I still remember when I was in junior high school, I took the breakfast money I saved and went into the arcade just to play two King of Fighters 97s. At that time, one coin could last an entire afternoon. I could use Kusanagi Kyo's moves with my eyes closed, and Orochi's dark barrier was the youthful belief of our friends. Later, I got the GBA and then the PSP. The King of Fighters series stayed with me through countless nights. The pure passion and emotion still make my heart warm when I think about it.
Recently, my friend Amway bought this game "Fist Soul Awakening (648 Daily Bonus)". I originally thought it was one of those mobile games where you can earn gold and reskin by hanging up the game, but I was stunned as soon as I entered the game. As soon as the familiar music played, Kusanagi Kyo, Iori Yagami, and Mai Shiranui stood on the streets of Fighting City. It felt like they were reunited with old comrades. The picture is no longer pixelated, and the special effects of the special moves are so cool. Every time the explosive energy amplifies the move, the screen vibrates, and the youth is suddenly exploded.
But in the final analysis, the difference between classics and replicas is quite obvious. The original version of The King of Fighters focused on the combination of moves and judgment, and the emphasis on reaction speed. A heavy kick followed by a standing light punch followed by a sure kill. That set of combos was practiced all night long. The mobile game version is more focused on lineup matching and development, combining characters from multiple SNK IPs. KOF, Samurai Shodown, and Hungry Wolf characters can all form teams to play. Dream showdowns like Haohmaru vs. Yagami-an were something I couldn't even imagine before. After all, times have changed. It is indeed unrealistic to use the mobile phone to play tricks. Changing to a card strategy is also a smart way.
What's interesting is that the benefits of this game are really generous. It's called 648 per day. I thought it was just a headline at first, but I ended up getting a bunch of diamonds and card drawing coupons online. It's really generous. Moreover, the development system is very comfortable, with lossless inheritance and no need to re-train when changing the lineup. For a nostalgic party like me who is busy with work, this is simply good news. You don't have to worry about practicing the wrong character, you can play whichever one you want, and everyone can be upgraded to the top level. This is much better than scrimping and saving coins in the past.
I have already put Iori Yagami into the main team. He still wears the same purple leather suit and still has that cold-to-the-bone expression. Although it lacks the noise of the arcade and the solid feel of the joystick, being able to re-walk the road of youth with the KOF fighting team on the mobile phone makes the love in my heart even stronger. If you are like me and have ever fought for a seat in an arcade for just one coin, then you can really give it a try and get back that passionate feeling.
Youth is not gone, it just continues to burn in a different place. 🔥