Game Review: The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga (PS2, PSP, Wii)
Arcade game maker SNK is best known for its 2-D one-on-one fighters. And now you can enjoy one of their longest running fighting game series with The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga for the PS2, PSP, and Wii. This collection contains five KOF games: KOF 94-98, along with special challenges and unlockable bonus material.
Gameplay is just as you remember from the arcade. Players pick a team of three fighters and pummel other brawlers with kicks, punches, and special moves that require mastery of joystick and button combinations. Challenge the computer or another player. You can unlock artwork, soundtracks, and other goodies by beating specific challenges.
Graphics and sounds are just as you remember them, and have that mid to late 90’s 2-D charm. Best of all, this collection comes at a budget price, so you can save your quarters, Wii points, and money set aside for buying those expensive Neo-Geo cartridges on Ebay! This KOF collection is a must-have for classic 2-D fighting game fans.
Kid Factor:
The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga is rated T for Teen, with ESRB descriptors of Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Partial Nudity, and Violence. The alcohol reference comes from one of the characters: an old man who drinks from a jug before fighting. Some of the characters attacks have splashes of red stuff, but it’s mostly cartoony and not gory or gratuitous blood like Mortal Kombat. The Mild Suggestive Themes and Partial Nudity come from some of the female fighters, but mostly Miss Bouncy Ninja Mai Shiranui. And of course the game is violent, it’s a fighting game after all. But the violence is all anime cartoony stuff.
Even on the easiest settings, the games are still pretty challenging, so only experienced fighting game players will get the most out of it. Though it’s rated T for Teen, I would probably let kids a little younger play it with adult supervision. Sharing and playing your favorite arcade classics with your kids is ALWAYS fun in my book.
OK it’s comment time! Who are YOUR favorite KOF characters? Mine are Shermie, Leona, Athena, Blue Mary, Ralf & Clark (The Ikari Warriors), and Terry Bogard.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Mine are Athena, Yuri, Iori, and Joe Higashi
November 10th, 2008 at 8:37 am
David HasselHoff!
November 10th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Well at least you didn’t say Wario…
Actually it would be pretty funny if Wario was in a KOF game! –Cary
November 10th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Never played KOF because I was pretty much 100% Street Fighter 2 and then, well, in College and playing NHL Hockey and Strider all the damn time,
But I did play A LOT of Ikari Warrior. Man. Just you mentioning that game at the end of this peice made my mouth water and suddenly the taste and rush of a cherry mixed with coke Slurpee. I think I’d die if I drank one of those now. Those were wasted but good nights with friends. Ikari Warrior and then Street Fighter 2.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
GamerDad, since SNK made Ikari Warriors, that’s why they put them in the KOF games later. I don’t really know much about KOF games either, but almost all my friends play those kinds of games a LOT, so that’s how I become so knowledgable on the KOF games. –Cary
November 10th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I can’t wait to add this to my collection. I ordered it from Amazon and I should get it this week. KoF ’94 – ’98 on 1 disk is awesome!