Sometimes you have to wait for your favourite game to get a sequel or next instalment, and we are not talking a few years here. I know this pain from waiting for Space Marine to finally get a follow up some 13 years later. Few can understand the wait that Fatal Fury fans have had, as Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves emerges after 26 years. Which is insane when you think about it, so much has happened in gaming and the world since it last saw action back in 1999.
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But, good things come to those who wait. And, KOF Studio and SNK have delivered on that sentiment with City of the Wolves, the official sequel to Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves on Dreamcast.
Pedigree
It’s worth saying that Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves was an outstanding versus fighter that really mixed-up what fans were expecting and in many eyes marked the pinnacle of the series from a complex fighting system, new mechanics and a very well-rounded and balanced roster of fighters.
Jump forward 26 years, and we now have Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, which may first look a million miles away from were Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves, but, scratch the new shiny surface and you’ll find a something fresh built on most of the greatness that was forged back in the day.
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Newcomers should flock to the story mode, where you’ll learn who is who and get to try out a few move sets, as you beat the mean streets of south town. You’ll be fighting to save characters’ mothers and investigating reports of a ghost.
It all feels like world tour mode from Street Fighter VI, where you go from fight to fight with a little bit of tale in-between, while growing a little stronger from the XP you earn that you can up your health and damage output with.
SPG to Victory
You’ll also unlock the new SPG gauge as you work your way through the mode which lets you add some interesting buffs and skills to help you get the upper hand in a squeeze. The biggest issue I have with the mode it’s a very flat outside of the fighting. The over map is just a flat map with pop up dialog boxes when characters are speaking. Which when compared to Street Fighter IV is a let down, as it lets you run around its cities and explore all the streets and allies.
Also worth saying it’s the fights to get to the main fights where you’ll battle named cast members, seeing you ripping through about the same three NPC fighters, which does start to feel like a grind after a little bit.
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Outside the story mode, there is all your standard fighting game modes you would expect. With arcade and missions to tackle, to challenge or master your skills. And then, there is the online side where you can throw down against the best in the world across a few different types of fight. The net code is very smooth with no real noticeable lag and matchmaking was quick overall so huge plus there.
Furious Roster
The core roster of brawlers in the game features 17 characters in its base roster, with more coming as DLC. You get a mix of old, new and just really weird; like Terry Bogard, Gato, newcomer Preecha and then there is international DJ Salvatore Ganacci and…Cristiano Ronaldo…yes, the footballer.
Each one feels and handles differently with deep move sets to master that will see you pulling off eye watering combos. The fighting in the game is weighty and impactful, as you juggle your Rev and SPG gauges to pull of ever more powerful attacks, that can see the tide of a fight change in an instant. But at a risk, overheat your Rev gauge using too much and you’ll be left open to attacks till it cools down, as your as your opponent can break your guard.
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But you can counter with the new hype defence system and guard cancel into other attacks, as well as break special modes – all of which add extra layers to fights and how and where you use your buffs.
This all may sound very complex and honestly it is as you have to learn how each system works along side one another. But the high skill bar doesn’t mean you can’t just button bash with your mates and have a good time as well, the game gets the balance pretty spot on.
Modern Art
When Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is in play, it is nothing short of visually stunning. The game bursts with colour; from the over-the-top fighters to the complex stages, some of which are multilayered. So, rounds will see you and your foe moving from the foreground to background. However, the menus and overall presentation that hurt the presentation a little bit. They’re just a bit dull and lacklustre compared to the meat of the title.
Sound is also very good in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. Each character throws out one-liners as they enter the fight, and there is a great variety of genres within the soundtrack to help get the pulse going.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a brawler with history and depth beyond its by the number story mode and so-so menus. Fighting is truly king here from its new systems, to the mix of fighters it delivers – something fans will have been waiting for and more. And, hopefully, it’s the beginning of the series’ return, and we don’t have to wait 26 years to get the next instalment.
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