Capcom vs. SNK

"The little game that could...but didn't..."

Hm...this would be considered the ultimate combination. Take the impressive stable of SNK fighters and match them with the most famous name in fighting games, Capcom, what do you get? Something that would've been great...if it got past a few major flaws. Its not an upsetting game, its just there is so much more that could have been done.

Graphics-9
Pretty good graphics. Some of the best animation in a 2D fighter this side of Street Fighter 3. It is sort of a step back from SFA in terms of fluidity (Yeah, SF3 did have some fluid animation, but SFA did it so much better.). The pre-fight animations are well done (some of the best I've seen for a fighting game). This game has some of the best lighting effects in a 2D fighter. The projectiles in this game have been improved with a mucho graphics overhaul from the previous games (I'm only coming from the Capcom side on this). The backgrounds are alive with activity. Certain stages even have interactive parts to them that don't interrupt the action. My only real complaint is certain art styles don't match (mostly in the Capcom fighters). But otherwise, its a good blend of both companies.

Sound/Music-10
A new mix of music and sounds brings a fresh attitude to both sides of the equation. Some new sounds also complement the new music. Even the contact has a newer, more aggressive sound to it. The music is beautifully orchestrated and arranged into each stage quite well. The sounds are original and crisp.

Control-5
This is the game's first low point. The 4-button layout works well for faster-paced games like Marvel Vs Capcom 2 where thinking about moves shouldn't be too hard. However, in a slower game, more buttons are a plus. Sadly, this game doesn't do it. Also, the game's control reaction time is not as fast as I wish. While I never played SNK games, I've played a good number of Capcom fighters and this just isn't as natural for me. In fact, most basic moves seem to have a delay to them. That can put a seriously big chink in your strategy arsenal.

Gameplay-7 (actually I'll say 7.5)
This game's control bogs this category all the way through. However, as a fighting game, it isn't half-bad. The sheer numbers of options make this quite a game of variety. There are quite a few things gameplay-wise that set it apart from other fighting games. Its two styles of fighting are a first. You can either fight in the Capcom mode (or ''groove'' as the game calls it) or you can fight in SNK mode. Now, this game DOES favor the Capcom side in both modes (mainly because Capcom had the huge responsibility of emulating SNK's style of gameplay). So this game is a tad more natural for a Capcom player regardless of what mode you choose. However, the ever-present lagging control system is there no matter what mode you play in. This game has a vast amount of playability, its just the control hurts it so much.

Replay Value-6
At first, this game may seem like it has a multitude of secrets. It boasts quite a few secret characters. However, most of the secrets are extra color costumes for the characters. And again, the lagging control will cause you to lose more than your fair share of matches. So that will wreck the replayiblity. Two-player matches do have a strong base. However, the amount of time it takes to earn any REAL secrets is just too much to make the 1-player game have any true replay value.

Overall-7
At first, this game may be one of the best ideas to come across the Dreamcast. However, once you hit start and the control flaws start, the game starts to go downhill. This is an original idea. This is the first game of its kind to feature the fusion of two major fighting game companies. But it has a rushed feel to it and it seems to give this game a fatal blow that it can't recover from. Maybe once this game reaches the PS2 for Capcom Vs SNK 2, these issues will be addressed and fixed.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/25/01, Updated 07/25/01