PS2 documents SNK history - Last Blade, King Of Fighters and Garou bounce back online
Triple pack delights and return of Twinkle Star Sprites
After SNK Playmore’s most welcome announcements of Metal Slug 3D and King Of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2, the arcade-flavoured industry veterans have confirmed more classics, to the delights of the 2D hardcore. Raising the value stakes up from the earlier King Of Fighters double-packs, spring 2005 will see King Of Fighters triple packs reinforcing the history of the series in a wallet-friendly fashion.
The first KOF title is getting a full stand-alone anniversary re-release (KOF ’94 Re-bout), but the other games will be crammed onto just two discs. The first includes ’95, ’96 and ’97 and the second includes ’98, ’99, and 2000. For those interested in exploring the roots of one of the greatest beat ‘em up franchises ever, these collections ought to provide the ideal opportunity. And because they are all online, even owners of the NeoGeo originals might consider a purchase or two.
If appetites don’t stretch to wanting each and every of the 9 separate King Of Fighters renditions hitting the shelves over the next year, there are 3 more SNK fighting classics readying for release at the same time. Garou: Mark Of The Wolves (the much acclaimed extension to the Fatal Fury franchise) will also be re-released as a stand-alone; and the fantastic Last Blade 1 & 2 will venture forth in a double pack.
It doesn’t get much richer in fight-calories than that. So, to balance out this punch-rich SNK diet, Twinkle Star Sprites is also making a comeback. As one of the only 2 player split-screen 2D shooters ever made, this is another very welcome addition to SNK Playmore’s burgeoning PS2 catalogue.
SPOnG is rather keen on each and every one of these titles, having enjoyed their previous incarnations on Japanese Dreamcasts. Although there has been no news on releases outside of Japan, PAL regions are definitely included in SNK’s (and European publisher Ignition’s) wider strategy, so hopefully a confirmation will be forthcoming. We’ll keep our muscular, arcade-stick tuned fingers crossed until then.
The first KOF title is getting a full stand-alone anniversary re-release (KOF ’94 Re-bout), but the other games will be crammed onto just two discs. The first includes ’95, ’96 and ’97 and the second includes ’98, ’99, and 2000. For those interested in exploring the roots of one of the greatest beat ‘em up franchises ever, these collections ought to provide the ideal opportunity. And because they are all online, even owners of the NeoGeo originals might consider a purchase or two.
If appetites don’t stretch to wanting each and every of the 9 separate King Of Fighters renditions hitting the shelves over the next year, there are 3 more SNK fighting classics readying for release at the same time. Garou: Mark Of The Wolves (the much acclaimed extension to the Fatal Fury franchise) will also be re-released as a stand-alone; and the fantastic Last Blade 1 & 2 will venture forth in a double pack.
It doesn’t get much richer in fight-calories than that. So, to balance out this punch-rich SNK diet, Twinkle Star Sprites is also making a comeback. As one of the only 2 player split-screen 2D shooters ever made, this is another very welcome addition to SNK Playmore’s burgeoning PS2 catalogue.
SPOnG is rather keen on each and every one of these titles, having enjoyed their previous incarnations on Japanese Dreamcasts. Although there has been no news on releases outside of Japan, PAL regions are definitely included in SNK’s (and European publisher Ignition’s) wider strategy, so hopefully a confirmation will be forthcoming. We’ll keep our muscular, arcade-stick tuned fingers crossed until then.
Companies:
SNK Playmore
Games: Garou Mark of the Wolves Last Blade 2 The King of Fighters '94 The King of Fighters '96 The King of Fighters '97 The King of Fighters '98 The King of Fighters 95 The King of Fighters Dream Match 1999 The Last Blade Twinklestar Sprites
Games: Garou Mark of the Wolves Last Blade 2 The King of Fighters '94 The King of Fighters '96 The King of Fighters '97 The King of Fighters '98 The King of Fighters 95 The King of Fighters Dream Match 1999 The Last Blade Twinklestar Sprites
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Comments
Joji 24 Sep 2004 14:35
1/4
Woohoo! Last Blade 1 and 2. How long have I waited patiently for that, today is a cool day indeed.
Icing on the cake is 3 games on a disk, how can you go wrong with that? Just hope Igniton get the chance to exploit these gems. Garou MotW too. Good stuff
Thanks SNK.
Icing on the cake is 3 games on a disk, how can you go wrong with that? Just hope Igniton get the chance to exploit these gems. Garou MotW too. Good stuff
Thanks SNK.
Mecha Ghandi 24 Sep 2004 14:58
2/4
This is top stuff. I've got all of these games (apart from a couple of KoF titles and Last Blade 1) on my Dreamcast, but never got the chance to play them online...
Just means I'm going to have to fork out for another pair of arcade sticks for my PS2... to go along with my 4 x DC sticks and my 2 x Xbox sticks and the special lock-up garage I need to store them in : (
hooray and bah respectively...
Just means I'm going to have to fork out for another pair of arcade sticks for my PS2... to go along with my 4 x DC sticks and my 2 x Xbox sticks and the special lock-up garage I need to store them in : (
hooray and bah respectively...
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NiktheGreek 24 Sep 2004 15:44
3/4
It's fantastic, really - not only does SNK turn out some rereleases with good value, but it seeks to improve them for as good an experience as is possible. They're improving retro with some modern advances, and I wholeheartedly welcome it.
Ignition's deal with SNK is paying off really well for the fans, and hopefully it'll work out for them financially, too.
Ignition's deal with SNK is paying off really well for the fans, and hopefully it'll work out for them financially, too.
Joji 25 Sep 2004 01:18
4/4
I'm glad this lot is coming out. Sometimes I have been getting the impression that some people think 2D games aren't good enough to be online, due to the lack of them. Personally I feel there is a lot of potential here, because too many online games are huge rpgs. A balance of quick fix online games like these are needed so people know they don't have to glue themselves to their consoles for a few days play. Perhaps this is why so many online rpg productions are folding.
Although Capcom released Capcom VS SNK EO, they never took the incentive to follow it up with other 2D games, until the upcoming Capcom Fighting Jam. Capcom have so much other old arcade titles that would be a sweet deal for Xbox Live etc, but they haven't done much to use them. Ever so glad to see SNK braving new ground after the Neo Geo's recent demise, and giving us something good.
Although Capcom released Capcom VS SNK EO, they never took the incentive to follow it up with other 2D games, until the upcoming Capcom Fighting Jam. Capcom have so much other old arcade titles that would be a sweet deal for Xbox Live etc, but they haven't done much to use them. Ever so glad to see SNK braving new ground after the Neo Geo's recent demise, and giving us something good.