Considering this is the latest chapter in a series of games which have spanned more than 15 years, you'd think developers SNK would have perfected the art of the 2D beat-em-up.
King of Fighters XII is a frustratingly flawed game. Frustrating in the fact that on the surface it all looks pretty good - It has a proud line up of diverse and well designed characters who are colourful and vibrant, yet when you place the game in the disc drive and load it up, it's all a bit mediocre.
The single player game doesn't have much to offer. The main option is the "arcade" mode - which is essentially a time trial mode. In this mode you select your three fighters and then use them in five matches, that's it. There is no boss, no story for each character, absolutely zilch. The only challenge with this mode is to improve on your time. Had there of been a plot to each of these characters or a different boss to face off with each mode there might have been some replay value in this game.
The game is also marred by weak AI. I managed to get through this mode in my first attempt without losing a single fight - all achieved in under 30 minutes.
As far as the plot goes there are a few cutscenes which present the game like some big sporting event, with some rather ropey voice over work. Had each character been provided with some sort of vendetta, ambition and backstory I would of felt more invested in the game. With King of Fighters XII there is no plot whatsoever and, as a result, you just don't care.
This isn't helped by the lack of any form of boss to defeat - not that I am fan of these game devices, but ultimately when you finish the affair is a little deflating. The whole thing feels rather unfinished.
As I mentioned earlier, the graphics are colourful and vibrant. The backgrounds are big, well animated and provide a nice amount of eye candy. More attention could also of been put to the soundtrack, which just features repetitive ambient music and your standard background sounds.
The online features are also a bit of a mess, suffering from severe lag and a lobby area which is poorly implemented. This is quite a shame as this sort of game would've benefited greatly if a little thought and attention had been applied to this section.
Ultimately King of Fighters XII is lacking substance where so many other beat-em-ups excel.
As a single player game it's unfulfilling. Having said all that, the game does offer some entertainment as a two player head-to-head game.
So, if you are a fan of the old-school beat-em-ups and you enjoy playing against your mates in the same room, this could be the game for you. If you are looking for something more, don't beat yourself up if you miss this one.
Verdict: 6 out of 10
The Good
- Nice variety of 30 characters
- Vibrant and colourful
The Bad
- Poor AI
- Lack of single player campaigns
- Not very challenging
- Poor online features
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