Geo system. Despite this system being as old as it is, it's still really good graphics and sounds. Everyone's stances and moves are so fluid, and excellently drawn that it's hard to tell if your playing a video game or watching an anime. All the stages, and music fit each character perfectly. And I really appreciated the fact that Terry still has his stage on a moving train. And, while I'm on Terry, thank God they changed his clothing. He now looks even more cool, with his new threads. As the same with everyone else. The design of all the characters is excellent! As true to most SNK games as well.

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Replay
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Well, that depends. If you beat it in the arcade your left hanging, but if you beat it using the Neo-Geo consule, you get a really good ending for Garou standards. If you can only play it at the arcades, well, then your out of luck. The best you could hope for in a replay value is playing against a worth foe. As for the console, it's well worth playing the game with every character to see their own endings, it's that good. Of course, I don't know many people that actually have the Neo-Geo console considering it's price tag, and the fact that it isn't for sale in the states. All you can do now... is wait for the Dreamcast version to come out.

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Story
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Well, after Real Bout 2, Geese we thrown off his building (yes, again) by Terry Bogard. Unknowningly, Terry found out shortly after that Geese had a son, named Rock. So what does Terry do? Take him as his own.

10 years pass and Rock is now a young man, skilled with the knowledge of both his father's style and Terry's style of martial arts, but lives a peaceful life with Terry and his friends. Terry has become an artist, and basically retired from fighting. Life is good in Southtown... of course until the announcement of another King of Fighters tournament being held. Shortly after hearing about the tournament, Rock and Terry get invitations to join, as do other very talented fighters around the world. What does this mean? Will this be just another tournament, or will it be something more? Fueled with belief that perhaps this tournament will give him some information on his lineage, Rock enters the tournament.

... That's basically the storyline. I think it's pretty cool myself, seeing how Rock is now the main character and that he has an excellent blend of both Geese's and Terry's moves. But I won't say another word, just play the game. Seriously, do it for yourself.

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Overall
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So basically, that's my review of Garou: Mark of the Wolves. It would've been longer, but I grow tired and must rest. All I can say is... this game is really fun, it has it all, great characters, great moves, great system, great graphics, and most importantly a great storyline. When ever you get the chance to play this game, do it. Because it is by far the best Garou Densetsu game, and easily one of the best SNK games ever.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/12/01, Updated 06/12/01