One thing about older fighting games is that you can tell which principles they're built around. While Street Fighter and the games inspired for it tend to be on the slower, more patient side, games like Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 kind of laugh in that direction.

With the game shadow-dropped at TGS I've got to have some time with the game- and it's refreshing to see a game from a bygone era be so unapologetically weird.

Title: Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers

Developer: Code Mystics

Publisher: SNK

Platforms: PC

Aggression Made Easy

Like I said at the top of this, Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 is a game that really prioritizes aggression. That's not to say it has no fundamentals- but the game rewards active play in a way not many of its contemporaries do. From Breakshots letting you steal back your turn to the infamous Line system, the game seems intent on making sure you're never just idling and waiting- you need to be making decisions.

Seriously, once it clicks, it really clicks. Something as simple as running up and swaying into the background can make a huge difference- you can beat out projectiles, while also gaining ground you couldn't have taken if you'd just crouch-blocked and walked forward.

There's also the kind of execution it asks of the players. As someone who plays City of the Wolves as their primary SNK game, I expected Guard Cancels to be tied to precision blocking. Instead, Breakshots work more like Alpha Counters- you're rewarded not for passively waiting for a parry, but rather being aware enough to exploit your opponent's opening.

It helps that unlike what you would have had in an arcade, this version of Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 has a training mode, complete with hitbox viewer. It makes getting into the action much quicker since you can easily figure out quick BnB combos with the Combination Attack system, then hop online or into Arcade Mode to actually get the feel for some real matches.

Verdict: Real Bout Fatal Fury 2

As far as re releases of older games go, Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 is an excellent one. The game is a charming product of its time, and the re-release does a good job of making sure you get to experience an authentic-feeling build with features like online play and training mode to make getting into it that much easier. It helps that the game itself looks so good- the spritework is some of SNK's best, from the in-game sprites to the charming portrait work.

Admittedly, some of its biggest problems might come from being too authentic- 90s SNK supers can be wild especially by modern standards, and as a result it might be a little difficult to get some big cashouts to happen.

Still, if you like your fighting games old-school, aggressive and unique, you can't go wrong with Real Bout Fatal Fury 2.

• Presentation: 8/10
• Gameplay: 9/10
• Content: 7/10

Final Score: 8/10

Game reviewed on PC. Review copy provided by SNK