I'm not quite sold on KOF EX2: Howling Blood

Forget that Playmore/Snk Neo Geo merely licensed the game and not developed this GBA KOF EX series for a moment; I was absolutely horrified at the franchise mangling of the first installment with the shitty gameplay, the appalling dropped animation frames, and the ugly designs of the new characters. After hearing all the praise for the 2nd installment, I decided to set aside my reservations and try it. While no masterpiece compared to the original upon which this port is based on, the character animations are vastly improved, the sound samples have better qualities, BUT I still hate the new characters. Is it just me? They move so stiffly and still animate so poorly. I'm not sure I can play this with 20% of the roster filled out by new shitty characters, just looking at them offend my sensibilities. Furthermore, is it just me or does there seem to be a little too much hangtime in the juggles? I can do 2 sets Kyo's 75 Kai (the move where he does the kick-up juggles) to connect for a total of 4 hits, which normally do not connect on the MVS or the NGPC.

I absolutely abhor the new characters in KOF EX2... Overall the game feels like a substandard port of my beloved KOF's... it does pass the time when waiting line for movies or what not....

I kinda digged it. I like the new char designs alot to.
Pretty innovative and a nice bonus that most neo fans never saw.

I agree, I liked the character art, the gameplay I can't really speak for
since I never have liked the gba controls for actually playing fighting games.
but the new characters are pretty shitty.
low on animation frames, unimaginative character design and uncharismatic too.
I'd still recommend it though, after all, it's a play on the 2k game.

I thought it was great. My only problem with it was the GBA:SP control scheme. I've never had such bad hand cramps while playing a handheld game...