To be honest, as a veteran player who has been involved in the gaming industry since the Saipan era, I have seen too many mobile games under the banner of "sentiment" in recent years, and I have long been deceived and immune. But this King of Fighters 97ol, it's not bragging, it really surprised me.
Let's talk about the background first. Everyone knows that King of Fighters 97 was the "treasure of the arcade" back then. Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and Mai Shiranui. As soon as these names came out, the DNA of many people born in the 80s and 90s was moved. I also come from that coin era. At that time, two joysticks were broken for the sake of a "Orochanagi". It's quite funny now when I think about it. 😄
This mobile game is officially authorized by SNK and developed by Tianjin Shiyong. To be honest, I was worried at first. After all, most domestic manufacturers of mobile fighting games are following the path of "exchanging skins for cash." But after playing the game for a week, I feel that it is indeed sincere. The picture is a 2D high-definition redrawing, and the character movements are highly restored. Even Kusanagi Kyo's standing posture and Yagami's laughter are original. Moreover, the skill combination and combo system retain the core of the original work. For example, the classic combo of "Cranwind + Eight Young Girls" can also be played on the mobile screen, but you just need to adapt to the feel of the virtual joystick.
In terms of operation, the game provides three modes: classic joystick, sliding moves, and smart combos. An old player like me would definitely choose the classic, the feeling of rubbing moves is authentic. But to be honest, the screen of the mobile phone is too small. When doing the ultimate move like "↓↘→↓↘→+A/C", you will occasionally make mistakes, but it is much better than the "fake fighting" on the market that automatically connects moves with one click.
The game content is also quite rich. The main plot starts from the Orochi chapter, with original cutscenes, as well as various challenge modes, ranking matches, and peak showdowns. I'm not that kind of liver emperor. I spend half an hour every day doing daily routines and playing in the arena, which is enough for fun. What impressed me the most was that there was an "arcade" scene in the game. The background sound was the noisy button clicks and cheers from those days, and I instantly traveled back to twenty years ago.
But there are also drawbacks. The charging model is free download + in-app purchase. Although consumption is not mandatory, if you want to quickly collect all the characters or upgrade equipment, you still have to spend money. Moreover, in the arena, there is a clear gap between the attributes of krypton gold bosses and civilians, which makes micro kryptonians like me a little unhappy. But thinking about it from another perspective, SNK also has to eat. As long as it doesn't force krypton, it's still acceptable.
Overall, King of Fighters 97ol is one of the most interesting mobile games of its kind on the market. If you are an old King of Fighters fan and want to relive your youth, you can definitely play it next time. If you are a new player who has never been exposed to it, you can also experience the exhilaration of fighting games. One final word: Yagami is so handsome, even his hairstyle is so restored. 🕶️