Year released: 1993 (Arcade, Neo-Geo), 1994 (SNES)

Number of Players: 1-2 simultaneously

Fatal Fury Special adds new features to Fatal Fury 2, making it an even better fighter!

Graphics: (85%)
Sprites are well animated and look pretty cool. Characters are distinguishable as well. Movements are quick and smooth. Backgrounds are well detailed, more so than the stages in the SF II series, IMO. Something cool is that after the first round, the background will change. In a few stages, for example, the scenery changes from day to night.

Control: (95%)
Similar to SF II’s controls, but a bit different. You have a light punch and kick, and a heavy punch and kick. No medium punch and kick like in SF II, but that’s not a problem. Instead, you have a 3D jump and a 3D attack. A 3D jump will make your character jump from the foreground of the stage to the background to the stage and vice-versa. A 3D attack will hit your opponent into the background. These controls differentiated SF II and FF’s controls. Also different is that you character has a desperation move, which is activated by a rather complex motion when your health is flashing.

Sounds: (80%)
The music doesn’t compare to the music of SF II, but it still is pretty good. The background music of each stage fits in with the stage and the character whose stage it is. There are voices in FFS; they sound all right but are sometimes unclear.

Gameplay: (85%)
Fight until your or your opponent’s health drops down all the way; the basic fighting game formula we all know and love. Special moves are done the same way as in SF II, with motions with the control pad and then an attack button. There are several different fighters to choose from. Fatal Fury/King of Fighters main character Terry Bogard and his brother Andy are in, as well as male favorite, Mai Shiranui. That cheap boss with the funny name, Geese Howard is also in, as well as the boss of FFS, Wolfgang Krauser are selectable as well. In total, there are 16 characters, including the hidden fighter, Ryo Sakazaki, from SNK’s other fighting franchise, Art of Fighting.

Replayability: (73%)
There are only a few modes to play. Those playing alone only have the Story and Countdown modes to choose from. Two players can only play a Vs. mode. But the game is fun. Try beating the game in 1P mode with all the different fighters to see their endings, some of which are pretty funny.

Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a good SNES fighter besides Street Fighter II, try out Fatal Fury Special. It’s got interesting elements that make it a bit different that SF II.

Final Score: (84%) B

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