One of the more… interesting genres in modern gaming is the fighting game. Whether you call it that or by the term “tournament fighter,” the fact is that they’ve changed a lot as video game arcades are in their decline. The genre has always been one that threads the line between “casual pick up and play” gamers and “hardcore technical professional” players. And the current big ones in the era, be they the classic Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat series, or the new Injustice or Dragonball Fighterz, have evolved to fit the current console focused market for the genre, allowing casual and competitive gamers a chance to enjoy. SNK’s King of Fighters steps up to try and stand next to the current era’s big fighting games.
Does it still have a place? Let’s find out!
Just Okay
King of Fighters XIV Ultimate Edition feels like it gave one group a bigger focus than the other. First off, let me explain that the main draw of the Ultimate Edition is getting all the DLC fighters, and that is always a fun thing especially with the massive roster it results in (56 playable characters at the outset). No matter what, you’ll probably find a favorite or three to make up your team for the main story mode. Although, compared to the games I’ve mentioned above, the story mode is a basic arcade tournament leading up to a couple of boss battles as opposed to a real story mode. And that’s disappointing, given how those story modes tend to not only tell an interesting narrative but give players a chance to sample most of the major characters. Imagine if you could get a sampling of those original base-game 48 characters in their iconic team set-ups. Instead, it’s just basic, and that’s disappointing. The presentation of the game is just okay. The graphics, music, and voice acting are okay, but nothing to write home about either. I actually found myself missing the classic sprites of the older games compared to these models.
Plays As You Would Expect
Gameplay-wise, it’s exactly what a fighting game is. The idea that you can play a more classic match with single characters instead of the team-of-three is a nice change of pace, but the meat is the three-character mode. You fight it out and try to beat all three opponents and avoid losing all your team. Who you pick and what order they fight in can be a major factor in your success. Do you start with your best fighter, or save them for the last stand? Fairly basic… until the more technical aspects come to play. There are a lot of mechanics to try and keep track of, ranging from basic executions of special moves to supercharging your fighter, to say nothing of having to know how to cancel your moves mid combination. And in true SNK fashion, some of the special moves are insanely complex to pull off. This wouldn’t be so bad if the controls didn’t demand absolute precision. I alternated between the directional pad and the analog stick and still feel like most of the special moves happened by pure luck. I shouldn’t feel like I need to invest in an arcade stick to play a game for fun. The game does have a combo mechanic where if you spam the light punch, you’ll do an auto combo that ends in a special move or if your gauge is high enough a super move. This feels like a concession to allow casual players a small shot at standing up to more experienced players. And unfortunately, the game’s AI knows how to use all the mechanics against you. I never felt like I was getting good at the game so much as I felt like I was getting lucky.
Closing Thoughts
King of Fighters XIV Ultimate Edition isn’t meant for casual players, and that’s the sad part. The only fun multiplayer was with people just as casual as I am. Playing against more experienced players, the dizzying level of skill needed to use all its mechanics can make you feel out of your depth. The single-player is lacking in any draw beyond the attempt to get better at the game for those competitive matches, and the only replay value outside of it unlocking more endings. The simple fact is, I can’t recommend this to people who play fighting games in a casual way, but if you’re someone who regularly takes part in gaming tournaments and online matches to prove your skill, this is definitely a fighter for you. It’s only unfortunate that SNK couldn’t balance the game for both types of players.
King of Fighters XIV Ultimate Edition is available now on the PlayStation Store for $39.99 and is playable on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 via Backwards Compatibility.
A copy of the game was provided for this review.
