From: gkomatsu@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Galen Tatsuo Komatsu)
Subject: Re: Neo Geo: Art of Fighting review.......
Organization: University of Hawaii
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 13:29:52 GMT

	I've only played the arcade version... if it matters much.
	No flames or anything intended (if I seem to come off that way),
just some comments here & there.

In article <1992Dec12.073223.2399@netcom.com> primus@netcom.com (Robert keng) writes:
>		The raging tiger, Robert Garcia, trained by Ryo's father in the
                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>[.....]

>		In this mode, you are on a quest to save the fair maiden Yuri
>either as her brother Ryo or the raging tiger, Robert. 
                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

	Interesting thing, though Robert is the "raging tiger", his
fireball move is "Ryugeki-ken"... "Dragon Wave", but _RYO's_ move is
"Kooh-ken"... "TIGER Blast"...


>Bells and whistles:
>		Graphically, this game is superb. The zooming effect really
>[...praise of stunning graphics and HUGE fighters =^) deleted...]

	Yes, the graphics are very nicely done, and exrtemely smooth & quick
in the zooming in & out of the action.  Something I'm minorly stuck on
is trying to read all the signs in Lee's backdrop. =^)

>Check out Robert as he shows off his cuts in the bonus areas.....

	Check out Robert when he utterly fails the Ice Pillar Smash!
(don't even TRY to tap the button) or fails the "Super Death Blow"
mastery.

>		The BGM and SFX is another plus. Every action is accompanied
>with a sound effect, no matter if it's in the story mode, or while razzing in
>combat. Everything is distinct and clear, from the Japanese speech intro to
>the vrrumms of the car to the screams of pain to the triumphant tauntings of
>victory. Pow, biff, bam, off, arrgghh... It's all there. Makes the game just
>that much more enjoyable....

	yes, I love some of the music to this game.  Especially the music
for Lee ("Chinese" sound with a rock feel, neat!) and John.  And the other
tunes aren't half bad either.  I also liked the voices which speak the
introduction and Ryo's intermissions, but I almost laugh at Robert's voice
during the intermission sequences (it's just so funny sounding! =^)

>The arcades really doesn't do this
>game much justice, as the screens and sound system used are usually lackluster
>at best. Most of the times, the sound is turned so low that most of the SFX
>is bearly audible.

	I must have some sort of curse with this game.  All the machiens
I play on seem to have some sort of problem... messed up controls, mouse-
squeak volume setting, damaged sound, video problems...  and across the
room there's usually a World Heroes on it's own _dedicated_ console.
(nghhhhh!)  But my friends tell me of an arcade somewhere around here
which has AoF on one of those huge consoles you often see SFII on!

>Attaching it to my 27' TV and stereo system really made
>a GREAT difference in the audio/visual presentation of the game.

	...so when can I come over to your place?  =^)


>		The down side is, this game costs more than twice of your
>average SNES/GENESIS (listed at $229, but I'm sure most will probably be
>able to get it cheaper... Alot cheaper) system. I would definitely rent the
>game first before I decide to buy it (but, I took the risk and bought it first.
>I must say I'm not disappointed, although it did put a dent in my wallet...).

	At the extreme I think I'd just rent it.  Rememeber SFII on the
SFC/SNES?  Many people whooped over this and excitedly forked over as much
as $130 (maybe more) just to get the earlier-released Japanese version.
But after playing it to death, are now tired of it (if not sick of it)...
I know some of my friends are.  ANd the $200+ pricetag...whooh!  Very pricey
(though I would probably just as quickly drop that much on a load of Classic
Atari video games! =^) =^)

>Great gameplay, great sounds, and great graphics. What more could you ask for?

	Definitely.  All you kids who are still Sonic Boom crazy should check
out Art of Fighting.  (because the few of us playing this game need people to
play against! =^)

	One last item... The Dec 92 issue of Beep! Megadrive contains a
brief rundown of all the characters and their moves (except Mr. Big).
So anyone following my move listing can expect a new update sometime
soon.  I'm translating & updating all the move names, so no "new moves"
in the list, just "proper" names for existing ones.  (So you can still
check the earlier lists by Mark Maestas or me if you need to know
Jack's drop kick, King's fireball, etc...)

--
         Galen Komatsu           !     Apple //e     !      XTC
gkomatsu@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu  !  Sega Mega Drive  !  Sakai Noriko
  ar592@cleveland.freenet.edu    !   Classic Atari   !    Checkers