VGRC

1999 was a great year. Not just for gaming, but it marked the end of an era, and hallmarked the new beginning of the Noughties (I really hate that word). It also gave birth to one of the most polished and accomplished fighting games on arguably one of the greatest 2D systems on the planet: Garou: Mark of the Wolves, the ninth and final game of the Fatal Fury series, set 10 years after Geese Howard's death in Real Bout Fatal Fury. The game is known for pushing the boundaries of the Neo Geo and setting the framework for both future SNK fighting games and technically advancing the gameplay aspects of the genre as well as showing future games how important a fully balanced roster of characters is to a fighting game.
Unlike the previous games in the series that were localized, the game bore the Japanese 'Garou' label instead of the usual Fatal Fury moniker (however, the Dreamcast release was localized as Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves), probably due to the length of the name. But more due to the fact that many gameplay features and characters from previous iterations in the franchise are non-playable in the game, basically detailing a reboot of the franchise in it's final chapter. While the game itself is part of the series in both name and as part of the Fatal Fury universe, it is not a 100% continuation of previous games only giving few references to the past games.

While the Neo Geo itself is strictly a 2D game console, Mark of the Wolves uses some of the most advanced 2D graphical techniques at the time to give the illusion of semi-transparancy and improved hit detection. The fighting system of the previous Fatal Fury titles has been cast away, and in place a more inspired system thanks in part to the King of Fighters series not only in button layout, but an electronic inspired music soundtrack and the general rhythm and pace of the fighting system. All these changes bring only one word to mind: impressive.

Sparking comparisons to Street Fighter III with a new generation of characters, the roster of the game is pretty much brand new, with only brief references to previous characters. Terry Bogard remains the sole original trademark character from the earlier installments of the Fatal Fury series, yet he sports a new look; exchanging his trademark red vest, hat and shoes for a bomber jacket, brown shoes and a more wild and free hairstyle. Joining Terry is a new generation of characters, notably the new lead character, Rock Howard; Geese Howard's son and Terry's protégé, as well as the two sons of Kim Kaphwan. SNK have seemingly discarded the older characters in favor of new characters with newer designs for a more fresh take on the series, and to be honest, it has worked.

While the game might not look as visually impressive today, especially compared to lush 3D worlds we are now exhibited to, the extremely fluid animation and bright color palletes showcase the best SNK can pull out of the NeoGeo. Tight yet simple controls are both intuitive and inspiring, showing that 6 buttons are not needed for a fighting game and that complex moves and combos can be pulled off with 4 buttons and a lot of accurate memorization.

Dedicated to the more hardcore fighting veteran, it does not mean the game is a nightmare for new players; it's anything but. The simple controls and almost perfectly balanced roster make for an easy pick up and play game style, something that is easy to start with but ultimately hard to 100% master, which makes the game perfect for those looking for a challenge. Mostly the appeal lies in stringing together simple moves into hardcore devastating combos, not just memorizing long button sequences, and this is thanks to the fantastic gameplay tweaks SNK have incorporated. Fast game speed, sharp controls and responsive characters easily make this game hard to fault.

The game won't win any awards for writing or plot, but thats not where it shines. Of course, the game shines in the excellent fighting realm, and that was where it was placed in. Who plays a fighting game for a storyline anyway? Interesting and quirky characters, awesome gameplay and fantastic visuals are all you need. And that is what Mark of the Wolves has, as one of the last great 2D fighting games to come out in the last 10 years.

9	Slick controls, easy to pick up - hard to master, great characters and fresh, fluid graphics.
	No real definitive plot.