Despite their legacy as fighting game pioneers, SNK's titles have historically struggled to maintain relevance. Can "City of the Wolves" defy odds, or is it doomed to fade into obscurity like its predecessors?
SNK Fighting Games: A Legacy Overshadowed
It's no secret that SNK's fighting games have always been overshadowed by the competition. Even their 3 most recent titles: SNK Heroines (2018), Samurai Shodown (2019) and King of Fighters XV (2022) all did not see much success. While it's awesome that KoF is getting representation at Evo 2024, to general audiences these are still experiences we've all seen before.
With the announcement of a new Fatal Fury game after a 25 year series hiatus, we now find ourselves at a crossroads where anticipation meets skepticism. Slated for early 2025, the buzz for "City of the Wolves" within the FGC is undeniable, but it's crucial to temper our expectations. After all, history has taught us that SNK's path to success is fraught with missteps.
Stylish Flair vs. Generic Tropes: Defining Identity
Let's talk style. I will forever die on the hill that generating strong interest with most forms of entertainment ultimately boils down to (audiovisual) appeal. In the case of fighting games, this translates to: "how cool does it look?" The answer is subjective of course and constitutes many things, but we must consider the perspective of the average gamer...
The art style more or less looks like King of Fighters XV, but with a slight comic book filter. It also has flashy colorful combos, over-the-top special moves, cartoony graphics, cheesy one liners and anime-like dubbing, which will most likely all come packaged with a nonsensical storyline. Sound familiar? It should, because it's the formula that countless fighting games have adhered to over the years, and have died partially because of it.
Granted, the thing that matters most is the gameplay, and as much as I'm a huge advocate for flashy combos and over-the-top special moves, I REALLY wish they would just incorporate the legendary Shinkiro's art style into these games. He has such a long history of being a concept artist for SNK, but you never see his work get used beyond promos and box art.
I'm just not sure there's enough here visually at first glance to conclude that there's anything new or innovative happening, and that's the kind of appeal SNK needs in the current fighting game climate.
The Animations Are... Surprisingly Good
Let's be honest here—when was the last time an SNK game dropped jaws with its cutting-edge animations? Before you flame me, I really consider this a general fighting game problem more than an SNK specific problem. It just doesn't help that their graphics are usually scoffed at when compared with the graphical superiority (and clearly bigger budgets) of competing franchises.
With that said, the smoothness of movement looks far beyond anything we've seen in their previous titles. It's nice to see a 2D fighter not look so "framey." It's a small nuance, but important when identifying visual queues and presenting players with a smooth, clean experience. Fighting games have a tough time maintaining believable motion capture given the craziness that goes on in a match, but they really did a great job so far with City of the Wolves.
Navigating Accessibility: The Control Conundrum
The new REV System sounds like it's chock full of offensive mechanics that you would expect from a modern fighting game, but it's the introduction of an accessible control scheme called "Smart Style" that's bound to be a hot topic upon release.
From SNK's announcement page:
"Choose from two control schemes: Arcade Style is based on precise, technical inputs, while Smart Style lets you perform flashy special moves and combos using directional inputs and single button presses. From fighting game newcomers to seasoned veterans, there’s plenty of fun and excitement to be had—tailored specifically to your level!"
As with pretty much every fighting game that has done something similar, here's what I predict:
Players who use Smart Style will be penalized with either nerfed damage, fewer moves, or both.
Elitists & salty players who can't hold an L will mock and shame those who use them.
Fighting game producers need to stick with one or the other to avoid this problem. The risk in going "fully accessible" with an established IP however, is backlash and possible attrition of legacy fans. This is understandable, since you're changing something fundamental about a game they've been playing for years.
Either way, pick your poison. Otherwise you have toxic infighting that can be alienating to new players. Besides, it's been 25 years since the last Fatal Fury game. Enough time has passed that they could've built this on a universally accessible control scheme without ruffling feathers.
To this day, I've only played two fighting games that have managed to execute alternative control schemes with finesse - meaning you lose nothing by using them. Namely, Fighting EX Layer and Killer Instinct. Let's hope the Smart Style in City of the Wolves is a viable option that won't divide the community (very low expectations here).
Conclusion: A Cautious Optimism
As of now, details regarding additional modes outside of 1v1 combat remain shrouded in mystery. In an era where fighting games must offer more than just the basics to stay relevant, this lack of information is cause for concern. In today's fighting game climate, just having Arcade, Player Match and Ranked Match modes by themselves simply won't cut it.
Titles like Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1 and even Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising are now offering single player content beyond just the 1v1. SNK may need to pour something similar into Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves to widen player interest.
While the prospect of reigniting SNK's flame is undoubtedly tantalizing (with rollback net code no less), we must approach it with cautious optimism. Only time will tell whether this latest installment will mark a triumphant resurgence for SNK, or serve as yet another footnote in their storied history. I'll hold judgment until the game's release in 2025.
Are you excited for the next installment in the Fatal Fury franchise? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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