KOF Nests Saga (PS2) Impressions

[Lyte Edge]

So no real need to go into detail; by now we all know what to expect.

The game contains the following:

-The King Of Fighters '99 Evolution (Dreamcast Version)
-The King Of Fighters 2000 (Dreamcast Version)
-The King Of Fighters 2001 (Dreamcast Version)
-The King Of Fighters '99 (Neo-Geo AES)
-The King Of Fighters 2000 (Neo-Geo AES)
-The King Of Fighters 2001 (Neo-Geo AES)

-The Neo-Geo versions are selectable in the "Neo-Geo" sub-menu on the main menu screen.

-The home port versions have arranged music (including 2001, which I believe has never happened before), plus all bonus features and characters unlocked from the start.

-Sound and voice effects are muffled in Dreamcast versions (Same as the Orochi collection last year)

-The Neo-Geo versions of these games don't have arranged music, but the voice and sound effects don't seem to be as muffled.

-No filtering options. On my HDTV, the games look incredibly pixellated.

-Color edit as always is present.

I think that pretty much covers it.

 

[Lyte Edge]

Sorry; I just realized the home port versions are all from the Dreamcast; 2001 doesn't have the new artwork and prerendered BGs, plus it has the puzzle mode.

 

[Cain Highwind]

-The home port versions have arranged music (including 2001, which I believe has never happened before), plus all bonus features and characters unlocked from the start.

SWEET G. ZESS, FOR REAL? If I wasn't so broke from buying plane tickets right now, I'd pick this up right away.

EDIT: Plus good to hear about the extras, I never did unlock all those extra strikers in 99.

 

[YO-YO-Boy]

its finally out? link?

 

[Rade K]

That's odd, how come they aren't using the PS2 version of KoF 2001??

Wasnt it a good port?

 

[Darkneo]

Thanks for the Heads up review on the Nest Collection Lyte Edge

I order my copy the other day from play-asia, i should get it on monday next week. But didn't know that the 2000 and 2001 kof's were dreamcast version's i thought they were PS2 ports , But Its good to know that there are Aes version's of them included in the collection.


Cheer's Mate you for sure have made my day with this info Now its the waiting game for Monday to come to play it

 

[NeoEsZ]

can someone please rip that 2001 arranged soundtrack and put up on rapidshare or something?

i want to hear it..BAD

 

[Kazuya_UK]

I got the game today. and will try to rip the KOF 2001 AST tracks for anyone interested as soon as I get time. The AST sounds ok actually... it's the same music, it's still kind of tedious, but it does at least sound a lot better, and perhaps a little bit more like KOF music. Definitely a big improvement over the horrible music on the cart version. I'll post it up asap and let you guys judge for yourself.

Kaz

 

[OrochiEddie]

That's odd, how come they aren't using the PS2 version of KoF 2001??

Wasnt it a good port?

Well it didn't have that hourendous artwork so it couldn't have been all bad

 

[Takumaji]

I got the game today. and will try to rip the KOF 2001 AST tracks for anyone interested as soon as I get time. The AST sounds ok actually... it's the same music, it's still kind of tedious, but it does at least sound a lot better, and perhaps a little bit more like KOF music. Definitely a big improvement over the horrible music on the cart version. I'll post it up asap and let you guys judge for yourself.

Kaz

The music and parts of the artwork of KoF2k1 were quite some shock for me... gameplay-wise it still is one of my fave KoFs ever but some things the designers did were abysmal (for ex. the distorted chara illustrations/chara select pics or backs like the Mexico stage...horrible, horrible stuff), and I'm really being nice here.

About the KoF2k1 music, ah well, this is one of my personal Neo mysteries. The man behind KoF2k1's music was Sha-V (Sha-V-san, please come back), the very same who composed/arranged the awesome KoF2k soundtrack, and then enter KoF2k1 and its Mega Drive-style music... time constraints? Lack of money or inspiration? I don't know, all I know is that no 44.1kHz CD-quality AST could change the fact that the KoF2k1 music is crap, plain and simple.

On a different note, I can see why they've chosen the DC version of 2k1, it is nothing less than a perfect port and probably one of the best Neo ports ever made.

 

[Kazuya_UK]

Totally agreed, the KOF 2k1 music is shockingly bad. This port does improve it a little bit and makes it easier on the ears - as much as I have always had fun playing 2k1 the music has always destroyed a big part of the game for me as it ruined the atmosphere of the game and it was.... well.... very annoying to say the least! (although that wouldn't matter so much if you were in a noisy arcade)

At least this port makes it more bearable though. What's with the muffled sound effects again though? In this day and age we shouldn't have to put up with stuff like this imho.

Kaz

 

[Cain Highwind]

About the KoF2k1 music, ah well, this is one of my personal Neo mysteries. The man behind KoF2k1's music was Sha-V (Sha-V-san, please come back), the very same who composed/arranged the awesome KoF2k soundtrack, and then enter KoF2k1 and its Mega Drive-style music... time constraints? Lack of money or inspiration? I don't know, all I know is that no 44.1kHz CD-quality AST could change the fact that the KoF2k1 music is crap, plain and simple.

You've got your composers mixed up there. KoF 2001 was done by NONE of SNK's composers but a guy named "Kidon". Tate Norio one of the original composers returned and did 2002 and 2003. And Sha-V did KoF XI.

I've had a chance to listen to the new arranged soundtrack, it definetely is as Kazuya says, makes the game far more bearable to listen to, it'll always be the Black Sheep of KoF soundtracks (and the series in general) though.

 

[Takumaji]

You've got your composers mixed up there. KoF 2001 was done by NONE of SNK's composers but a guy named "Kidon". Tate Norio one of the original composers returned and did 2002 and 2003. And Sha-V did KoF XI.

I've had a chance to listen to the new arranged soundtrack, it definetely is as Kazuya says, makes the game far more bearable to listen to, it'll always be the Black Sheep of KoF soundtracks (and the series in general) though.

Eh?

I've watched the ending credits of 2k1 and there's the name Sha-V in there... or perhaps I really mixed something up here?

Well, that would explain everything... will check that out tonight.

 

[Rengoku]

they should stop wasting time releasing those crappy collection and use it to release new games

or at least conversions that europe/usa are waiting

 

[Kazuya_UK]

Here ya go:

KOF 2001 AST -->

Very quick rip, I just took the tracks off the disc and converted straight to mp3, didn't name them correctly or anything. Also, the tracks don't loop so they are fairly short. See what you think anyway

Kaz

 

[NeoEsZ]

thank you! you're wonderful

 

[ferrarimanf355]

they should stop wasting time releasing those crappy collection and use it to release new games

or at least conversions that europe/usa are waiting

Well, I'd like a PSP version of this game to go with the Metal Slug and Art of Fighting collections. A real Neo Geo in your pocket!
(At least I'd find use for my PSP...)

 

[Fygee]

Thanks for sharing that with us Kazuya!

It's no longer ear wrenchingly awful and some of the songs are greatly improved, but it still sounds rather ridiculous. It also seems like they're using the same synthesizer technology they used all the way back in the original ASTs they produced in '93 and '94.

 

[Captain Spiff]

I have a small request. Could you possibly rip the AST versions of "BE-TA FORCE" and the cutscene BGMs (particularly "Demon") from 2000? Those are a couple things I've been looking for since forever

 

[KOSBRAVESHIYUU]

I guess wanting SNK to release this in the States would be asking too much huh?

 

[Neo Alec]

It also seems like they're using the same synthesizer technology they used all the way back in the original ASTs they produced in '93 and '94.

Nah, it sounds rather like the lower-end version of the synths they're doing now. Nothing will sound like that old stuff ever again.