SNK Gals Fighters

"A terrific fighter, one that is both fun and hilarious"

When I first heard of the concept behind Gal's Fighters, I couldn't stop shaking my head. My first thought was that some company had somehow okayed another Strip Fighter with SNK. When I heard that SNK was the producer of the game, though, I immediately looked for info. Recalling the premise behind the King of Fighter series, I had a hunch that the game would have a ton of fighters from SNK's various series. Well, there were a slew of fighters, each from a SNK game, although a few were complettely unknown to me. However, what I think when I got the game is irrelivant (aside from knowing WHY I got it..), so on to the review!

Graphics - 10/10 (*falls over laughing*)

One reason that I enjoy the Neo Geo Pocket Color so much is the screen. Even with a dim light, you can see virtually all of the action. And this game is full of graphical candy. No, not that, you etchi. The backgrounds are among the best on this system, easily surpassing King of Fighters R-2 and almost as complex as Fatal Fury. And there are a few animations, though they are basic. Still, the fact that there are any animations on the cart is no small feat when you look at the main attraction of this section...

The sprites are absolutely gorgeous. Each sprite has been completely overhauled, as they bare little resemblance to their appearances in other Neo Geo Pocket Color games. Many of the characters have hilarious animations - and that is just the intro! To see Nakoruru's intro is to chuckle, to see Nakoruru when she faces herself is hilarious. Yes, each character has an intro animation for standard fights and a seperate one when facing themselves. This alone is worth fiddling with the Training mode alone. But the battle animations are equally hilarious - with Yuri and Yuki (and Nakoruru as well ^_^) having some of the most hilarious moves. Many super moves are identical to their other apperances, but they usually end in a new animation (like Mai's singed form after any burning attack or Nakoruru's wild charge). Also, running forward is now animated with an anime-styled run, and each character is slightly differient. Did I meantion that the taunts are just as hilarious?

One note - there are a few cameos in this game, though many I am unfamiliar. One background (the bath scene, go figure) is crammed with cameos, and some specials star many of these appearances. I can only say that these are done equally as well as the main sprites.

Sound - 8.0/10 (A few nice tunes)

When people think of portable games, they think of the ''8-bit sterio'' of the GameBoys. Since many people have never played with a Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC hereon out), they are unaware of how GOOD the sound is with these games. Gal's Fighter is chock full of nice tunes that usually meet the light-hearted atmosphere. The only annoying tune is the character select screen (which repeats VERY quickly), but that is one out of nearly twenty. The sound effects are also terrific, and are a step above the usual grunts and swishes of your average fighter. There is a Sound Test, should you find a particular track to your liking.

Game Play - 10/10 (FUN!)

First off, the boss of the game is reason enough to play this game with every character. The dialog is among the best that I have EVER read in a fighting game (and I've played a LOT of fighters), and to see Miss X is to see WHY it is so funny.

That aside, the figting engine is one of, if not THE, best on the NGPC. The controls are smooth and allow for easy usage (I could never pull off some of the supers on KoF R-2, yet I can on this), and is insanely comfortable. The big point in this game, aside from the hilarous dialog and great controls, is the speed setting. Remember Street Fighter II Turbo? This game is the closest I've seen a portable to matching that speed (Sega Nomad doesn't count). There are four settings, ranging from normal, semi-fast, fast, to warp drive. This keeps the game fresh, and makes it a blast to play should you have a friend with their own copy. Yep, two-player games each need a cart. Remember, this was prior to the GBA...

There is an ''item'' system in this game, where you can attach an tem to your character when you go to play a round. These items are won in the Queen of Fighters Mode (ie - the normal mode), and range from useless to moderately useful. There really is no point to useing these once you get accustomed to the game, though they are useful for getting a certain character.

Speaking of certain characters, there are a total of three hidden ''gals'' to unlock. While this might seem like nothing, they are worth unlocking to see them. Animations, final dialog, and even the taunts are worth the task of unlocking them! The only problem is that it is relatively easy to unlock the characters. However, with the dialogs and animations, not to meantion the great fighting engine, this game is a great blast to play.

Replay - 7.5/10 (playing the game is the main reason here...)

The graphics, dialog, and great gameplay is reason enough to keep playing this title. Sadly, there is little beyond that. The items are easily attained for the most part, and the hidden characters are easy to unlock. However, the game is still a fun title, and the speed option is worth fiddling with.

Overall - 9/10 (worth the twenty-five bucks)

If you own a NGPC, GET THIS GAME. It is worth the price of the cart, and should you get two (and have another NGPC to use it with), you are in for a treat. If only SNK hadn't pulled out...

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/10/04