King of Fighters R-1 review by Torture

If there was any game that would make the Neo Geo Pocket sell at launch, and at nearly a 1:1 ratio with the system, it would be any of their big fighting games, in this case, King of Fighters. On reputation alone, those who just had to have a Neo Geo Pocket before anyone else eagerly awaited King of Fighters R-1. Luckily, for us the consumer, and for SNK, KOF translates well onto the portable, and is just a wonderful game. KOF is a fine translation and adaptation. It's a shame some things from KOF 97 didn't make it in, but overall, it's a great fighting game, and great fun on the go.

Graphics
Since NGP is a portable system, one of my first concerns was how good games would look and move. KOF is a good indication of what the NGP could do. The first thing that impressed me about King of Fighters was the size and detail of each of the sprites. Changing the look of the characters to super deformed style really allowed SNK to add size and more detail, especially to the faces of the characters. The backgrounds are equally impressive. They look nearly the same as they do in KOF 97, albeit without the animation. One stage, the Korean one, has a wooden texture on the floor which is a nice little detail. The US stage has people in the background, some dressed as animals. Details like that help keep the backgrounds faithful to KOF 97. The crispness of the system's screen also enhances the great graphic detail in the game.

The graphics are nice, but the game also moves well. I was curious to see how the animation would turn out, and I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. For a portable system, the animation is quite good. Everything animates rather smoothly. Overall, the game looks good, and it moves well. The pace is fast, and the screen scrolls to keep up with every bit of it.

Sound
There's not much to say here, as I really never know what to say about sound. The sound in KOF is nothing special. The music is pretty nice, the sound effects do their job well enough, but nothing is really spectacular. Some of the special move sound effects are really good though. Overall, it's good for a portable fighter, and the sound doesn't get annoying after a long session.

Gameplay
This is where the King of Fighters series, including KOF R-1, shines. KOF R-1 is based on the recent KOF 97, and it plays very similar. KOF R-1 replicates the standard 4 button KOF setup surprisingly well with just 2 it has at its disposal. Light taps are light strikes, while really pressing the button is a strong attack. Other button combinations also do other things, like knock-down strikes, and rolls. As far as controls go, the game remains nearly intact. Another aspect, one I like about the KOF series, is the combo system. Combos are rarely ever big, and if they are, it's usually a super move. That means that strategy is key, and strikes need to be well placed. What makes the game play even better is how good the pad on the unit is. The pad allows for precise control, which means special moves are easier to pull off, and fewer mistakes are made. When you're playing a fighter that promotes strategy, it comes in handy. KOF plays very well, and is very deep, and I know it keeps me coming back for more.

Overall
I loved KOF 97 on my Saturn, and I love KOF R-1. The game doesn't lose very much being ported to a portable. Losing some characters is a shame, but the SD graphics are perfect for a portable, the character artwork is far superior to KOF 97, and the characters who made it in, made it intact. SNK did a wonderful job adapting the teams, like putting Terry, Ryo, and Kim together. It shows that SNK didn't just butcher KOF 97, but they took the time to make KOF R-1 feel like its own game, with new teams that work well together. SNK did a good job putting this game together, it plays extremely well, looks and moves wonderfully, and still has that KOF feel. If you like KOF at all, chances are you'll enjoy R-1. It is easily the best fighter I've seen on any portable machine, and it is a perfect game to go along with a brand new Neo Geo Pocket system.