World Heroes 2

"Who says arcade-to-home ports can't be perfect?"

Back during the days of 16-bit systems, there was Sega Genesis, and there was the Super NES. Off to the sides was the first 32 bit system called Neo*Geo. While I first heard about it as a four-in-one arcade machine, I never realized it was also a home system. Needless to say, they did have their share of games, some of which got ported to the other systems, some didn't. Many people said that the Neo*Geo always got the better part of the deal, while the 16-bit players just got a watered down version of the original. That's not entirely true, some games were pretty good ports, including World Heroes 2!

Graphics: 10/10
Only a few bits are missing here and there. Otherwise, you've got all of the animations that you saw in the Neo*Geo version. Every special attack comes off just like you'd see it in the arcade version, every character has their own taunt, and every background has its own unique features. You even have a new choice of six different costume choices for each character now!

Sounds: 10/10
The announcer will yell fight, but he won't count when someone goes down in a fatal match. Other than that, you'll still hear characters yell the names of their special moves in their original voices, and taunt like they did in the arcade. The music surprisingly fits each stage perfectly, and every attack you land against your opponent is heard crystal clear, complete with them yelling when they go down for the count.

Controls: 10/10
You can play the original three button style, complete with remappable buttons, or go for the six button configuration. Either way, pulling off the special moves are a breeze, and you can perform additional offensive and defensive moves, including reflecting projectile attacks, countering an opponent's grab attack, and the ability to rebound off of the walls and get your opponent with an aerial attack when they least expect it!

Replay: 10/10
You've got a whole arsenal of fighters to master, including classics like Ken and Ryu clones Fuuma and Hanzou, female sword slinger Janne, and even the mystic Rasputin! Newcomers include football player Johnny Maximum, judo champion Ryoko, and shaman Mudman, just to name a few, are here to kick behind and take names! Also new to the second installment is the Fatal Match mode, which includes more than just obstacles in each arena. The energy bar is presented in a 'tug-of-war' fashion, meaning that as you hit your opponent, your energy goes up while theirs goes down, plus you can get back on your feet by mashing the buttons before the count reaches ten. And, yes, there is your classic two player versus mode!

Overall: 10/10
Even if they do have a few things missing, there are still such things as perfect arcade ports, and World Heroes 2 is just one of those examples! Try this game today, and become a hero within your world!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/15/01, Updated 08/15/01