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King of Fighters Collection- The Orochi Saga
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List Price: $14.99
Our Price: $14.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: SNK
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Amazon Maximum Age: 20
Amazon Minimum Age: 144
Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Video Game
Brand: SNK
EAN: 0828862200242
ESRB Age Rating: Teen
Feature: The most extensive KOF collection ever containing 5 complete games
Label: SNK
Manufacturer: SNK
Model: PST20024A
Platform: PlayStation2
Publisher: SNK
Release Date: 2008-10-28
Studio: SNK
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Features
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The most extensive KOF collection ever containing 5 complete games
Includes the Orochi Saga trilogy (95-97)
Unlockable bonus content materials
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Editorial Reviews:
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The most extensive King of Fighters Collection, The Orochi Saga contains five complete games, including the Orochi Saga trilogy ('95-'97) as well as KOF '94 and KOF '98: Dream Match Never Ends. Also featured are a variety of unlockable bonus features.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: It is quite simple,this collection deserves 5 stars- even if it is one for each game.
Comment: This is a collection for SNK fans initiated with the King of Fighters series. It truely is a top notch deal with what you get in this collection. King of fighters 94, 95, 96, 97, and 98. Those who are unfamiliar with this fine franchise will find a great two dimensional fighting game that has an ecclectic cast of characters that harkens back to when fighting games were one of the absolute top dogs of the 1990's. Honestly I wish that would have never changed.
I could never afford a Neo Geo in its prime. The core unit was around $500 dollars with individual games hovering around $200 per. Not exactly affordable in the 1990's. However what they did deliver at the time was as close to an arcade experience that we now take for granted in this current era. It can now be argued that home systems have finally caught up with what would be the top games in the arcades (with the exception of a handful of dedicated light gun and other novelty set ups). This can be suppoted by the demise of arcades as we know them now. Sure online gaming is great, though I still believe that playing someone right next to you is a more visceral way to compete.
Alright this collection for an extremely fair price of 14.99 offers 5 games. I had already owned King of Fighters 95 (on Playstation 1). It came out of the PS1 in 1996 and it was one of the first games on the system to deliver an accurate arcade feel. Amazing graphics, remixed sound (which sad to say I still prefer), and a fine sense of balanced gameplay kept me coming back. Regretfully I shudder at all of the hours I lost due to the fact the game would load between fights, and even rounds. The imported Sega Saturn version had a memory chip to increase functionality. It did improve on a great formula. The game did not punish your time to play it. The same can be said for King of Fighters 1996 and 1997 as Saturn Import. Exceptional games that were imported for a premium price. I loved the series and it delivered each year. 1995 through 1997 further elaborated around a storyline about "Orochi" a demonic presence that antagonists attempted to ressurect in order to increase thier own power.
This collection also offers King of Fighters 1998. This was introduced in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast as 1999 Dream Bout. It offers the majority of characters from 1994-1997 and lets them have at it. It is a very satisfying game. I would consider this a bonus considering that "The Orochi Saga" only consisted of King of Fighters 1995-1997. One complaint that has been beaten to death in previous reviews is that yes there are some glitches in the sound. It is unfortunate but does not tarnish a stellar game.
I have read that there have been complaints regarding loading times. They are present, however after a weekend of spending time with all 5 games they are not all that bad. Sure this is from a guy who suffered with King of Fighters 1995 on the PS1. But it isn't really all that noticeable, and likely sightly better than the Sega Saturn imports which I highly touted in the past. They are not the Neo Geo cartriges but they are faster than others have implied. I find them to be very acceptable.
Bottom line you get 5 awesome games for 14.99, it really didn't take all this to let you know that. SNK has been virtually giving there games away on the PS2 lately. We are all the better for it. It's very obvious that I reccomend this collection.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good simply outweighs the bad
Comment: I'll keep this simple.
Cons:
-There are loading times between some matches and when switching between games. Most loading times occur when beginning each game. Then as you proceed through the game, loading times are much less noticeable. (There are no loading times between rounds, by the way. Also, KOF 94 and 95 have pretty much no more loading times after you start your first match.)
Pros:
-5 classic KOF games on one disc. KOF 94, 95, 96, 97, and 98. For those paying attention, KOF 94 and KOF 98 were bonuses specifically added to this American release. Within the fighting game community, KOF 98 is arguably the most beloved KOF game to date (hence, it's upcoming remake, KOF 98: Ultimate match).
-New challenge mode that allows for unlockable artwork and music
-Gameplay feels almost entirely intact, with only subtle differences.
-Training modes are included. The original Japanese version did not have training modes, so this is an added bonus for this release.
-Price is ridiculously difficult to beat. Especially considering the number of legendary games you get.
Bottom line: For [cheap] (chump change in today's uber-expensive gaming world) you can own 5 classic arcade hits that are otherwise impossible or VERY difficult to obtain in the United States. The loading times are a definite wound, but they're hardly a deal breaker considering the average PS2 game's loading times.
Purchasing this collection would support the 2D fighting game market, and help ensure that future SNK titles make their way to our shores. After all, KOFXII is just around the corner...
Customer Rating:
Summary: KOF the Orochi Saga
Comment: SNK finally brought the Orochi Saga to the US, and this collection does not diappoint. This collection includes the first 5 KOFs, including the classic KOF 97. This package is defintely worth the pick up for anybody curious about the KOF series
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Disappointing Port Of What Should've Been A Solid Collection
Comment: First of all, I've been a big fan of the King of Fighters franchise for nearly a decade (with KOF '98, 2000 and XI being my personal favorites). When I heard that the King of Fighters '95-'97 collection was coming to the PS2, I was expecting a near-perfect port of the Japanese version. Boy, was I wrong.
Sure, you get King of Fighters '94-'98, but do you know what else you get? Long loading times, blurred sprites, disrupted music, off-key sound effects and a completely-unnecessary Challenge mode. But wait, there's less! You also don't get to play any arranged soundtracks within the game and no indivial menus for each selected game.
Who's the guilty party responsible for this travesty of a port? Why, it's none other than Terminal Reality, the same lackluster conversion responsible for the hideously-awful SNK Classics v. 1 for the PS2 and PSP. Once again, they did a terrible job emulating the game, then shoehorning in a bunch of stuff that didn't belong in the first place (like an original and arranged sound track that has to be unlocked one piece at a time through repetitive challenge missions).
The lesson here? If the conversion's been done by Terminal Reality, throw it back. Demand that SNK Playmore USA release a U.S. version of the King of Fighters '95-'97 version that came out in Japan a couple years ago. I write this not as a critical review, but as a warning to anyone who wants to take their chances with an inferior port. And if you really want to play KOF '95-'97 on your PS2, get the import version from Japan.
Once again, much like the SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash DS fiasco from last year, and the SNK Classics port from earlier this year, SNK Playmore USA blaitantly ignored their fans and released another game without much play testing.
And if anyone from SNK Playmore is reading this, just release a U.S. version of the KOF '95-97 port next time, and stop shoving out crud like this. You have been warned.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Another decent SNK collection
Comment: SNK Playmore has been steadily releasing some pretty good compilations on the PS2 for a while now, and The King of Fighters Collection isn't all that different. The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga collects KOF's 94-98, which are five games that really aren't all that different from one another. Sure, there are subtle changes from version to version, but all five look and play basically the same. Still, that isn't such a bad thing, considering SNK's fighting games are usually known for having some deep fighting systems, of which the King of Fighters series is no different. As far as 2-D fighters go, the KOF series is among SNK's best franchise, but what hurts this collection is a sloppy emulation job and a lack of bonus content; two flaws that are also apparent on many of the other SNK collections for the PS2. Still though, the games play as great as they did years ago, and with the budget price tag you really can't go wrong. All in all, The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga offers a lot for fighting purists, and is worth picking up if retro 2-D fighting is up your alley.
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