(LAST UPDATE: 12/7/2009)
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Developer(s): SNK
Playmore
Publisher(s): SNK Playmore / Ignition (EU)
Platform(s): Arcade,
Playstation 2, Xbox, XBLA
Release Date(s): July 27th 2005 (Arcade), December 22nd 2005 (
PS2),
November 24th 2006 (
PS2), December 11th 2007
(
PS2)
Characters:
Yuki,
Ai, Terry
Bogard, Marco
Rossi, Washizuka,
Nakoruru,
K',
Mai,
Geese, Kim,
Tung
Fu Ru, Asura,
Hanzo,
Fuuma,
Kyo,
Iori,
Rock,
Kisarah
Westfield, Haohmaru,
Cyber
Woo, Kaede,
Akari,
Ryo,
Mr.
Big, Shermie,
Hotaru
Futaba, Robert
Garcia, Lee
Pai Long, Moriya
Minakata, Genjuro
Kibagami, Jin
Chonrei, Jin
Chonshu, Shiki,
Mudman,
Athena,
Mars
People, Orochi,
Shishioh,
Shin
Shishioh, Neo
Dio, Goodman
Story: "In February, 2017 of the new Japanese era there is a man trying to rule the NEOGEO World. "I will topple NeoGeo's most powerful warriors and put myself on the throne!" We knew that if he managed to obtain NeoGeo world's awesome power, world domination would not be far from his reach. This man, who sat at the heart of "The Warez Conglomerate" with overwhelming financial power behind him, had already set out on his ambitious path to gain NeoGeo World's power. Those who knew the truth of his intentions were already trembling with fear...As NeoGeo World drew closer to the verge of disaster, a Warez sponsored fighting competition was announced. This event is called "NEOGEO BATTLE COLISEUM".The Federal Government is worried about the situation, and has secretly dispatched its two best secret agents, Yuki and Ai. A world on the verge of eternal darkness…The future of NEOGEO World is now in the hands of the warriors."
(The name of the organization
that hosts the tournament, WAREZ, is an obvious play on the word warez;
and a jab at the emulation community, as SNK Playmore blames software piracy
as one of the contributing factors to the company's bankruptcy and eventual
closing in 2001).
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Review: Neo Geo Battle Coliseum makes the dreams of long-time SNK fans finally come true... Bringing together characters from all over the SNK universe for some good old fashioned 2D fighting; including fighters from World Heroes, Savage Reign, Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown, and of course, King of Fighters. A few new faces join the cast as well.
The gameplay feels most similar to the KOF series, but minus "back rolls" and overall is a bit more combo friendly. The fights are 2 vs 2 tag team style... You can swap fighters on the spot, and even perform a cool looking team up combo (which should take off more damage). Certain character combinations also have "special" team up attacks, many of which are nothing short of badass. Most characters have all of their trademark moves, and even some brand new ones in most cases. Overall, every character in the game is represented well; although some of the sprites used are a bit "old" by today's standards.
Battle Coliseum's graphics aren't bad for 2D... The backgrounds are, I'm going to say, "3D-ISH"... Some of which use polygons, others just appear to be 3D using some "technologically groundbreaking" 2D high-res sprites to really make the backgrounds pop out.... Okay, so they're not that good, but it's fun to exaggerate isn't it? So the game still looks like old school KOF to some people, but many character sprites are actually completely redrawn specifically for this game, and are some of SNK's best. The sprites do mesh well against the sharp backdrops, and there are even some cool SNK character cameos in many of the backgrounds, so there's plenty of eye candy besides the fast paced fighting itself. The character selection art and victory art look superb as well.
Along with
the frantic and fast gameplay sound effects, the music is solid, original,
and suits the game. Character voices are also as good as you'd expect!
The home version includes unlockable art, decent options, and a fun color-edit
mode, where you can create "2" of your own colors for each character (if
you have any skill that is). Definitely a must have for any SNK fan...
And if you like 2D fighters in general, you'll definitely find something
to like about Battle Coliseum.
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8.5 / 10 |
Closing Comment:
NeoGeo
Battle Coliseum delivers as a new 2D SNK fighting game... The gameplay is
different enough from SNK's other franchises, and the roster is great, although
I must say there are quite a few more characters I'd love to have in this
game (and would have rather seen in place of others). So SNK, this will
hold me over until Battle Coliseum 2... just don't make us wait
too long!!! ~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG
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