I liked ROTD

Galford Forever · Sep 23, 2002

I'm probably a little late on the whole ROTD debate, but here goes anyway.

I played the game back when it was first released in the arcades in Nagano and found it to be engaging, but not an instant classic upon first impression. Now that I've got the homecart I've had a chance to explore it more thorougly.

Well, I got the homecart on Sunday and honestly, I'm loving it. I haven't been this excited about a fighter since SSII (that's a bold statement there).

I'm sure it's not for everyone, but I'm really really loving it. KOF has gotten stale for me, and I never really played it that much to begin with. I'm also not very good at overly complex fighters. This game fits the bill for me quite nicely. It's simple enough to where it's easy to get into, but it's got a lot of moves and enough depth for me to keep desiring to play. I love the juggles and the custom combo thing.

I just know that the last time I spent a day at work/school dreaming about going home and playing a game was when SSII arrived on my doorstep 8 years ago. I don't what else to say, I'm just loving this game right now. I don't know if it'll have the lasting appeal that SSII has had for me, but so far I'm more than satisfied

.

I hope we keep seeing more original series on the Neo.

gargoyle7 · Sep 23, 2002

I have to agree GF, the game has grown on me, not a classic here, but there are classic elements that make this a good off-beat fighter.......

Gameplay is SIMPLE yet strategic, & the juggles w/timing are addictive as hell, especially when you mix in the special effect screens & sound effects (the crystal/break sound).

Players who need a deeper, more complex control scheme to master most likely will not enjoy this fighter, especially those solely devoted to KOF, thats NOT a criticism, just an observation, to each gamer his own.............

I at first was critical of each fighter having 1 too few moves, but no longer agree with that, as juggles/duplexes fill in for what moves arent there.......

Graphics - very average, but decent enough to get the job done, FAR from MOTW quality which is a shame.....

I LOVE the music, & would actually prefer Noise Factory do the KOF soundtrack next year, unless the old KOF musicians make a return.............

Lee (garg7)
<a href="http://www.neogeotemple.com" target="_blank">http://www.neogeotemple.com</a>

[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: gargoyle7 ]

[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: gargoyle7 ]

TheBigBB · Sep 23, 2002

I just got it today as well, and I am having tons of fun with it! At first I was a little bit nervous that it was gonna suck after booting it up and watching a demo where the computer did a massive combo thing... But then I played it and it's a blast! I like how you can juggle guys. It's kinda fun to put together some combos. The music is also really nice, and I just love the characters. I could see fighting veterans grumbling, but I'm not that hardcore, I just like to sit down and casually figure out some moves and play around. I don't take these things as seriously as I do shooters.

SNKJorge · Sep 23, 2002

Damn, I can't wait for my copy...my echeck hasn't cleared, nor until wednesday so I guess I will be getting it on Friday or Saturday.

What option did you guys choose for the t-shit (That is if you got it at the Neo store).

yagamikun · Sep 23, 2002

Actualy I was kinda worried that with preordering my copy from NCS I wouldnt get the extras, but low and behold my faith proved not to be in vain as NCS is sending out posters and t-shirt sets to all pre orders when they get them in. I get my cart on thrusday and I CANT WAIT! Everything about this game I've read sounds so appealing. I concider myself a fighting game vet that prefers KOF over any other fighter, but I love the occasional side step and ROTD seems to hit the spot as it is a completely new fighter.

Cole · Sep 23, 2002

I received this game today too. I've been playing the hell out of it nearly ALL day. This game just plain fucking rocks if you ask me. This is coming from a guy who really doesn't like fighters all that much in the first place. Jimmy is definitely my favorite character so far, I find myself using him then tagging out and surrendering my other character if I need to.

In my opinion, if anyone ever said this game was slow then they probably didn't give it a fair chance therefore didn't learn know how to play the game.. Street Fighter 2 is SLOW, this is not slow.

I'm still a bit pissed that I only got a poster with my copy, I was under the impression that shawn was shipping with poster AND flyer. Did anyone else only get one or the other?

Edit: Shawn has just emailed me back saying that everyone got either a poster OR a flyer. I guess I had my hopes up too high. I'll still be getting that flyer tho.

[ September 23, 2002: Message edited by: Cole ]

Majin Geese · Sep 23, 2002

Must...Get...RotD...

~MG

kernow · Sep 23, 2002

postcount++ mr

Real Bout Maniac · Sep 23, 2002

Wow, sounds great so far - can't wait for my copy to come in later this week!

It was a tough call, deciding on the format, but I eventually went for a brand new MVS kit. Not only will it be my first NEW kit, but I kind of enjoy playing at my cab moreso than the home cart (maybe it has something to do with the "true arcade feel"... <img src="graemlins/makeface.gif" border="0" alt="[Make Face]" /> ). So last week my fiance and I grabbed the last one Shawn had in the Neo store.

Now to just finish up my control panel before the game comes in... :rolleyes:

FTL · Sep 24, 2002

To the top for our Loopz.

He will have something to think about-maybe.

Loopz · Sep 24, 2002

Aw, FTL, I'm touched. Such an affectionate soul.

Rage Of The Dragons, at the time of writing this, has appeared in exactly ZERO arcades anywhere near me. When I tried it last May, I found it to be a second-tier uninspired fighting game with boring dial-a-combos. Everyone else's praises about the game here have encouraged me to give the game a second look, but alas, this is not an option for me.

Perhaps when this game has bottomed out on the MVS market I will scoop it up. Until then, I sincerely hope everyone who bought it has a shitload of fun with it.

Even you FTL.

TRIEUMINATOR · Sep 24, 2002

Originally posted by Loopz:
Aw, FTL, I'm touched. Such an affectionate soul.

Rage Of The Dragons, at the time of writing this, has appeared in exactly ZERO arcades anywhere near me. When I tried it last May, I found it to be a second-tier uninspired fighting game with boring dial-a-combos. Everyone else's praises about the game here have encouraged me to give the game a second look, but alas, this is not an option for me.

Perhaps when this game has bottomed out on the MVS market I will scoop it up. Until then, I sincerely hope everyone who bought it has a shitload of fun with it.

Even you FTL.<hr></blockquote>

As you recall Loopz, Southern Hills Golfland had a sad display for ROTD. When I first played ROTD, it was in a brand new NEO GEO cab with under 20 hours of continuous use, so the monitor was clean, controls perfect. The monitor at SHGL was dark and I believe the copy you played there was a proto, not the final version, so the speed was extremely slow.

ROTD is by no means slow. Each character can "rush" (run), so when used properly, the game is significantly faster than MOTW.

This game takes some time to grow on you too. For me, I instantly was impressed by it, from the graphics, music, especially the gameplay.

I mean think about it, when was the last time the Neo had an almost a completely new line up of characters to choose from? The tag team combos are pretty insane. Learn them if you want to be competitive.

Viewpoint · Sep 24, 2002

Originally posted by TRIEUMINATOR:
ROTD is by no means slow. Each character can "rush" (run), so when used properly, the game is significantly faster than MOTW.<hr></blockquote>

And this makes it better?

I've got this gaming coming Vihn so I'd better 'Feel the rage' or else.

Franco Bash · Sep 24, 2002

Really want to get this one but still undecided as to wether I should get this one or wait for KOF2K2.

TRIEUMINATOR · Sep 24, 2002

Originally posted by BonusKun:


And this makes it better?

I've got this gaming coming Vihn so I'd better 'Feel the rage' or else. <hr></blockquote>

Listen gramps, you may be good at MOTW, but I "own" this game.

You getting this game for the MVS or AES?

Viewpoint · Sep 24, 2002

Originally posted by TRIEUMINATOR:


Listen gramps, you may be good at MOTW, but I "own" this game.

You getting this game for the MVS or AES?<hr></blockquote>

Sheeeeit youngin, I'll be AESin this mofo. Trust me tho it won't take long to catch up to your young ass even tho that's an idea which doesn't sound quite right.

Loopz · Sep 24, 2002

This game takes some time to grow on you too. For me, I instantly was impressed by it, from the graphics, music, especially the gameplay.

I mean think about it, when was the last time the Neo had an almost a completely new line up of characters to choose from? The tag team combos are pretty insane. Learn them if you want to be competitive.

<hr></blockquote>

Honestly Trieu, the thought of an entirely new Neo fighter IS intriguing, and that is why despite my less-than-stellar experience with it, I would be willing to give it another chance. I think it also was clouded by the negative funk I fell under after first playing $5.00 worth of MS4 (which I still believe blows goat).

toy_brain · Sep 24, 2002

Well, mine has just arrived now!
So I'm gonna tear this parcel open and have a blast.
Impressions and thoughts to follow shortly (If I can be bothered)

TheBigBB · Sep 24, 2002

I'd just like to say that whoever called this game "slow" has an awfully strange definition of the word.

toy_brain · Sep 24, 2002

OK, well I havent been playing it for ages, but I've had a good blast on it so I guess I'll post my initial impressions.

Graphics:
Dig out your copy of Sengoku 3 and take a look at the sprites and backgronds in that, and you'll have a rough idea of what to expect.
Backgrounds are somewhat more detailed, but seem to be done in the same style (IE, looks like some of it is a photograph, scanned in and cut arround to fit into the picture). The actual animation and style is pretty cool - about on par with most fighting games (not overly smooth, but not at all jerky) - but it sufffers from some very obvious black lines arround just about everything, also, sprites, foreground and background seem to be presented in different styles, so it all looks a little 'inconsistent'.

Sound:
Well, I guess they are called 'Noise Factory' and Noise is what they seem to do best. I was instantly struck by the music of the intro. I had heard it previously on the video trailer for the game, but didnt think it was actually coming off the NeoGeo sound chip! It really is that good.
Character speech is a little fuzzy and contrasts badly with the exellent background music, but the spot effects of punces,kicks and flames are all good. So again, it a bit of a mixed bag, but mainly good stuff.

Playability:
The most important part.
Well, KoF players will instantly be struck by an overwhelming feeling of having everything they ever learnt and mastered being thrown out of the window! Be prepared to have to learn from scratch.
What I like about ROTD is that there are a lot options open to the player during a bout. Its not just a case of 'normal moves, specials and supers'.
Those are all present and correct (and the moves list for all characters is a decent size, not quite KoF, but close enough), but you also have tagging, rush attacks, duplex moves and surrendering one partner to replenish another. This makes battles a little less mundane, as your opponent could try any number of things during a bout. Also, the energy bars are quite long, so getting hit by a duplex attack followed by a super near the start of a round, will not instantly kill off your chances of victory. There is plenty of opportunity to 'get your shit togeather' and start turning the tables.

As for the individual characters, all I can say is that the world needs more PUPA

she is seriously cute!
Ahem, anyway, one of the main problems is that none of the characters I have tried so far seem to have a distinct style of any sort. Pupa is most definately NOT a capoeira fighter - no matter what Evoga want you to think! and the same goes for the rest. They just seem to have been alloceted a bunch of moves pretty much at random. Its not a huge minus point, as all the characters have a good deal of personality about them, but it would have been nice to have a fiew 'Whip' or 'Clark' type charactes in the mix.
Mabye I just havent played it enough.

All in all, its a decent enough game. Noting mindblowing though. It avoids being a 'button masher' as the special moves are well balanced and will punish anyone who pulls them off without thinking. Its quite tough, but never really in an unfair way. There is a good deal to learn and it should keep fight fans happy untill KoF2002 comes out this December.

[ September 24, 2002: Message edited by: toy_brain ]

Voltamp · Sep 24, 2002

aaaagh, the wait is to much! for the love of god will all of you stop tempting me! i have to wait till payday before i can get it!!! and the suspence is killing me! i'll have to go play metal slug to calm myself down!

yagamikun · Sep 24, 2002

Originally posted by Voltamp:
aaaagh, the wait is to much! for the love of god will all of you stop tempting me! i have to wait till payday before i can get it!!! and the suspence is killing me! i'll have to go play metal slug to calm myself down!<hr></blockquote>

Aye! I cant take it. I still have till Thrus or Friday before I get my jap copy from NCS. My only savior is that my friend ordered a US copy from Shawn and he should have his today or tomorow. Man I cant wait to play it. Being a seasoned KOF player and well in the wait of 2K2, I welcome something new to pass the time away. The LB and RB games are quite a departure, so I am sure this will be just as much fun as those were.

TheBigBB · Sep 24, 2002

Originally posted by toy_brain:

Playability:
The most important part.
Well, KoF players will instantly be struck by an overwhelming feeling of having everything they ever learnt and mastered being thrown out of the window! Be prepared to have to learn from scratch.
What I like about ROTD is that there are a lot options open to the player during a bout. Its not just a case of 'normal moves, specials and supers'.
Those are all present and correct (and the moves list for all characters is a decent size, not quite KoF, but close enough), but you also have tagging, rush attacks, duplex moves and surrendering one partner to replenish another. This makes battles a little less mundane, as your opponent could try any number of things during a bout. Also, the energy bars are quite long, so getting hit by a duplex attack followed by a super near the start of a round, will not instantly kill off your chances of victory. There is plenty of opportunity to 'get your shit togeather' and start turning the tables.
<hr></blockquote>

This is the best description of the gameplay I have seen so far.

7zark7 · Sep 24, 2002

I've been playing the mvs cart for about a month and have to say that this game has staying power. There are so many options and combos that it stays fresh for quite a while.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is the cpu player. Its the only fighter I've seen where the computer will combo left and right. Its a nice change, and sometimes you'll see the computer pull off something you haven't tried yet. very cool.

just my two cents....er...quarters....

toy_brain · Sep 27, 2002

BUMP - for the benefit of all the 'fence-sitters' who are looking for reviews of this game (cough**BryLmoo**cough)

I liked ROTD

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