PLATFORM: PC, PS4/5 (REVIEWED), XBOX SERIES S/X | RELEASE DATE: 14TH FEBRUARY
Along with Capcom, SNK have for many years been considered the kings of fighting games, with long-running franchises such as Samurai Shodown, Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting to name but a few. Now, with the fifteenth instalment of the world-renowned and highly-revered King of Fighters series about to hit store shelves, it seems that legacy is only increasing. But will it live up to the hype and match the critical success of previous instalments? Or will it only serve as a means to remind us that the glory days of the MVS cabinet are long gone? Well, let’s dust off the old headband, stretch off our quads and glutes and find out, shall we?
Coming off the back of 2016’s well-loved The King of Fighters 14, SNK have heard the critical feedback regarding the last entry’s somewhat lacklustre and borderline outdated graphics, and souped things up considerably in the visuals department, with this being the first KOF game to utilise the popular and robust Unreal Engine. Vibrant designs, bright colours and impressive effects really pop off the screen making this easily the most visually alluring entry in the franchise to date. It will also come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that has experienced any of SNK’s recent offerings that presentation is equally top notch, with multiple improvements from the last game in that area. The DJ Station is an extremely welcome addition; particularly given just how consistently high quality the music from KOF has always been, with over 300 songs from the numerous and incredibly diverse soundtracks from the long-running series. Similarly, gallery mode will give players the opportunity to view all manner of concept art and whatnot, as well as unlock various videos and other content including an animated short made exclusively for the game! KOF XV is also the first entry in the series to utilise the GGPO rollback network, which gives an almost lagless online experience for the most sturdy competitive ranked play yet.
Despite all these improvements, somewhat typically, it is in the gameplay department that KOF XV really shines. The 3-on-3 matchups make up the meat and bones of the content and are the focus of story mode, but bouts are customisable and there’s a plethora of options to cater to however you might want to play the game. Players looking for a challenge will certainly find it in the trial mode, with each character having to overcome increasingly difficult combo challenges to progress. This also serves as an excellent way to learn the timing and to brush up on said combos before trying them out on any unsuspecting online noobs that you might happen to come across. The actual fighting mechanics are incredibly fluid and responsive. Special moves look and feel great and combos have that wonderful balance of being both easy to pull off (when you learn them properly, of course), and incredibly satisfying to execute. It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say that this is the new generation of 2D fighters on display here, with possibly the smoothest gameplay in the genre to date.
We won’t give too much away in terms of story mode, but the game focuses on central protagonist Shun’ei, the current KOF tournament and their new sponsor, but along the way you’ll encounter all the familiar faces you’d expect to see in one of these games, along with some new faces and even a couple of surprises. All in all there are 39 selectable characters from launch, with more expected to be available through DLC in the near future. Favourites such as Terry and Andy Bogard, Mai, Ryo, Rock Howard and Iori look better than ever with a fresh coat of paint and a spring in their collective steps. King of Fighters games have also been renowned for their stunning backdrops and stage designs, and number 15 is no exception to that rule with some of the most interesting and visually appealing backgrounds yet – just make sure you don’t get too distracted gawping at the pretty scenery and end up taking a swift fireball to the bonce!
In summary, SNK have not only maintained their extremely consistent run of form with recent releases, but they’ve completely surpassed themselves. If you’re even remotely interested in fighting games, picking this one up is an absolute no-brainer, but beyond that, we feel confident recommending this high calibre product to almost anyone. An extremely fun and rewarding game with an incredible amount of content that has clearly had an awful lot of love and care put into it. Go buy!
