KOFXII - Dedicated Post-Release Impression Thread

[the7k]

I guess I'll start this up since no one else is going too...

The game shipped to GameStop early, and so I've had my copy for about 2 days now. I've been noticing a lot of hate going on for this game, but I'm not exactly sure why. I'm guessing everyone was expecting this to be more BlazBlue or Street Fighter 4, but to me that's like getting Virtua Fighter 5 and expecting it to be more Soul Caliber 4. Apparently, some guy at a GameStop returned the game the same day he got it, saying 'It sucks' and 'The best one was King of Fighters 2006'. Makes me upchuck a little...

Anyway, here's what I can say about the game.

I like the graphics. A lot have complained about the 'pixelation', but it doesn't faze me at all. It still looks great, especially on huge effin' HDTVs.

The online could certainly use improving - I've had a few good matches, but I've had even more matches that were held back by lag issues. Of course, considering my issues with Garou: Mark of the Wolves for Xbox Live Arcade, it seems netcode is something SNK hasn't figured out yet.

I'm ambivalent about some of the changes. I really dislike what they have done with Iori - they made one of my favorite characters damn near useless, at least in my hands. On the other hand, Kensou is a character I've always been annoyed with and just flat-out despised, but in this game - Holy crap. He's become by far one of my favorite characters. The lack of a final boss is bewildering to me (although they may have nixed a final boss due to trying to get the following point right), but the arcade mode is still pretty fun, and I'm sure it'll provide loads of replay value trying to go for the fastest time. (So far, PSN's Online Ranking shows that only three people have actually beat Arcade Mode in under 3:30 minutes, the target time)

Most importantly, this game is balanced. The night it came out, I played this game with a large group of KOF vets, and none of us felt that any victory or loss was due to broken gameplay or character superiority. Compared to BlazBlue and SF4, this game is by far a more fair game. The lack of a final boss character, I feel, may have been an attempt to keep the game balanced. I'm sure no one would like fighting against Rugal anymore than people already like fighting against Akuma and Nu.

[nickfil]

nice review. I look forward to checking it out once it drops in price.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Yeah, KOF:12 rocks. SNK really managed to keep the feel of the old MVS/AES iterations.

[mrlokievil]

I prefer KOF to both Blazblue and SFIV. It's far more balanced. I love that it doesn't have an overpowered final boss.

[wip3outguy7]

I've been playing it in the arcade for a couple of months now and I also don't understand the hate. I think it's a great fighting game. I still don't have a current gen system to play the game on so it may be awhile before I join the KOF XII console players.

I went down to UFO here in Austin last night to play for ole' time sake. Sadly, only one person challenged me the entire 30+ mins I was playing single player mode. Meanwhile, the SFIV and Tekken 6 machines were getting constant play.

[Video Game Take-Out]

So far I'm kinda so-so on it. Graphically it's a beautiful game, but variety wise it's a bit limited. I may get more into it over time, but for now I'm kinda mediocre on it.

[Mozgus]

If only this came to PC instead of SF4....I wouldn't be getting my ass kicked every single time online.

[jfrost]

What changes have they made on Iori and Kensou?

[the7k]

The only thing that has stayed the same with Iori are his basic moves and his DM. All of his specials are very different. I was hoping that his specials would be like Freeman's, but that isn't the case. They only look like Freeman's specials, they behave nothing like them.

As for Kensou, I've never played with him before really. I recognize his spinning uppercut kick (dp+kick), but everything else seems new. I also just really like his design now, he looks so friggin' bad-ass.

[wip3outguy7]

Haven't played Kensou... really can't stand him. Iori does not have his flames anymore. Some of his moves are the same but basically he has become what Kyo was when they took away Kyo's ground spark and gave him the "Wicked Chew". He's a very rushdown and close up character now. I tried him a few times and couldn't get the hang of it... But he's definitely dominating the Tiers in competitive circles.