Fatal Fury: City of Wolves: Is this game worth it?

History and Return of Fatal Fury

It was in 1999 when the Fatal Fury saga breathed its last breath before passing into the shadow of The King of Fighters, but SNK surprised us more than two decades later by reminding us where it all began. The roots of the fighting genre permeate City of the Wolves from head to toe. But was it really worth resurrecting a saga that few will remember today? I analyze every corner of the game to answer.

Terry Bogard's Origin and Fighting Style

Not everyone will be aware of this, but Fatal Fury is the saga that gave birth to Terry Bogart, one of SNK's biggest stars who has already earned a ticket to multiple fighting games today. And unlike The King of Fighters, in this franchise we're dealing with a pure combat system, which is only logical considering this is one of the pioneers of the genre, competing against the first Street Fighters in the glorious days of the arcades.

Playability and Accessibility

Fatal Fury relied on a basic but effective formula, and that was respected in City of the Wolves, a one-on-one battle where pure skill crowns the victor. Within SNK's vast catalog, this franchise is the closest to Capcom's legendary fighting game, so this comparison can begin to give you an idea of ​​what you're experiencing in this game. City of the Wolves effectively introduces you to its foundations, from simple movement to the most effective combos.

This game is the closest description to the phrase "easy to understand, difficult to master," and this is one of its strongest points. It's accessible to all levels of experience in the genre. The entry point is made even easier with two distinct control systems. Yes, there are autocombos here too for those who aren't very comfortable with the genre, but still want to enjoy it, whether alone or with friends.

Combat Mechanics

The entire combat system is surrounded by two key elements: the bars.

1.-REP: The first is a gauge you must keep in check, as it will grow if you overuse your most powerful attacks. If you cross the limit, the game will punish you for a few seconds by completely blocking a wide range of moves, and this can mean certain defeat at an inopportune moment.

2.-SPG: On the other hand, the SPG bar is more than interesting, as it offers a customization mode not commonly seen in the genre. This bar will take up one-third of your total health, and you are free to assign it to one of three locations. When your health bar connects with your SPG, you can unleash your character's true potential. This allows you to control each battle according to your preferences.

Strategy and Comparison with KOF

You can start each round with your best moves and try to intimidate your opponent from the opening seconds, or save your SPG as a trump card when battles reach their climax.

Compared to The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury is more strategic. You won't see half-hour combos or crazy jumps or flips here. This game is for cool heads who prefer to control fights with intelligent movement and effective use of every punch and kick.

Battles on Two Lanes

As I mentioned, the game punishes you if you're too aggressive, making clear SNK's intentions with this battle system. As an interesting bonus, the game brought back the two-lane battles that series veterans will remember well. It's not exactly a 3D mode, but it's an interesting and well-integrated addition, as it includes unique attacks and combos.

We must emphasize that this is just an extra mode and not part of the game's traditional battle system. The simplest way to interpret it is as a fun minigame, an engaging escape if you get tired of fighting all day.

Cast of Characters

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a return to the roots, not just for SNK, but for the entire fighting genre. While ultimately you're free to tame the horse however you wish, the plan here is to think through every move and attack to succeed. It's a pure and elegant system that rewards patience and strategy above all else, with new elements that open up room for player experimentation. All of this results in tons of replayability.

SNK hasn't forgotten the nostalgic side: we have familiar faces like Terry and Mike, and old classics like Billy Kane and Tizoc. There are also new fighters, like Pricha, who blends a familiar combat style with his own twist.

While it's not a massive roster, there's plenty of variety: from all-rounders to grapplers and ranged fighters.

Story Mode

• All of these fighters have their respective reasons for returning to the new Fatal Fury. The story mode takes us back to the legendary South Town, continuing what happened in the '90s. A pre-story review wouldn't hurt to understand why characters like Geese Howard didn't return.

Additional Modes and Learning

• Modes like Survival and Time Attack allow you to test your skills. There's also a mission mode that explains everything from basic attacks to advanced combos for each character. It's ideal for those looking to compete online.

Conclusion: Is it worth it?

Despite its more than obvious lack of narrative focus, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a masterpiece in pure fighting game terms. Its gameplay has been carefully curated from top to bottom, and the result is exquisite. They truly care about every last detail, and I highly recommend it. I hope you enjoy it.