There are certainly Mondays that bring more joy than others, and I am profoundly grateful to SNK for making March 18th, 2024, a particularly delightful Monday. Upon waking up today, a quick check on Twitter revealed a notification: the release of the first gameplay trailer for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, two years after its initial announcement. With an excited heart, I watched the video in bed, and it was not just relief but even more than that. The return of Garou Mark of the Wolves’ gameplay, complete with new features and some adjustments, is undoubtedly thrilling, especially given its reputation as one of the greatest 2D fighting games ever made. Knowing this, many can now dream of SNK’s grand return to form, reminiscent of the NeoGeo era when they continually redefined Versus Fighting with each new release. We will aim to analyze all of this together.
Two videos for the upcoming Fatal Fury have been released following the finals of the SNK World Championship 2023 in Los Angeles. There is a one-minute trailer setting the tone and a second teaser, which lasts two minutes and forty-five seconds, introducing the first five characters, showcasing gameplay, and demonstrating that SNK has now positioned itself among top-tier 3D fighting games. While there were challenges along the way, the release marks a significant achievement.
The game performs exceptionally well, capturing the essence of what made SNK’s brawling games unique in the past, particularly the speed that set them apart from other developers like Capcom. SNK has historically favored offensive play over static gameplay, and this remake of Garou: Mark of the Wolves is a clear example of that philosophy. Prior to delving into the gameplay, it is important to highlight SNK’s efforts to enhance the visual appeal of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. The game appears more visually appealing than KOF XV, featuring bolder colors and stronger contrasts, avoiding the generic look sometimes seen in KOF XV’s graphics. In Fatal Fury, character outlines are more defined, with charcoal-like effects visible on faces or clothing, giving it a comic book-inspired appearance reminiscent of Marvel vs Capcom 3. This distinctive artistic vision may be appreciated by some players and is one that I find convincing.
To enhance the visual impact, SNK chose to use a closer camera angle focusing on the characters. Notice the size of Rock Howard, Terry Bogard, Tizoc, and others; they appear large, making each strike delivered or received feel powerful, accentuated by a noticeable shaky-cam effect. This reminds me of the era when SNK’s Art of Fighting games featured massive character sprites that left an indelible mark on the industry. The visual effects are abundant, with explosions throughout, yet the game maintains fluidity and speed at 60 frames per second. The background is also animated and detailed, adding depth to the scenes. It is quite impressive. Upon closer inspection, it is evident that this game shares the same engine as KOF XV but has been significantly refined. There is a clear progression from KOF XV to Fatal Fury City of the Wolves.
Regarding the gameplay of the upcoming Fatal Fury set for release in early 2025, it is evident that Garou Mark of the Wolves has established a strong legacy. It appears that SNK did not wish to brand this new game as Garou 2 due to the title and aimed instead to reintroduce the name Fatal Fury to gamers who may have overlooked its significant contributions to the VS Fighting genre. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the gameplay from Mark of the Wolves has been adapted into a 3D format or at least a 2.5D perspective. The characters are recognizable, their attacks and combos remain largely unchanged, and the overall experience is reminiscent of the original game when played. Even the music has been carried over from Garou Mark of the Wolves. Therefore, it seems that SNK is preparing something special for its audience, and I believe we will be thoroughly impressed upon its release in early 2025.
In the first trailer released tonight, SNK unveiled several gameplay mechanics: REVVING UP, REV GUARD, REV BLOW, REV ARTS, and REV ACCEL. The term “Rev” is used consistently for each mechanic, similar to how “Drive” functions in Street Fighter 6. Initially showcased is REVVING UP, which involves three gauges. It appears that regaining energy during battles may be possible, though it remains unclear whether this refers to vital energy or power—or perhaps both. This system seems reminiscent of the TOP System from the original Garou, which evolved over time. In the 1999 game, players had to select a specific area on the life bar during character selection. During fights, reaching that area allowed for more powerful attacks, with reduced health in the TOP bar intensifying these attacks’ impact.
Subsequently, the REV GUARD system is introduced, which functions similarly to a push block found in many brawling games. This feature allows players to block an attack while simultaneously pushing back their opponent to create distance. Additionally, there is the REV BLOW, which appears to be a powerful strike, possibly an EX move, capable of stunning the opponent. The character performing this blow is encircled by a green halo, and the impact of the hit is accentuated with explosions and, notably, a shaky-cam effect to emphasize the violence.
For the confirmed characters, Rock Howard, Terry Bogard, Tizoc (or The Griffon in his original Japanese name), and Preecha, a new female character resembling Joe Higashi, are included. Not only does Preecha practice Muay Thai and wear an identical outfit with similar attacks to Joe’s, but it is plausible that SNK reused the female Muay Thai character intended for Garou 2, who was originally planned as Joe’s disciple. According to the first teaser video, Joe Higashi, Andy Bogard, and Billy Kane are also set to appear in the roster. This marks a return of one of the most celebrated fighting game series. While some may feel let down by SNK’s departure from the multi-plane gameplay seen in early Fatal Fury titles, it is important to note that “Furie” terminology in fighting games was first established by Fatal Fury.
