Overview
KOF2001 is the 8th KOF to be released and is quite contraversial in whether people like it or not. Personally, it is my favourite of the series and I really love the game, all versions/ports of it. This game is also the last in the series to use strikers and is also versatile as you can use more than one striker now.
Graphics 9/10
I love the 3D backgrounds and the 2D counterparts are bareable. The backgrounds are pretty detailed for an obsolete system, thus you can't get a perfect mark, even with the PS2 port, as they kept the lo-res cinematic sequences.(WHY!?) I also realy love the whole tournament feel with the logo of KOF2001 being put everywhere, the whole audience in the backgrounds and the between battle presentations. I also love the fact that they have used real venues for the tournament. (The Sao Paulo Racecourse and the Rialto Bridge stages.) It is also very fluent in animation with absloutley no slowdown when pulling of striker combos. It is also crazy seeing about 5 people in the screen at 1 time. The PS2 ports also have different versions for the stages which is a nice touch.
Gameplay/Controls 10/10
Just like a real fight in many aspects, you get in shit and people can jump in and help you if you need them! HOW COOL IS THAT! This game also includes the usual DM and SDM, rolls, runs, backward dashes and the usual stuff you're used to as well as a mad striker stystem which can make the possibilities limitless for striker set-ups. Wire whip is fun to muck around with as well as lethal for combo set-ups.
The whole team set up thing is also interesting and makes it feel differen and in some ways better. The max 4vs4 can make way for extremely long battles as well as the 3on1 and 2on2 as well as the 4on and whatever other team combinations I may have forgotten. Controls are also nice as it is easy to pull of moves, even on the PS2's DPAD. Striker set-ups can be hard to pull of though.
Sound/Music 8/10
As some people have said before, they arent really songs but just tunes. Sensational at times but bareable at it's worst. I love the K' theme and the Igniz theme. Many of the other themes just grow onto you too so even if you hate them, chances are you will eventually begin to like them. The sounds are also darn good with the instrument choices chosen done nicely, even though I have a feeling they're all synthesized. The sound quality is also good as you can here the footsteps of the move as well as the many explosions and sound affects here and there.
Replay Value 8/10
Playing this game can kill a lot of time practicing set-ups etc and playing arcade mode for a while, but you will get bored. But when playing with people that can play allright, this game scores a 10 as it will keep you going for yonks. There is also a whole stash of unique intros to watch so that might make you want to play for a little while more so you can see all of them. (Love the Andy and Mai intro.)
Overall 10/10
You gotta luv this game after a while. My favourite in the series tied equally with KOF2003 and KOF1998. It's got the tournament feel and alot of nice cinematic sequences in it. It is also pretty deep in its in-game details. The tribute to tetsou (K9999)is also pretty damn good, and i love all his super moves. In a nutshell, THIS GAME IS REALLY FUN!
- by DoNuT kInG
