I'll most likely be doing some editing and turning this into a full review; I want to take some screen captures, but my web space is still maxed out from last month and won't let me upload anything new right now. :\ I'll use some really blurry pics from The Magic Box for now.
SNK Playmore's KOF home console ports have been getting better and better with each new release. KOF 2003 is easily the best port of a KOF game to date; the visual and audio changes make it almost feel like a brand new game.
This time around, rather than just having 3D versions of the Neo-Geo version's 2D backgrounds, 2003 expands the settings and creates new 3D stages set in same areas, at different times during the day. Some of the stage variations are quite different from each other, and combined with the original 2D versions, you get at least five different versions of each stage to play on. Quality varies on the 3D backgrounds, but overall, it looks very good.
Another new option that has been added is a "soft" graphics mode, which adds a slight blur to the sprites, making the edges around less jagged. The blur/transparancy effects on special moves returns, and looks great as usual, but for some reason doesn't seem to be present on all moves this time around.
KOF 2003 is still without a doubt the best-looking KOF game to date, even beating out KOF Neowave, which while having sharper colors and sprites that look better against its high-res 2D backgrounds, still doesn't look as impressive as this title now does.
For the first time since SNK Playmore was formed, KOF gets an arranged soundtrack, which for the most part sounds fantastic. Kusanagi's BGM remix of the old Kyo Esaka theme is my favorite.
And finally, you can also choose to play in the classic KOF 3-on-3 mode in addition to single player and the main arcade tag mode, which lets you tag in and out of matches
(when the tag meter is full) similar to Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, and is far better than the striker-based gameplay of KOF '99-2001. A gallery mode (including concept art and game cutscenes) and two survival modes have also been added.
The game's roster has also gotten some major changes, dropping certain key characters and adding in new some brand new faces, as well as bringing back older characters, and adding in Gato and The Griphon Mask from Garou: Mark Of The Wolves. Terry Bogard has been redrawn and now plays in the Garou style as well. Robert and Yuri have been redrawn, as have returning characters Billy Kane and Yamazaki. New characters include a brand new hero team, led by Guile-clone Ash Crimson, Karin's sister Malin, and new bosses Adel (sort of like a younger version of Rugal) and Mukai. All five boss characters (Adel, Mukai, Kusanagi, Chizuru, and Maki) are now fully playable as well. And Finally, Benimaru, Athena, and Kyo have new outfits.
The changed roster and new game play are different enough from KOF 2002 to make both games well worth playing; 2D fighting fans will have a lot to look forward to when the KOF 2002/2003 pack releases for the PS2 on Novemeber 16th in the U.S.
SNK Playmore's KOF home console ports have been getting better and better with each new release. KOF 2003 is easily the best port of a KOF game to date; the visual and audio changes make it almost feel like a brand new game.
This time around, rather than just having 3D versions of the Neo-Geo version's 2D backgrounds, 2003 expands the settings and creates new 3D stages set in same areas, at different times during the day. Some of the stage variations are quite different from each other, and combined with the original 2D versions, you get at least five different versions of each stage to play on. Quality varies on the 3D backgrounds, but overall, it looks very good.
Another new option that has been added is a "soft" graphics mode, which adds a slight blur to the sprites, making the edges around less jagged. The blur/transparancy effects on special moves returns, and looks great as usual, but for some reason doesn't seem to be present on all moves this time around.
KOF 2003 is still without a doubt the best-looking KOF game to date, even beating out KOF Neowave, which while having sharper colors and sprites that look better against its high-res 2D backgrounds, still doesn't look as impressive as this title now does.
For the first time since SNK Playmore was formed, KOF gets an arranged soundtrack, which for the most part sounds fantastic. Kusanagi's BGM remix of the old Kyo Esaka theme is my favorite.
And finally, you can also choose to play in the classic KOF 3-on-3 mode in addition to single player and the main arcade tag mode, which lets you tag in and out of matches
(when the tag meter is full) similar to Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, and is far better than the striker-based gameplay of KOF '99-2001. A gallery mode (including concept art and game cutscenes) and two survival modes have also been added.
The game's roster has also gotten some major changes, dropping certain key characters and adding in new some brand new faces, as well as bringing back older characters, and adding in Gato and The Griphon Mask from Garou: Mark Of The Wolves. Terry Bogard has been redrawn and now plays in the Garou style as well. Robert and Yuri have been redrawn, as have returning characters Billy Kane and Yamazaki. New characters include a brand new hero team, led by Guile-clone Ash Crimson, Karin's sister Malin, and new bosses Adel (sort of like a younger version of Rugal) and Mukai. All five boss characters (Adel, Mukai, Kusanagi, Chizuru, and Maki) are now fully playable as well. And Finally, Benimaru, Athena, and Kyo have new outfits.
The changed roster and new game play are different enough from KOF 2002 to make both games well worth playing; 2D fighting fans will have a lot to look forward to when the KOF 2002/2003 pack releases for the PS2 on Novemeber 16th in the U.S.
Expect Mai to be censored as usual, and blood missing.
