The visual overhaul of KoFXII and XIII only came after KoFXI had been heavily criticized for re-using the old NeoGeo assets on new hardware. Besides, if you look at older KoFs... they're very rough-looking even for their time. Early games were still OK, but the further you go, the less impressive it gets, even if you compare it to only to other sprite-based 2D games and ignore the rapidly developing 3D market. Heck, even other SNK titles (say, Garou: MotW or The Last Blade 2, not to mention the visual insanity of Metal Slugs) easily snatch that trophy away.
As someone that knows how to make sprites and animation, I tell you need your eyes to get checked out LOL ... GG X had bad animations, one animation was like 3 frames, and KOF are detailed and fluid as fuck, also better shading and more complex style .
One of the best fighting games ever made. It is too bad Max couldn't get into it, but I the online was definitely sketchy. God, I would kill for a PS4 release with better netcode...
"If SFV disappointed you and you don't like western fighters, get Xrd. But if you hate anime fighters, KoF14's a good game." Probably the most back-handed recommendation I've ever heard.
If this was about blazblue being better than ggxrd Let's be real I love Blazblue and guilty gear and I am a huge fan of the story and gameplay But ggxrd is much better than blazblue especially that now they are sticking to the same pixel artstyle (which is not bad imo just not good when you look at ggxrd) and they removed the English voice acting in the new one which was REALLY GOOD I know this comment wasn't about that but I had to say it
in terms of training mode, missions, tutorials, and eye candy, Xrd is better. I haven't tried the BB lobby system, but Xrd's lobby is so enjoyable, I have a hard time to see how BB can beat it. In terms of gameplay, even though they have similar system mechancs, just completely different game play. Pretty much personal preference. As for looks, it depends. Do you want 90s anime or modern anime with more lewds? Take your pick. But GG Xrd wins in the number of belts.
The game is very fun IF you love executing tough combos. I've played nearly every fighting game under the sun, and I can't remember the last time I spent so long in training mode. With that said, I do think this game deserves more love. Too many players are ignoring it because of a first-glance at its graphics. Yes, they are pretty lacking, but the gameplay is much smoother and fluid than SFV could ever hope to be. Plus, it actually has all the offline content that fans deserve. I strongly recommend it for anyone looking to push their limits.
TrueUnderDawgGaming I support your videos sharing them, you are pretty skilled with your tutorials nice like Verper and Desk, waiting for your next tutorials :) see ya
Max is not kidding about kof14 combo system being fun. The other day I literally was in training mode for 5 hours practicing all sorts of combos for Angel, the chain attack command goddess. Last time I played sf5 was 2 months ago for like 30 minutes and was bored out of mind. kof14 definitely gets the nod from me when it comes to pure engaging fun factor.
SlashDeux Oh for sure, no doubt nelson mix and cross up game is absolutely crazy. The main reason why I trained my angel so much is because I had something to prove to myself. When I was younger I loved angel as a character so much but I completely sucked with her so now it was my time to learn her properly and I succeded, gotta say it feels good, lol
dude, we have also the same reason for playing angel! I always loved her, but I never tried her out and now.... I can sit in training mode hours and hours with her and never get bored! Angel is just amazing
I don't get the praise that KOF is getting now. I'm a fan of it but it's literally been the same thing for about 20 years. Every comparison that people are making between KOF and SF today were true for many years. KOF always had much larger rosters with the exception of 12 and 13. KOF was always faster. And KOF always had more combos and higher execution requirements. It's not like 14 is the first time it happened or that 14 is the first time that it's actually good which was the case for MK9. KOF has been solid for a really long time and this is just following tradition. It has everything people look for in KOF. KOF14 plays like a KOF should and SF5 plays like SF should.
We might have helped save them but sony did a lot for them too and they probs need the money for making it exclusive so did we lose our yes but might we get more games from them that might make it to pc hopefully
Except SF V still doesnt have everything available, and even in its current stage (Its servers and loadtimes are still shit I might add) and, KoF XIV is the more enjoyable game.
+Mileniunm I do like both this and SFV. Its just both are my favorite fighting game. Sure it has its issues like SFV with its whole game or this with the "PS3" graphics. (unlike Xrd who gets all the praise). So well is it wrong if i like both of them ? (KOF XIV and SFV)
+bobthebobcat maybe he's not into weaboo trash. I love the GG graphics and Faust (he'll always be the face of the franchise to me) but I hate the rest of the game's cast especially the chicks.
DjBuBbLeGuM.... I agree with you on that. The graphics are really beautiful in it's on old school way. And what Max mentioned was correct and I have been saying that for years. Fighting games don't really need awesome graphics all the time for them to be awesome. I mean yes they need to have good graphics to get the attention of people who really never are into fighting games but after a while if the gameplay mechanics and other offerings aren't up to par then the game sucks. I'm really an old school type of fighting game fan so the 3D fighting games never really called me or should I say I really didn't like them as much as the old school 2D sprites or 2.5/3D'ish sprites fighting games like the old school SF and SNK FF or KOF and MK etc......
They don't look good to me. Bland and lacking detail. The animations for most of the characters normal moves is also rough around the edges. Compared to Guilty Gear and SFV which have much more detail and better animations by far. The first couple hours after buying and playing KoF it was rough. The graphics were taking me out of the game. Then I warmed upto them and started getting absorbed in the much more important gameplay. Now I really like KoF. Not as much as SFV or GG but it's still a good game.
If the graphics were making you want to stop playing even if the gameplay is good, that qualifies you as a graphics bitch. You need to stop playing video games now.
Awesome review!This is yet another reason why I love the kof series as much as I love the street fighter series.Seriously,Capcom vs. Snk 3 needs to happen!SERIOUSLY!!!
I come from the future in 2018, where Samurai Showdown 2019 has been announced by SNK and it looks exactly how Max described. Max is a fgc Prophet. FYI SamSho description at the 8 min mark.
Viu a diferença entre a análise de alguém que REALMENTE gosta de jogos de luta e a de um cara que faz tudo por views (creio que você saiba de quem estou falando...)? Não quero arrumar treta com ninguém (até porque eu não tenho saco algum pra isso), mas só estou expondo fatos ;)
Tenho até medo de falar o nome dele, mas enfim... estou falando do Nando Moura. Não sei se tu viu, mas ele fez um vídeo esculachando o game. Ele comentou um monte de coisa sem nexo (disse que Joe, Terry e Andy eram 3 irmãos xD) e falou bem mal da fan base do KOF. Enfim, o vídeo é fácil de achar caso queira ver.
***** cara, na boa, nem perco meu tempo com esses posers de merda. O Max é um veterano de jogos de luta, e ele mesmo disse que antes nunca se interessou muito por KOF...até esse. O cara falou super bem da jogabilidade, elogiou os personagens, disse que está cada vez mais interessado no jogo. E isso vindo de um cara que é uma referência lá fora! E prum jogo que no início, geral meteu malho falando que ia acabar sendo que nem o lixo do Maximum Impact, ele me surpreendeu nos gráficos tbm. KOF está voltando a sua glória! :)
This game is so much fun! This is my favirote game series right next to Tekken. If they added a Garou: Mark of the wolves Pack with rock howard and terrys brown jacket costume from the game, that would absolutely make my day. But for now we are getting a patch that will fix the net play problem that will make the game even better!
Rock will never appear in a mainline KoF. Never-ever, for several reasons. But a Garou!Terry DLC would be a nice touch... I think I've even seen a concept art for that.
+sofija1996 have the collectors/special edition that comes with giant art book. brown jackets in there, im curious as to why Rock won't be in it though.
+William Aiken Thats because rock is from Garou: Mark of the wolves. It takes place later in the future with geese being dead. And king of fighters takes place with a young terry and a living geese. Rock would appear within Garou: MOTW as the main character instead of terry bogard. As Garou is the last fatal fury game.
I see people rarely complaining about this game and buying it. Lots of characters, great online, graphics are good and serviceable and hair and accessories don't chip unto character models, awesome gameplay feel at home to any KOF vet and the rush mode for new to the series is made, tutorials are easy to learn and most importantly it has the story/arcade mode, survival, time attack and mission modes which a fighting game essentially needs to have.
Just Rev Most likely Nameless the K9999 replacement might return for story purposes. Also K9999 wants to kill K' and Kula that's why Angel and Kula have a special intro.
Agree. The only thing I need to do is learn the combos from certain teams I'll be using (when it comes to fighting games, I suck at executing combos. But, it won't hurt to try).
As a console only gamer I hope it goes to pc too with cross play enabled. Fighting games need numbers, and I need more people to beat up on. Street Fighter 5 got that right.
+mellowman1978 agreed. I don't see the point in segregating us where it can benefit not only us as the consumer but the games sales. The people above seem the think otherwise though lol
Hum... I'm a man that appreciate the classics. I don't exactly know what's my favorite of them all, but I'd have to say that five phrases immediately come to my mind when thinking about KOF's Engrish: - Kyo's classic way of saying "body" - Almost everything Terry says - Vanessa's "UHPACUTO!" - Blue Mary's "ale you leady?" - And the announcers saying "leady".
As far as I understood from interviews with the KOF staff (including KOF CHANNEL on Atlus's RU-vid channel), they developed their own grapfic engine, and are actually still learning how to work on it in the process... So the game is actually a big work in progress for all of them on SNK... So as far as I can see, it's just the beginning, if the game sells well...
Honestly I thought I was gonna be sad about how the game looked, although I didnt care about the graphics but the gameplay is great to me. Being someone who got into KOF 13 very late and nevergot to properly learn the combo system, KOF 14 feels great. This is my first competitive KOF game though so I had to learn the stuff that works and went on a huge loss streak at first, but soon after I found my team and learned combos and such I got my record back up and am even positive now. Hoping this game catches on and a lot of people play. Hoping the netcode patch comes out soon because I love playing online but I hate the lag so badly.
yomismo elmismo Was KOFXIV was a kick starter game that raised 4,000,000 dollars with so many delays then it still turned out shit? Would you like to try again?
I think the concept behind hating bad graphics with buying No Man's Sky have less sense that being a blind ip fan?????? May you are the one who should try again?????
+yomismo elmismo ...okay then. He was talking about people blindly hating graphics and not focusing on gameplay which is what matters. But they then proceed to play a shitty game like No mans sky just because it's pretty. I legitimately don't know if you understand that
Not for PC is sad. I got a PS4 but it's not worth it for me because of PS+. Graphics are not the main selling point, but they could have made it a bit fancier.
Affording isn't the problem either. I once bought the PS for Bloodborne and haven't used it to play anything else. So in that regard it was maybe wasted money. Welp, most stuff comes out for PC anyway like Tekken 7 in near future, so I'll just be content watching Max combo his heart out.
I admit that it doesn't live up graphically to big AA titles like mortal kombat and SFV. They could have done much better for the new generation consoles. But the gameplay and combos are fun, and bigger content compared to barebones SFV at launch. Worth the money, awesome game!
I think KoF14 is a great game which I really enjoy playing and I would like to cover this game even more in future when it comes to tutorials, combo & tech vids, highlight reels, player spotlights etc. KoF14 is sth really new to me gameplay wise. Been trying out many characters and ended up maining Meitenkun. He feels like a KoF version of Guile & Deathstroke with charge moves. Now I am looking for two more characters for my team that would fit my playstyle. Hitting the lab whenever I got time after work to figure out stuff. SNK also put in the Shanghai stage, the city where I was actually born, into this game
I love KOF 14. Sure the graphics may not be too impressive, but I think it looks ok. The gameplay is great, it's responsive and kind of feels like SSF4 in a way, and it's so much fun to cancel a desperation move into another. Only major complaint is that the characters don't have their complete moveset. Kim is still missing his slide kick for example. I like the huge cast of 50 characters, and even though it may not be too needed I do hope we get DLC characters in the future. Oh! and DLC costumes! I wouldn't call 14 my favorite KOF game, but as the series's return after its hiatus, it's not bad.
I had no idea that SNK had changed management, but this new goal of re-creating the Marvel style shared universe that they used to have, is great. I always thought it was so cool that characters from all their games came together in KOF. If they get new Fatal Fury, Metal Slug, Samurai Showdown, Ikari Warriors, and so on into development, that would be amazing, even if they were created as more 'budget titles'
WOW! a decent review from max (someone that barely played any neo geo games on the 90s)... well KOF 14 is really good and I'm glad that is getting the good reviews that it deserves.
Ill be honest. I personally think this looks better then SFV. I know I will be trolled for that comment but the realistic look in fighting games really is a waste.
It all comes down to preference. People tend to hop on the "it looks bad" bandwagon, but realistically it doesn't look that bad all. SFV's player model style is drastically different than KoF's. To me KoFXIV models look like figurines. Don't mind it at all. It could be more polished, but it doesn't necessarily need it.
As an artfag, I can agree. KOF 14 seems to stress good use of color coordination and, well, attractive characters (yes, the men) while SF5 seems to stress more detailed animation and character models, but not necessarily attractive character models.
On a Non-Japanese speaking person's first attempt of pronouncing names like Kyō and Haohmaru, most of them couldn't. The Japanese themselves also can't easily pronounce names like Robert Garcia and Billy Kane, because they come out sounding like "Low-bat" and "Beery".
Hey Max, good seeing that you're picking up KOF. Some ttips & hints to enhance your learning experience: 1. Basic combo flow: normal > command > special/dm (you figured that out) 2. KOF combo system is unique from other fighting games (you know that from Geese): Chain, link & cancel are easily understood. In kof14, chain is obviously replaced by the new light punch rush combo while link is a trickery to master as grappler/heavy hitter. Most command moves can be cancel in and/or cancel out. Now, buffer & motion shortcut are the 2 mechanics which either turn people away or keep people to stay. Buffer is where you can insert your inputs earlier or delay it to for the next window execution. Combine both buffer and motion shortcut, it's how you play around with it's small window frame execution. You won't learn this from reading the combo script & the pros don't tell. For eg, Kyo's simple combo of d+LK, d+LP, orochinagi (d, db, b, db, d, df, f + P). In execution, holding down, tap LK then tap & hold LP while simultaneously input qcb to forward motion. Intended 3 buttons & 6 motions are reduced to 2 buttons & 3 motions. 3. Rolling isn't entire invincible. It's vulnerable to throw & grab. p/s: i haven't played kof for some time but i'm die hard kof fan.
I am so glad that Maximilian has finally fully embraced KOF and SNK as a whole foundation. Also am happy and glad that he's including KOF 14 more and more into his content.
Dexter Williams the infamous Snk boss syndrome is something not to fuck with -The boss straight up reads your commands -his command moves are faster -the have twices as much HP - The get no cheap damage
Arausito Oh, I agree. SNK bosses are absolute hell. But my point was CvS2 was the closest Maximilian ever attempted, whereas Joe Parenti insisted that Max already made a Boss Rage video with an SNK boss.
That is one thing about KoF historically - you still need a local community to really dig into it. I hope online gets patched up, and even when it does - maybe they'll even find a way to patch up XIII's as well! - you'll still benefit from that kind of personal interaction that comes with having live, in-person opponents. That's always been a critical factor in 90s/arcade fighters that as much as netplay rocks, it will never be able to compensate for.
Hope I get you online, we fought in MVC1 a while ago. LOL, Its about time a worthy new game came out for someone who plays old school. Any fan of fighters that gave Capcom 60 for SFV and not think this effort is worth 60 for this should re-evaluate why they play FG's. Also IMO, this looks better overall. SFV has more effects, lighting, shading, ect. But the style is just so fucking silly, and all the clown ass low poly characters in the backgrounds are really stupid an unnecessary. The background graphics in alot of those stages are second rate. At least KOF has parity.
If you compare the graphics to MKX or SFV, yeah, they're "not that good", but honestly, the graphics look fine to me. The graphics also look way better in person on a decent screen. I think they're charming.
This game looks so damn fun! i personally think the KoF series got better after XI. i think the previous titles of the series were mediocre for me and also overrated
What?? I'm not an avid KoF player but I've grown up with it in the arcades and it is DEFINITELY also about graphics. It was very colorful and had tons of audiences in the back that animated. I would watch people play just for the visuals. And XII and XIII looked great! The hybrid 3d but looking 2d was one of the best we've seen at the time. This one is perhaps the ONLY KOF that looks like crap.
they decided to start KOF with 3D so they gotta start somewhere. Hoping next KOF would be more awesome than this expecting a lot of better combos and graphics
I'm absolutely loving KOF 14. I've always been an SNK fan, playing since KOF '98 on PS1, but I've never gotten into any of them on the level of Street Fighter and Tekken, which have always been my 2 favorite fighting games. I dabbled in Maximum Impact a little, and they weren't bad, but they didn't give me what I wanted. Most of my SNK experience was in the form of CVS 1&2. CVS 2 especially. I got KOF 11 when it came out on PS2, but since then I haven't played a KOF game seriously. I got excited when 13 came out, especially since the art was finally updated and looked absolutely gorgeous, but it was just way too difficult to get into. I returned it and relegated my KOF 13 experience to watching hype matches at tournaments. Same kind of thing happened with Mortal Kombat. I haven't really been into MK since MK4, so there was a period where I just didn't play MK. The 2011 reboot changed that, and then MKX came out and is the best MK game ever made. In many ways, KOF14 is my MKX. It's got a decent amount of single player content (better than SFV for it's first 6 fucking months), a fantastic and diverse roster, and decent online. I've been having so much fun, and once the netcode is fixed (hopefully), it'll be my favorite fighting game of 2016. Now I'm just impatiently waiting for Tekken 7, but KOF 14 will help with that. I never thought that, in a year when SFV comes out, I'd say KOF 14 is my favorite fighting game.
You heard it here! King of Fighters 14, the game for people who don't like Street Fighter V but also don't want to play a Western style fighting game but ALSO don't like anime. Pretty huge market right there.
Seem pretty fine to me, I mean sure, it looks like something from half way of the PS3's lifespan but it's pretty solid, remember they were dealing with a budget xD
Ridiculous isn't it? When people say stuff like: "I mean the gameplay is solid but if only the graphics were better." I just want to curl up in a ball and weep.
This Guy Not when so many reveiwers and players say otherwise. Consistent great reviews all across the board, lol face it, your in the tiny minority of haters.
In the NEO GEO era I think the KOF series was kind of known for its amazing graphics, but since then it stuck with the same style until it was outdated. Now with the modern ones they seem to be struggling to find an art style that they can manage. I think it's a good trade off to have 50 characters with this graphics level.
As a disclaimer to the SFV fans: i'm a filthy casual. And the reason for the disclaimer: KOF XIV is my personal Fighting-GOTY 2016. All the fun i've been seriously missing in SFV personally(!), i have in KOF XIV. SFV is the GOTY of the fighting game community's majority, that's 100% clear and i can absolutely see why, but KOF XIV for me as a filthy casual fighting game player is just so much more fun with it's "more open" system - at least it felt that way to me - to fool around in. And the close to One Piece style character design compared to the borderline american comics SFV design plus the very mature and fun interactions between some characters in their intros just gave everything a super positive vibe. They even have a Harajuku fighter who shoots lightning out of her fingers and her winning poses are easy, iconic dance moves, just like all the Harajuku culture stars use to attract old and young fans alike. :D All the fighters threw exactly those lines i'd expect from actual real life martial artists who knew each other beforehand, respectful and progressive. If somebody from Capcom asked me what i'd wish from SF games in the future to have a better casual experience: make a separate mode that just removes all the fierce competition, gets rid of match making, has a rich lobby system and makes it a blast for beginners and casuals to fool around in, a playing ground if you will, maybe even allow moves there that would never go well in a competitive environment, with that the devs also would have a chance to try out new things without the whole community facepalming and/or raging. :D Yeah, there's another reason, and i'm kinda blushing writing it down, because it's super subjective, online play in SFV felt venomous to me, the lobby system of KOF XIV takes all the subjective tension out of the way when you actively see a player that just crushed you go back into standby and watching you play against somebody else in the same lobby, you actually feel this person is checking out if you learned something from you getting crushed - no matter how salty you are from the loss beforehand, this experience takes all the fustration away. At least for me.
KOFXIV is very appealing game to watch competitive play in. And even though the character models are simple, some of the backgrounds are shockingly populated and busy. The circus stage has so much happening in the background.
glad you like kof max ,is really fun to see you play this games and i hope to see you play old games at least in boss rage or just to cover them because they are really fun to play specially with friends
I am so glad KOF is back. From when the first one came out to now me after marriage, I'm still playing this game. Capcom and Mortal Kombat may be popular in the west, but nothing beats the Neo-Geo fighting games from the 90's. I will forever be a KOF fan and I hope they bring back new versions of Art of fighting, Fata Fury, Voltage Fighter; Gowcaizer, Samurai showdown, Ninja Masters and the whole lot. Thanks Max for a great review. I'll be getting my copy soon and can't wait to move on from KOF XIII and into the new mechanics.
My only little nitpick is that I wish people couldn't see you do your order select on ranked match because that just leads to people doing a waiting game trying to adjust the match to their favor.
I can barely wait till the boss rage comes out although out of all the bosses of KOF's history this one isn't the most exciting one, but with the whole story of bringing the dead back to life one can hope for a comeback of Rugal or other iconic bosses from KOF.
now this is what they call a professional review, thoroughly explaining the good and bad of the game. some people out there is just bitching rather then review. keep it up dood.
Graphics are good, music is great with a hint of classic character themes, and gameplay mechanics look top notch, along with cool backgrounds and an amazing roster. I don't see why KOF can't take over again.
Late as hell but im pretty new to this series and im trying to get into it. Only ever played KOF 2000 (i think?) on a Neo Geo emulator back in 2007, liked it a lot, but haven’t played it in over a decade. Saw Max and the SFBs play this, tried it out, but I just can’t get into it. It’s definitely mostly because of the visuals, character designs or artsyle (compared to 15), the hud and a few other things but I really want to get into the series. I guess what I’m asking is Is this game a good place to start for a noobie like me to get into the series?or should i just sell it and buy KOF 13 or 15 when it releases?
Gotta say that GGearXX is my all time favorite thing to ever happen, and if Xrd lives up to that, I'll be a happy camper. That said, my usual IRL opponent thinks GGear is "too busy" on screen, so I'm happy to go with KOF14. Here's hoping Iori's "classic" outfit comes out as DLC. It's probably one of the most badass costumes in fighting game history.
