King of Fighters '98 was an excellent fighter upon release, combining a smattering of familiar fighters and other well-liked aspects from the King of Fighters repertoire. It featured a wide variety of match types and fantastic action even all those 16 years ago. Now it's made its way to iOS to a new generation of fighting game fans, and thankfully, it's largely the same game -- just pocket-sized!
The Good
There isn't anything terribly complicated about this iteration of King of Fighters, and even combos have been simplified for mobile players. You've got four on-screen buttons that you use for light and heavy attacks, and a virtual directional pad, which is pretty much par for the course these days when it comes to mobile fighters. It's easy to pull off combos when you need to combine both sets of buttons. Of course, where the game shines is the fact that you can use a tangible controller if you'd like.
There's a veritable smorgasbord of special attacks like Desperation moves, which mirror that of the Street Fighter Supers. For more seasoned players, a visit to the Advanced or Extra modes is certainly warranted, especially if there's any interest in further polishing up the game.
The Bad
Unfortunately, there are no real extras or augments to be had in this version of the game, and for beginners there's simply no quarter. Jumping straight into the game won't benefit you at all, especially if this is your first rodeo, and there aren't really any explanations of the game systems or how to perform combos. You'll have to use trial and error to get anywhere, and understandably, many players will find this frustrating.
The Verdict
King of Fighters '98 is still an exciting and competent fighter by all accounts, but be forewarned going into it that it's a barebones experience that might not be suited for all players. If that doesn't bother you and all you want to do is get your brawl on, then by all means pick this King of Fighters up for your personal pummeling pleasure.
The Good
There isn't anything terribly complicated about this iteration of King of Fighters, and even combos have been simplified for mobile players. You've got four on-screen buttons that you use for light and heavy attacks, and a virtual directional pad, which is pretty much par for the course these days when it comes to mobile fighters. It's easy to pull off combos when you need to combine both sets of buttons. Of course, where the game shines is the fact that you can use a tangible controller if you'd like.
There's a veritable smorgasbord of special attacks like Desperation moves, which mirror that of the Street Fighter Supers. For more seasoned players, a visit to the Advanced or Extra modes is certainly warranted, especially if there's any interest in further polishing up the game.
The Bad
Unfortunately, there are no real extras or augments to be had in this version of the game, and for beginners there's simply no quarter. Jumping straight into the game won't benefit you at all, especially if this is your first rodeo, and there aren't really any explanations of the game systems or how to perform combos. You'll have to use trial and error to get anywhere, and understandably, many players will find this frustrating.
The Verdict
King of Fighters '98 is still an exciting and competent fighter by all accounts, but be forewarned going into it that it's a barebones experience that might not be suited for all players. If that doesn't bother you and all you want to do is get your brawl on, then by all means pick this King of Fighters up for your personal pummeling pleasure.
