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> Results: King of Fighters: Maximum Impact
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SNK's King of Fighters: Maximum Impact is a game which, in nearly every regard, shouldn't be nearly as good as it is. It's a 3D fighter, filled to the brim with polygon characters and backgrounds, but developed by a video game company better known for its years of 2D devotionﾗfighting games constructed around hand drawn animation, in much the same way as a traditional cartoon. Here we have a video game company, analogous to Hanna-Barbara, deciding to go the way of Pixar.
Thankfully, SNK has largely succeeded. Taking a safe approach, the game works by playing like a 2D game in a 3D world. There's some limited 3D movementﾗwith sidestep moves and suchﾗbut for the vast majority of the game, you stick with the proven face-off gameplay of earlier 2D King of Fighters installments. The game is quick, with fast-paced play augmented by an easy to master combo system. It's accessible to newcomers and veterans alike, where button mashing can often times deliver the same results as thoughtful, organized attacks. But the game is also unrulyﾗcharacter balance is horrific, with many characters blatantly more powerful than others. It is certainly unfair at times. Wall juggles are the new means of "cheap" in this game, which you either appreciate if you're on the delivery end, or despise if on the receiving one. For fans of the series, many of the characters are recognizable, along with a few new faces. The play roster is smallﾗ14 characters to begin withﾗwhich isn't uncommon for a 3D fighter, but I miss the 30+ characters available in earlier 2D installments. To make up for this in a partial way, each character features two costume designs, often radically different from one another, and there are color and costume add-ons (aka "rigging models") to unlock as well.  Sadly, the game doesn't necessarily stay true to its heritage beyond the familiar characters. The clothing and stances are there, the moves are similar, but there's still a level of personality lost in the transition. This, coupled with the changes in the actual gameplay (where's 3-vs-3 in Story Mode?), may alienate hardcore fans. Even the bonus disc included, which at first appears to be a 10th Anniversary documentary homage to the series, instead turns out to be more of a Maximum Impact PR blitz. That's especially odd considering anyone watching the disc has likely already purchased the game. King of Fighters: Maximum Impact could have been better. The graphics aren't up to the high standards achieved by other 3D fighters. There's nothing memorable about the soundtrack, and the English voice acting is absolutely poor. But it also has enough going for it to have you coming back for more. Let's hope SNK works out the kinks with the up and coming sequel, but until then this game should appease anyone looking for a 2D fighting game gift-wrapped in 3D.  
Maximum Impact, like previous King of Fighters games, is a mixed bag in how it came to deserve its Teen ESRB rating. On the one hand, the game is naturally violent. The goal of each match is to defeat your opponent by delivering a sound pounding, after all. On the other hand, the violence isn't overly realistic (like, say, a boxing title), what with superhuman moves common during any battle. The game lacks any over-the-top embellishments, such as blood sprays and whatnot, with the exception of a spy film scene during the opening cinema. In addition, a couple female characters wear revealing outfits, so if you consider exposed cleavage an issue, you'll want to rethink exposing your children to this one.
This review edited by Dave Long Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Browse Amazon.com's selection of "King Of Fighters" themed games Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: King of Fighters: Maximum Impact |
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