I always say "quit while your ahead". This was the case too when I learned another Fatal fury-game was on the way. After six episodes the series was starting to lose magic and if yet another game were to be released, it'd better be something completely different. Upon receiving the home version of Garou, I soon realised SNK had done just that! You know the question 'bout that one game you'd bring to an island? This is it...
Overview
Mark of the Wolves is set ten years after Terry Bogard beats Geese Howard, who by his own hands dies upon falling from a building. Geese leaves behind his seven year old son Rock, who in the caring hands of Terry grows up to become a powerful streetfighter. Combining the powers of both Terry and his own father, Rock is a surprisingly skillful fighter with the moves to go the distance. Southtown is still the main setting and over the last couple of years very little has changed. So it should be no surprise that one day a mysterious madman rises to organise yet another fighting tournament.
Graphics 9/10
Graphically MOTW delivers! The character designs are simply fantastic, 12 very different fighters with the smoothest animation ever on the Neo. Each character has highly original moves and backgrounds. In storymode players yet again travel through Southtown where every level is cleverly introduced with beautifully rendered cutscenes, much in the way it was done with the Last Blade games. Wait 'till you see the waterfall stage, it looks so painfully real and it makes one wonder how it's possible on this 13 year old machine. With two fantasic intro-scenes and outstanding artwork in all of the game's endings, I honestly can't think of another Neo-game that's this beautiful!
Gameplay/Controls 8/10
But what's all this graphical mayhem without a great fighting-engine? Fortunately, SNK provides accurate and very responsive controls with enough great features to keep players interested for years to come. Easy executable specials and overdrives are great for inexperienced gamers who'll pick this game up right from the start. Southtown veterans will be pleased to hear the game's loaded with new features to explore like the "TOP-meter" and "Just defended". One thing that needs to get off my chest is that I think the Tae Kwon Do- brothers are WAY too powerful. Especially their overdrives. Take Terry's D-button overdrive, and try hitting something. It won't happen cause your opponent will see it coming from a mile away. Kim Jae Hoon's move however, takes a warplane down of it has to, it never misses it's target! This is but one minor gripe though that can easily be forgiven when looking at the total package. The game is highly enjoyable and extremely exciting especially with a crowd.
Sound/Music 10/10
Now we get to perhaps the best part of the game: it's soundtrack! The musical lineup is in no way comparable to previous episodes of the series. The tunes we "grew up with" were nice and some were quite memorable, but those found in MOTW are instant classics!
Like with the characters, all tracks are very different and suit the backgrounds and the action extremely well. The score builds up to reach it's dramatic climax in Rock Howard's stage where a solid makeover of a certain Robert Miles hit will make you shiver!
As for the sound effects in MOTW, they are among the best ever heard in any Neo-fighter.
The voices and hits are striking and some are truly unforgettable, like Terry's "Burning Knuckle" which sounds like a jet zooming by before bombing the place!
Replay Value 9/10
Like most SNK-fighters, MOTW is a game you won't play for hours and hours each and every day. You'll regularly pop the beast in to go crazy while admiring all the wonderful things that can be found in this masterpiece. The storymode isn't really hard, and it's likely you'll find yourself drooling over one off the gorgeous endings in a couple of hours.
But that's not a bad thing since there are twelve endings to see. Like I stated earlier, it's a great crowd-pleaser that will have even the most experienced brawlers at the edge of their seat. It's very competitive gameplay makes you come back for more and more, and I can see myself still playing this addictive wonder in about ten years, as this kind of quality is preserved excellently!
Overall 9/10
If you can appreciate any decent SNK-fighter, MOTW can't possibly disappoint you.
Playing this game is such a breathtaking experience, it makes you want to Email the artists to compliment them on a job perfectly done. The characters, the art, the soundtrack..it's just too much! My advice: stop reading, track this monster down and fight it out! Terry demands it!
- By Master G
