Because it's the big comeback of a cult license (and we like that)
Fatal Fury is not necessarily a name that speaks to the younger generation. However, we are talking about one of the most cult licenses in the history of fighting games, ported like others of its time to arcade machines, but especially, at the time, to Neo Geo, the console of SNK, also developer of... Fatal Fury. SNK, which had its golden age in the 90s before sinking in the early 2000s and then rising from the ashes under a new entity before resuming the name SNK Corporation and relaunching its catalog of fighting games, first with The King of Fighters XV, three years ago and, for a few days now, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
This title is the sequel to Garou: Mark of the Wolves, released 26 years ago on consoles. Since then, nothing has happened for the Fatal Fury license, which benefited from the rapprochement and the commitment of Saudi Arabia in the capital of SNK Corporation (the company was almost entirely bought by Saudi Prince Mohammed Ben Salmane, via EGDC – Electronic Gaming Development Company -, a subsidiary of his MiSK foundation, editor's note) to make noise at its launch, as well as the choice of placing in the game two international celebrities like the footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and the Italian DJ Salvatore Ganacci. And since Garou: Mark of the Wolves is considered one of the best fighting games in existence, this new Fatal Fury enjoys a certain aura, helped by a roster that gives pride of place to both old hands and newcomers.
Because you can mix like Ganacci and dribble like CR7
Back to the point: in the Fatal Fury: City of Wolves advertising campaign, two characters serve as marketing assets: Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and DJ Salvatore Ganacci. Both are surprising choices, if we stick to their logical connection to fighting games (even if in the history of SNK games, this is not the first collaboration with athletes) and represent more marketing arguments for the game, in order to reach a less niche, more popular and younger target audience.
Let's be honest, there are good and bad points in this choice. Of the two surprise guests in City of the Wolves, Salvatore Ganacci is the best used and the most likely to fit into the game's roster. His moveset, completely modeled on the DJ's antics in real life, very talkative and whimsical, fits in quite logically with the mechanics offered in the game and if his movements are crazy and bring a touch of humor, they prove effective in combat.
Cristiano Ronaldo also has moves that fit into the gameplay of this Fatal Fury, notably his ball game, which allows him to hold an opponent from a distance, harass him and prevent him from playing close combat. But aside from this aspect, the rest is rather unwelcome and it must be said, CR7 fans are likely to be rather disappointed. Firstly, by the appearance of the football superstar in the game, which vaguely resembles the real model.
Then by his attitude in the game and the gestures he has, which lack inventiveness. Finally, Cristiano Ronaldo seems more like an addition than a real need. The player is not playable in all game modes (only in versus and online) although an upcoming update should offer him a special narrative in the Story mode.
Because it is also a complete, tactical and demanding fighting game
This is one of the strong points of City of the Wolves and there is nothing surprising in this since the game takes up the gameplay of Garou: Mark of the Wolves with new features as well. To understand, this Fatal Fury emphasizes offensive play with bonuses for the attacking player, with a special gauge to fill to trigger super special attacks.
The tactical aspect is also to be taken into account, with a temporary gauge allowing to hit harder and giving access to other powerful blows and that the player can choose to place at the beginning, middle and/or end of the round. There is a system of counters, perfect guards and perfect super guards, as well as overheating when the player chains too many devastating blows, forcing him to partially revise his copy.
While the game has a rather comprehensive tutorial and two types of gameplay (one for seasoned players, the other for novices), a standard now in fighting games, City of the Wolves is not at all easy to pick up and is intended to be minimally demanding. The advantage is that while mastering the game's mechanics takes time, having fun is relatively quick. And the lifespan is substantial, with a Story mode equipped with RPG mechanics, very stable online play, and local versus. Everything you need, ultimately, to make a very good fighting game.
Yes, but...
Graphically, this new Fatal Fury can and will certainly divide. The cell-shaded pencil rendering is quite successful, but the game as a whole can be criticized for lacking care, which is even more evident when you look at the backgrounds and certain textures. If the game deliberately breathes the old, one can only be surprised and not in a good way by the interface of City of the Wolves, quite heavy in its operation and use.
We were also able to note untimely loading times, which is always damaging in the era of new generation consoles and for some of them, a little long especially. The Story mode suffers from a lack of immersion. No cutscenes, just sequences of images with text and dialogues that are not very incisive, the whole thing unfortunately lacks interest. But we will be positive in saying that this mode goes to the essential, by offering a succession of opponents to fight, sometimes alone, sometimes in number and with a defined level, that the player must reach or exceed to increase skills, that he will obtain and unlock on the model of an RPG.
Finally we will finish by saying that if this Fatal Fury is aimed at everyone, it is especially reserved in the first place for those used to fighting games, necessarily more patient on learning the mechanics required to play well. City of the Wolves is available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series S and X and PC.
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