Garou: Mark of the Wolves

"Just like what Terry says, this game "Busts da roof!""

Garou: MotW is a new addition to the Fatal Fury series in 1999. It featured one returning character, Terry, and a host of new characters. On to the ratings.

Graphics: 10
And you thought that the MVS features crappy 2D graphics.
Dead wrong.
MotW is probably the best SNK fighting game graphically out there. Fluid animations, cool backgrounds, and nice drawings (the one drawing this drew the character selection portraits in KOF 2000). Terry's stage on a moving train is unbelievable. First you start with a rising sun, then on the second round in a train station, and the third (and the rounds after that) on a bridge with Second South in the background. The graphics are great, great, and great.

Sound: 9
One of my main focus in SNK fighting games is the music. And this one is good, but not like legendary or something. You'll like Terry's theme which fits him, and the background perfectly somehow, Hotaru's theme which is joyful (like herself), and Freeman's theme which is some good metal.
The voices are done pretty well, even though Terry sounds kinda drunk, but it's good enough.

Gameplay: 9
MotW features a more KOF game, which is different from previous FFs. Now there's light punch, kick, strong punch and kick. It's always a one-line battle, there are no 'backgrounds' in MotW. KOF players should feel at home.
Power meters have two levels, one being S and another one being P. S is one stock, and P is two stocks. If you got an S you can do a super move, if you got a P then you can do a 'super super' move.
Also the TOP system is introduced. Basically after you choose a character, you must choose his/her TOP section. When your fighter's life reaches that section, his/her life will start gaining (slowly) and in addition, a TOP move is enabled (press CD). That's a nice thing.
To 'counter' SF3's parrying system, a Just Defended system is installed. Basically, if you defend at the 'right time,' you won't take any damage from the move, instead, you gain some life from Just Defending. A nice bit as well.
On to the bosses, we see a rare thing. The mid-boss and the final boss aren't way overpowered! That must be good. But for the final round of the last boss, you'll find something that's a bit disturbing.
To add icing to the cake, there is also a survival mode, which is pure fun. You choose a character, and pit him/her against all the fighters in the game one-by-one. There are powerups as well, and it makes the survival game fun.

Characters: 9
One returning character, Terry Bogard, and 13 other selectable characters (two of them are bosses). In addition, you get Rock Howard. Why must I mention him? Well, is the fact that he's Geese's son enough?
The new characters are well balanced, and while some of them are completely new (as in new set of moves), old school guys can immediately tell from Kim Jae Hoon's moves, Hotokumaru's moves, and Marco (or Butt) as well.
One minor gripe though, I don't know why SNK decided to name Marco Rodriguez as Kushnood Butt, and The Griffon as Tizoc. They even have different sets of names from the announcer. Weird.

Story: 8
This story ties in well to KOF 2000's ending. Remeber Zero Cannon? It blasted Southtown away. Therefore Second South is rebuilt. But that's the end of the KOF connection.
This story mainly circles around after the death of Geese, but not everybody is about Geese. Most characters have their own storyline, which somehow leads them into the tournament.

Overall: 9
Wow, it's a 9. So the final score is a 9.
This game is fun. Maybe it's a bit hard at first, but if you do some practice you don't find it as hard as before. Have fun with Terry busting da roof.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/06/02, Updated 04/06/02