The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood

"An outstanding fighter for the GBA..."

So, there I was at Gamestop, my overtime cash burning a hole in my wallet. I faced the GBA rack, surveying the wide selection of games I could get. Then I realized that there was a notable absence of fighting games in my GBA collection. So, I grabbed the first fighter I saw. I wasn't expecting much, what with experiences I had with Street Fighter Alpha 3. However, King of the Fighters EX 2 holds its own against the competition.

Unfortunately, this is my first KOF game, so I'm not clear on the exact story surrounding these fighters. Each fighter has their own motivation for entering the tournament. Some are investigating the mysterious ''Orochi Seal.'' Others have entered to investigate widespread kidnappings that have to do with the tournament. Others have entered the tournament for personal goals. Each fighter has their own unique story.

The gameplay in KOFEX2 does not flow as well as SFA3. However, it's not so noticeable that it interferes with your overall enjoyment. The basic layout of the controls makes for a much more enjoyable gaming experiences than some of this game's rivals. The controls are easy for a beginner. Executing special attacks is incredibly easy. Also, you have a wide array of characters to choose from. There are 21 fighters at your disposal, each with their own unique attacks and move variations.

In Story Mode, you can choose three characters to form a team. Your team must play through a series of fights with different teams. The story varies depending on which characters you choose. The ''Striker'' feature allows for your character to call out to his teammate for assistance. Once on the screen, your partner can help damage your opponent for a few seconds. While this isn't as good as the Dramatic Battle found in SFA3, Strikers are a great feature to this game.

The game also ranks your technical performance after each fight. The better the rating, the more your rank as a fighter will upgraded. The goal to shoot for is to get the Master Orochi rank, which will help unlock other features in the game.


Graphics in KOFEX2 are some of the best I've seen on the GBA. You can see the bright flames envelop an opponent when they get hit with a ball of energy. Also, the characters are well-detailed. You can just make out their faces as they face each other before a fight. Also, the sound effects are excellent. You can hear the thud as fist meets fist. You can hear the whoosh as the fighter jumps. The character voices are superb, even if I can't understand what they're saying sometimes. Each character has their own unique voice. Overall, the graphics and sound are excellent.

If you're looking to add another fighter to your GBA collection, look no further than King of Fighters EX2. This is definitely worth looking into.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/20/04