To be honest, as an old player who has been playing since the Saipan era, I still have mixed feelings when I see that the KOF series finally has an RPG version. Without bragging, the biggest feeling that this "King of Fighters World" gives me is that it is really trying to break the framework of traditional fighting games. Although it is still lacking in some places, it is indeed worth talking about.
Let's talk about the advantages first. What surprises me most about this game is that it completely transforms KOF's classic 2D fighting into a 3D panoramic free city. Back then, we were playing tricks on the keyboard, but today we can control Iori Yagami to walk around the streets in the city of the near future. This kind of span is quite impressive to be honest. The lineup of fighters in the game is indeed complete, with characters from the history of the KOF series all appearing, and the plot has been completed with great care. Old players can find many familiar jokes and easter eggs in it.
I thought the design of Free City Simulation was a gimmick at first, but after actually playing it I found that it was quite solid. You can take on tasks, go shopping, fight, and interact with NPCs in the city. Although the degree of freedom is not as good as GTA, it has exceeded expectations for a mobile game. Compared with many similar MMORPGs on the market where you hang up and fight monsters, this gameplay is indeed a breath of fresh air.
But I have to say something that deserves to be complained about. First of all, as the core of the KOF series, the fighting feel has indeed weakened a lot after it was transformed into RPG. The freedom of skill combos cannot be compared with that of orthodox KOF, and the strike feeling is also soft, which may be a bit uncomfortable for experienced players. In addition, although it is made with a 3D engine, there is still a certain gap between the picture details and light and shadow effects compared with the current top mobile games. Occasionally, there will be an illusion of "online game and web game".
Let's talk about comparison with similar games. I think "King of Fighters World" is more like the DNFPG version of the idea - turning classic IP into RPG gameplay, but its foundation is KOF, so the audience is actually different from DNFPG. What KOF players value more is the feelings of the King of Fighters characters and the exhilaration of fighting. This game obviously wants to attract a wider group of MMORPG players. I think the balance between the two is the most difficult thing to do at the moment.
The operating model is free, which is quite friendly. However, friends who have played this type of game know that if there is no gold in the later stage, the gap in combat power will still be relatively wide. I hope the official can work more on balance to prevent civilian players from losing too quickly.
Overall, "King of Fighters World" is a thoughtful work. It may not be perfect, and the fighting feel still has room for improvement, but for KOF fans, being able to see so many classic characters gathering in the same open world for adventure on their mobile phones is worth the price alone. To be honest, we old guys who have played from the Symbian era to the smartphone era are quite pleased to see KOF making such an attempt in this era. 😌
I'm not bragging, but if you're looking for a King of Fighters mobile game with rich plots and the ability to roam the map freely, you can give it a try. If you come with an orthodox fighting mentality, it is recommended to adjust your expectations before entering the pit.