King Of Fighters 98: UM Story/Dilemma

[SinclairVulture]

As of about 8 months ago, I had never played KOF. I thought about it for a while, but when I saw KOF 98 UM up for pre-order, I was sort of drawn in for no apparent reason other than wanting something new. I decided that I wanted to pay with my PayPal balance, but GameStop wouldn't have it so I had to go through Barnes & Noble to pre-order... which then orders through GameStop.

Go figure, I guess.

Waiting for the release date (mid Jan. 2009, I think) I got impatient and started going through other venues to at least see if I liked what the series had to offer. During this time, I played KOF 95, XI, and the NGPC rendition - as a kid, I played Art of Fighting 2 and Fatal Fury 2 on SNES, so I knew a lot of the moves, but I was pretty impressed! These were good games! It was nearing the release date and I was checking my PayPal for eBay purchases I was making at the time, and all of a sudden my balance rose by $25! I knew what it was straight off - KOF was delayed, and instead of keeping my pre-order, they bounced the money back. At that point I said "Screw it!" and went on to other things. A month and a half later, I get an email from B&N saying "Hey buddy! You should pay for this game!", which I subsequently ignored. I didn't care enough at the time to pay for it.

Guess what shows up on my door 2 weeks later, boys and girls? That's right - a copy of KOF 98 UM which I never paid for that I obtained without even trying. Just... wow. Before anyone flies off the handle, I haven't received any more messages from B&N, GameStop, or Paypal concerning this transaction.

I've decided that 98 UM is everything I want in a fighting game. Characters, moves, style, challenge, and a system to hold it together. So what's the dilemma? I've also decided that the PS2 controller is intolerable. The D Pad is a joke, and the analog stick slows me down tremendously.

I've been thinking about trading someone for Dream Match 99; I'd get to play the game with a controller that I find more suitable, and they both go for a similar cost. I understand that 98 UM has more bells and whistles, but if the core gameplay is there and the roster is at least respectable (I don't often play as EX Orochi Omega 95 Rugal The Movie Part II with the seafoam green pallette, dig?) I can make the step down without looking back. The only thing that's really stopping me is the possibility of an affordable controller that I haven't found.

I've got nothing to lose, so what do you guys think?

[Ack]

Weird is what I think, chief.

[the7k]

Street Fighter PS2 controllers. I've seen 'em for as low as $5. The d-pad isn't perfect, but it's much better than official controllers. I always bring it with me when I go to tournaments.

[SinclairVulture]

Street Fighter PS2 controllers. I've seen 'em for as low as $5. The d-pad isn't perfect, but it's much better than official controllers. I always bring it with me when I go to tournaments.

I think I heard about these at some point. Wasn't there an issue with the start/select buttons being next to the punch buttons? Not that it's world-ending or anything - it's very cheap and it looks promising. I'll probably give it a go.

[nickfil]

I just started playing kof too! I've never played an snk fighter in my life and got the compilation for the wii. I got one word for you man: stick.

you gotta go with a fight stick.

[wip3outguy7]

SinclairVulture, that's an awesome story.

As far as controllers are concerned, the Street Fighter Anniversary pads from Nubytech are nice.

My friends and I have slapped the start and select buttons countless times while playing, though. They are in a horrible place. To solve this problem simply take the pad apart and file the start and select buttons down until they are flush with the face of the controller. You will still be able to press them with the tip of your finger when needed.

When taken apart you can see that the dpad design on the SFA pad is almost the same as the 2nd gen Saturn's. The shaft connecting the upper pad to the lower pad (the one that makes contact with the rubber shoes and board) is a little longer than the one on the Saturn's - giving the pad a less precise nature. The pad is a little larger than the Saturn's as well.

In the hierarchy of 2D style game pads I would place the Saturn's at the top and the SFA Nubytech at a moderately close second.

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But in the end, you really should just buy a joystick. I grew up playing fighting games primarily in the arcade and struggled to play them at home on inferior (IMO) dpads. The 2nd gen Saturn pads were a dream, no doubt. But now that I have had my HRAP2 for a few months, there is no way I could imagine playing a fighting game with a dpad again.

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Oh and UM >>>>>>>> DM '99. Just find a better pad/stick for the PS2.

[SinclairVulture]

SinclairVulture, that's an awesome story.

As far as controllers are concerned, the Street Fighter Anniversary pads from Nubytech are nice.

My friends and I have slapped the start and select buttons countless times while playing, though. They are in a horrible place. To solve this problem simply take the pad apart and file the start and select buttons down until they are flush with the face of the controller. You will still be able to press them with the tip of your finger when needed.

When taken apart you can see that the dpad design on the SFA pad is almost the same as the 2nd gen Saturn's. The shaft connecting the upper pad to the lower pad (the one that makes contact with the rubber shoes and board) is a little longer than the one on the Saturn's - giving the pad a less precise nature. The pad is a little larger than the Saturn's as well.

In the hierarchy of 2D style game pads I would place the Saturn's at the top and the SFA Nubytech at a moderately close second.

--------------------------

But in the end, you really should just buy a joystick. I grew up playing fighting games primarily in the arcade and struggled to play them at home on inferior (IMO) dpads. The 2nd gen Saturn pads were a dream, no doubt. But now that I have had my HRAP2 for a few months, there is no way I could imagine playing a fighting game with a dpad again.

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Oh and UM >>>>>>>> DM '99. Just find a better pad/stick for the PS2.

Much obliged, brother-man! Especially that tip about the Start/Select buttons - never would've thought of that.

When I first got a Saturn, it only came with model 1 controllers, so I initally sought out for a model 2, but eBay was dry at the time so I got a virtua stick and hoped for the best. I really enjoyed myself, for the most part, but ever since I got a well priced model 2, it's been collecting dust. I don't have anything against sticks, but I personally prefer the pad. Not to mention the price tag.

Funny thing, though; I find the model 2 just a tad small for my hands, so maybe I'll be better off...

[nickfil]

When I first got a Saturn, it only came with model 1 controllers, so I initally sought out for a model 2, but eBay was dry at the time so I got a virtua stick and hoped for the best. I really enjoyed myself, for the most part, but ever since I got a well priced model 2, it's been collecting dust. I don't have anything against sticks, but I personally prefer the pad. Not to mention the price tag.
Funny thing, though; I find the model 2 just a tad small for my hands, so maybe I'll be better off...

model 2 controller? i'm not quite sure what this is. Are we talking the nights controller vs the regular Saturn pad?

Sticks for sure arn't for everyone. I was pretty anti stick until i forced myself with them. They have a learning curve to them, and if you get through it it'll pay off IMHO. As far as sticker shock- I can't argue. They are pretty pricey for the high end ones, but the midrage stuff is pretty affordable. All the sticks I have are midrange (and a few cheapos) and i love them and don't really have any complaints. As far as i'm concerned the high end sticks are for players entering competitions and shit like that. People who put years into one fighter. Most people are ok with stuff that isn't the bottom of the barrel.

[SinclairVulture]

model 2 controller? i'm not quite sure what this is. Are we talking the nights controller vs the regular Saturn pad?

Sticks for sure arn't for everyone. I was pretty anti stick until i forced myself with them. They have a learning curve to them, and if you get through it it'll pay off IMHO. As far as sticker shock- I can't argue. They are pretty pricey for the high end ones, but the midrage stuff is pretty affordable. All the sticks I have are midrange (and a few cheapos) and i love them and don't really have any complaints. As far as i'm concerned the high end sticks are for players entering competitions and shit like that. People who put years into one fighter. Most people are ok with stuff that isn't the bottom of the barrel.

Couldn't agree more. I did enjoy myself with the stick on almost every game I had for Saturn at the time, but I enjoy the pad that much more. Just how I am, I guess.

If I pay $15 for the pad and I'm happy, then I'll leave it at that. If I think I'd prefer a stick, I'll buy one afterwards. That way, I'm not blowing $50 from the get-go.

To answer your question, the model 2 is the saturn pad we all know and love in contrast with the model 1 which originally shipped with US systems (not the NiGHTS controller). Some people don't mind it so much, but I detest it.