King of Fighters R-2

"King of Fighters 98, but pint-sized."

So you've never heard of the Neo Geo Pocket? You say "2D games are dead, long live War Gods 64!" You may have to eat your words once you see the marvel that is King of Fighters R-2 on the Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC). This portable has enough power to faithfully translate a top-notch arcade fighter, King of Fighters 98 (KOF 98), into the handheld game. OK, so it's not that arcade perfect, but it's darn close!

Animation is amazing in this game. Almost every frame of animation in KOF 98 is also in this game (except it's all "pint-sized," like Pocket Fighter). Even the music is the same (just in MIDI-style format). Sound effects in the game aren't very good, but still good for a portable. Desperation moves are accompanied with a nice high pitched "cha-ching" to add to the action. Unfortunately the backgrounds don't move at all, but I guess that would be asking too much from the NGPC.

Control is perfect thanks to the "simulated analog" microswitch style gamepad. Even though this portable has two action buttons, every move and combo come off with easy. If you tap the button the move is "weak," if you hold the button it's a "strong" version of the move (sans desperations). Combos are a actually a little too easy in this game (some combos in this game are impossible to pull off in KOF 98).

SNK have really outdone themselves on this game. Great animation and music (for a portable) combined with flawless make this game one of the best portable games I've played. Also, this is the first game to combine two seperate videogame systems by different companies. By hooking the Neo Geo Pocket to the SEGA Dreamcast you can exchange information from a character you created on the "Making" mode. The points gathered in the game can be used on the DC version to open up character artwork. A "must-have" if you intend to buy a Neo Geo Pocket.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99