G4TV

More predictable than a soap opera storyline, SNK Playmore USA returns with yet another compilation of its arcade and Neo Geo lineup in Fatal Fury: Battle Archives Volume 2. For those keeping score at home, it's the "final trilogy" of the epic Fatal Fury series. Included on the disc are Real Bout: Fatal Fury, Real Bout: Fatal Fury Special, and Real Bout: Fatal Fury 2. If earlier Fatal Fury games were value meals, then these three are the super-sized versions. Each title originally weighed in at over 300 megabits of fast-paced, 2D fighting.

Plane Crazy

Real Bout: Fatal Fury (1995) features 16 playable characters, a more streamlined control scheme, and the ability to freely shift between a stage's main plane, background, and foreground to avoid attacks. In addition to the standard life meter, a color-changing power gauge adds some strategy by granting you access to new move types as it turns from yellow to red. Building up the power gauge by landing attacks, guards, or special moves opens up a guard cancel ability, character-specific super special moves, and super duper, whiz-bang, wowie-zowie moves (otherwise known as hidden abilities).

Real Bout: Fatal Fury Special (1996) increases the default character roster to 19 and features two planes instead of three. Ring-outs have been removed, but characters can be knocked out by being thrown against large items located on opposite sides of the screen. The vastly improved stages are often filled with unusual objects that can be battered, broken, or ticked off after repeated hits. While most features from the original Real Bout are carried over, such as the power meter, it's now possible to initiate specific attacks when a rival is on a different plane or "line." Line punches, kicks, and anti-line attacks can be activated, giving the play mechanics more depth.

It's Déjà vu All Over Again

Real Bout: Fatal Fury 2 (1998) adds two new characters, Li Xiangfei and Rick Stroud, and a selectable Geese Howard to bring the default roster to 22. The game also introduces slight stage variations based on your chosen fighter. Some will fight during different times of day, for example, so the changes are merely cosmetic. The gameplay is essentially the same as in Real Bout: Fatal Fury Special, with only minor changes to moves and the curious removal of breakable barriers and fight result screens displayed after matches.

While the three games aren't radically different from each other, with primarily the same cast of characters and essentially the same fighting mechanics, they are nonetheless fun to play. Humorous character animations, vibrant visuals, easy to perform combos, and well-balanced fighters make for some entertaining matches. Yet it's hard to ignore the similarities between titles, with relatively few new ideas introduced from version to version.

Real Doubt? 

While the core gameplay in each title certainly ranks among the best in the Fatal Fury series, Battle Archives isn't a definitive compilation. Each title is an emulated version of the Neo Geo games, so you won't find meaningful new features that weren't found in the originals. The bountiful blood has been color censored in Battle Archives, making it look more like sweat or herbal tea than crimson splatter. The incentive-based medal system introduced in SNK Arcade Classics is also absent, so don’t expect hidden artwork, videos, and similar extras. You can, however, access the same secret characters that were included in the home versions via code.

The most puzzling omission, however, is Garou: Mark of the Wolves (1999), which makes the Fatal Fury saga painfully incomplete. Had SNK included it as an unlockable bonus after completing milestones in each of the three titles, Battle Archives 2 would be more deserving of your attention. While the developers included a practice mode, arranged music option, an in-game move list, and a color-editing feature, these aren't exactly things that set hearts racing. Nostalgic gamers will still find Battle Archives 2 a satisfying purchase based on the quality of the included titles, but those expecting a little more flash for their cash will be disappointed.

Review by: Scott Alan Marriott