[Game review]King of Fighters XI

For old-school game geeks King of Fighters is one of the top 2D fighting games. It dominated video arcades in the early 1990s, along with Street Fighter and Samurai Showdown. KOF had its low moments, very much like Street Fighter when it released its 3D version, Maximum Impact. Thank God KOF has gone back to a design that gamers worship. So what if it’s not 3D? The game is far better off without it, especially now that it’s got its mad speedy combo attacks.
Players can choose from three different modes, depending on how you like to play the game: There is the arcade mode, team play mode and single mode. In the arcade mode, a player chooses three characters. During a fight, the player can switch to another character even during a combo attack. It’s like tag-team wrestling. In team play, the player once again can choose three characters. However, unlike the arcade mode, you can’t switch to another character during a fight. In single mode, you get to choose just one character. Although KOF XI doesn’t bring in anything new compared to its predecessors, it still stands out as entertainment with its fast combos and crazy, special attacks. And that’s essential for a really great game.
By Lee Ho-jeong

King of Fighters XI
Genre: Fighting
Platform: PS2
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Rating:★★★★: Solid entertainment, especially for fans of the genre.