Early Neo-Geo Fighters (Punch, Kick and Throw)

[rjay63]

Recently I've been having fun with some of the very first fighting games for the Neo Geo. Basically it comes down to nostalgia; back in late 1992 the owner of a local video library bought a Neo Geo and did pay-to-play, charging £1 for 20 minutes. Two of those games we played on were Fatal Fury and Art Of Fighting. A year later I also played some World Heroes 2 in a local fairground arcade.

Now at the time I really didn't think much of these titles: we considered them pretty but shallow Street Fighter clones. However I've picked up a couple of SNK anthologies over the years including Fatal Fury Battle Archives 1, Art Of Fighting Anthology and World Heroes Anthology, all for PS2. Very recently I also picked up an American import of Fatal Fury Archives 2 (never released in UK and PAL Wii VC is at 50hz! ).

So I sat down with them again and began to appreciate them more now than I did back when I was an annoying 14/15 year old! Firstly the games look stunning; played on a CRT via RGB SCART the sprites and backgrounds are old school 2D at their best. The level of animation and detail put into the characters is also outstanding. And although the gameplay is incredibly simplistic (it was even back then) I found many innovative features some of which became mainstays of more recent fighters. Here's a list:

Fatal Fury - 2 human players against 1 CPU player, moving in/out of the plains.

Art Of Fighting - Dashing forwards and backwards, super moves, hidden desperation moves (sorry to the guy who I thought was lying when he said he managed to do this)

World Heroes - Death match mode

Did anyone else enjoy these games back then?

[CD AGES]

Yup! I sure did and still do to this very day. In the US we were very lucky to get more than half of these Neo Geo PS2 compilations known collectively as the NEO GEO ONLINE COLLECTION. Most of the lineup that didn't get release outside of Japan I was able to import.
From the collection you have, my personal favorites are
- AoF3 (Large and fairly fluid sprite work).
- FF2 Special (perhaps one of the greatest installments in the FF series. A technically major imrpovement from FF2.)
- FF RB2 (This game is perhaps the definitive version in the Real Bout series. Still played competitively to this day.)

[rjay63]

Thanks for the reply CD AGES. Forgot to mention I also have Samurai Shodown Anthology for the Wii too - NTSC version as found out PAL was 50hz (gave that copy away).

Art Of Fighting 3; yes, definitely the best although I have many nostalgic memories of the first game.

Never got the chance to play Fatal Fury Special in the arcade although Fatal Fury 2 turned up at local takeaway back in '94. I imported FF Archives 2 purely for Real Bout FF2 as the PAL Wii VC version cannot be forced in 60hz..same goes for Last Blade 2 where I've had to resort to a emulated Neo Geo CD version.

After '94 I didn't touch Neo Geo games again until early '97 when King Of Fighter '96 was in my local Sega Park. I appreciated the gameplay improvements and how far things had come since those early days. Never was any good at that game; CPU use to kill me and I have fond memories of being slaughtered by a high level player . Sadly the game wasn't overly popular and was replaced by Street Fighter EX a few months later. If you are interested my first Sega Park Memorial video covers this period:


Sorry for the rather frenetic delivery!

[CD AGES]

I also have Sam Sho Anthology for both Wii and PS2. I prefer the latter version personally. Sam Sho 1, 2 and 4 are still some of my favorites in the franchise. This series is in definite need of a revival. Sam Sho Sen simply couldn't cut it. No pun intended.

I'll be checking out your video during my spare time. I see KoF 96 in the back and... is that EX3?

[BnGamesReviews]

Samurai Shodown and Last Blade are the only SNK fighters I've ever really cared for. I have the Dreamcast, PS2, and NEO GEO CD versions. Im planning on purchasing an MVS cab and get SS4 and Last Blade 2, the other two slots will likely have Metal Slug X and something else I haven't decided on.

[CD AGES]

Samurai Shodown and Last Blade are the only SNK fighters I've ever really cared for. I have the Dreamcast, PS2, and NEO GEO CD versions. Im planning on purchasing an MVS cab and get SS4 and Last Blade 2, the other two slots will likely have Metal Slug X and something else I haven't decided on.

Darn shame. Games like RB2, Garou MOW, Breakers Revenge, and Fighters History Dynamite are great fighters with a small yet devoted following.

[BnGamesReviews]

Samurai Shodown and Last Blade are the only SNK fighters I've ever really cared for. I have the Dreamcast, PS2, and NEO GEO CD versions. Im planning on purchasing an MVS cab and get SS4 and Last Blade 2, the other two slots will likely have Metal Slug X and something else I haven't decided on.

Darn shame. Games like RB2, Garou MOW, Breakers Revenge, and Fighters History Dynamite are great fighters with a small yet devoted following.

When you have Third Strike, there really isn't need for much else

[CD AGES]

Samurai Shodown and Last Blade are the only SNK fighters I've ever really cared for. I have the Dreamcast, PS2, and NEO GEO CD versions. Im planning on purchasing an MVS cab and get SS4 and Last Blade 2, the other two slots will likely have Metal Slug X and something else I haven't decided on.

Darn shame. Games like RB2, Garou MOW, Breakers Revenge, and Fighters History Dynamite are great fighters with a small yet devoted following.

When you have Third Strike, there really isn't need for much else

I beg to differ. And this is coming from a guy who play his fair share of 3S

[mazonemayu]

Now at the time I really didn't think much of these titles: we considered them pretty but shallow Street Fighter clones.

How come? After all SF & FF were made by the same person...

[rjay63]

Now at the time I really didn't think much of these titles: we considered them pretty but shallow Street Fighter clones.

How come? After all SF & FF were made by the same person...

Steps into Time Machine
Status: All systems 100%.
Target Date: June 1993.
Location: Swaythling Video Library, Bassett Green, SOUTHAMPTON, England

**Enters shop and see my 14 year old self leaning over counter playing Street Fighter World Warrior on SNES**

RJAY63: Hello young man, you are not going to believe this...but I'm you....RJAY63! I've come from the future to ask an important question: why don't you think much of those Neo Geo titles that Spencer bought in a 5/6 months ago?

YOUNG RJAY63: RJ...who? Have you been sent by my school? Look I can explain...I had a stomach ache in my tooth and the doctor said the only way to cure it is to stay off school and play Street Fi...

RJAY63: No I'm not from the school, I've come from the future to ask you about the Neo Geo.

YOUNG RJAY63: You are from the where? The future?

RJAY63: Yes, the future. It's wonderful...the world of XBOX's, Sony Playstations, IPAD's, the internet. Just you wait...you're in for a treat!

YOUNG RJAY63: Sony Playstation...XBOX...internet...what are you talking about? [Sarcastic Overtone and posture] Are you one of those sad men who hangs around kids playing video games to try and pretend you are young again but doesn't have a clue what he's talking about and couldn't play games to save his life?

RJAY63: God, now I know why people wanted to punch me! Look give me the SNES controller and I'll show you I'm from the future!

**Grabs SNES controller and pulls off basic three hit combo with Ryu**

YOUNG RJAY63: WHOOAAAA! YOU'RE AMAZING!! TEACH ME HOW TO DO THAT MAN! I'M GONNA KICK LOFTY'S ARSE! THAT'LL TEACH HIM AND HIS FRIEND'S TO LAUGH AT ME WHEN I PLAYED THIS GAME ON THE SNES DEMO PODS IN TOWN! NOT TELLING ME WHAT THE THE MOVES ARE! I'LL BE THE KING ....WOOHOO!

RJAY63: Yes, but first you need to answer my question!

YOUNG RJAY63: Oh right..yeah..ask away!

RJAY63: Why don't you think very much of Fatal Fury on the Neo Geo?

YOUNG RJAY63: Well there's not much to it. You only had 3 characters and punch, kick or throw buttons. It's really easy to beat the game once you know how the computer works, even on the toughest setting. Also some of the special moves are really difficult to pull off. Now Street Fighter 2 is wicked...you've got loads of characters and gameplay...I'll never get bored of it! NOW TEACH ME THOSE MOVES MAN!!

RJAY63: All in good time! What about Art Of Fighting?

YOUNG RJAY63: Oh well, that game was a little better but still the same type of thing. Shallow and not much too it! Didn't really like the idea of super moves in fighting games either.

RJAY63: (whispers to himself) Wait until you see Marvel Vs Capcom 2..

YOUNG RJAY63: What was that? Marvel Vs what?!

RJAY63: Oh nothing....anyway I'd better go now! I can't stay in the past for too long otherwise I'll cause a timequake and potentially alter my future.

YOUNG RJAY63: BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE MOVES YOU WERE GOING TO TEACH ME?!

RJAY63: Sorry can't do that! Besides you'll get the better of Lofty in 1997 on Street Fighter EX...won't last long though!

YOUNG RJAY63: YOU BASTARD! Well, you're bigger than me so there's nothing I can do. Can't you tell me anything about the future before you go?

RJAY63: OK, we will all be talking about nothing on mobile phones. The same people who ridicule you for being a annoying weirdo will in a few years time get far too drunk, urinate in the street, telling women outrageous lies in order to get their leg over, and obtain criminal convictions. Sega will become a shadow of their former self and Street Fighter will not rule the world anymore

YOUNG RJAY63: STREET FIGHTER WILL NOT RULE THE WORLD.....??!!

RJAY63: No, it won't. But don't worry because that company who make the walkman and that company who make computers will make gaming better that it's ever been. And no more arcades either...........

YOUNG RJAY63: NO ARCADES!!!!!??? AAAARRGGGHHH! GO AWAY! GO AWAY! GO AWAY! GO AWAY!

**Quickly swipes SNES game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtle In Time from video library game shelf and re-enters time machine**