King of Fighters R-2

"A perfect example of Diet KOF- Same stuff, a few calories less"

The Neo Geo Pocket Color (AKA the NGPC) is one of the newer creations by SNK, a company that makes some of the best fighting games out there (King of Fighters, Samurai Showdown) as well as other genres (Metal Slug, Crystalis).

The King of Fighters series began back in the Fatal Fury series in the arcades and on the Neo Geo. The first King of Fighters game appeared in 1994, appropriately titled ''King of Fighters 94''.

King of Fighters R-2 is the Neo Geo pocket version of King of Fighters 98, with a few KoF '99 characters thrown in. The graphics are excellent, super-deformed versions of it's arcade big brother. Even the music is outstandingly translated, from Athena's theme to a near-perfect version of Kyo's theme. The animation is also pretty neat, considering the limitations. The boss introductions in Story Mode are awesome, and contains some ''cute'' humour. (''If you win, I give you a new SKILL. If I win, you buy me dinner!'').

Most of the moves and desperation moves are intact, from Kyo's Aragami punches to Iori's Maiden Masher.

The game features KoF Mode, otherwise known as the Arcade Mode (pint-sized, of course). You fight a few characters, and then battle the evil Rugal (again, a pint sized version). Those who have played KoF 98 will crack up at the self-destruction cut scene.

The ''Making'' mode is basically a Story Mode. You pick a character, name him/her and proceed to defeat Rugal, who is cloning fighters and using them for no good! Each stage has various ''fields'' that disable one or more of you abilities (eg. no Super Meter, no block, Life drain...). You can also gain items which can increase the effectiveness of special attacks and even give you new attacks (eg. The ''Old Gun'' sacrifices one of your moves and takes it's place. When performed, the character will pull out a revolver and blast your opponent with it).

There is also a practise mode, and you can upload and download stuff to and from the Dreamcast version of King of Fighters 98 (AKA Dream Match 99).

The character roster has been substantially cut down, but the remaining characters are still pretty neat, and you can even select special versions of certain characters (eg. KoF 94 Kyo, AoF Ryo, Orochi Yashiro and Chris, etc.)

Graphics 9/10
Excellent SD style which can prove hilarious.

Sound 10/10
Each character's theme song is outstandingly translated, from Orochi Chris' Mad Fantasy to Kyo's Esaka.

Lastability 8/10
The Story Mode will keep you hooked for quite a while.

Control 9/10
Depending on how hard to press a button, the attack can be a Heavy or Light attack. Charging up your Power Meter and rolling and dodging can be performed by pressing both buttons and a certain direction.

Overall 9/10
An excellent translation and very funny. (''Holy black hole! I feel like a wet noodle!'')

Rent or buy? Can you even rent this? BuY BuY BuY! (make sure you have a Neo Geo Pocket first though...)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/01, Updated 03/31/01