Welcome to VC Weekly, N-Europe’s guide to the wonderful world of Nintendo’s download service. Written by Sam C Gittins

A decent download if you're up for a few fights as another classic example of the genre from the console that originally played host to the cream of the crop. Anyway enough from me and on with the game!
 
Available for download this week we have...     

Real Bout Fatal Fury Special


 
Points: 900
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Developer: SNK
Released: 1997
System: Neo Geo

While there was certainly nothing wrong with previous releases in the Fatal Fury series it's rather telling that SNK are true perfectionists of the fighting genre as they decided to release this title which essentially takes everything that's so fantastic about the original games, ditches anything that could have been perceived as less than perfect and then improved on everything some more. Of course the series has only ever improved with each release anyway but here there have been some rather excellent additions resulting in one of the most responsive fighting experiences ever created by the company to date.

Everything that already made the first Real Bout game are present but this time around there is a much more fluid feel to fighting which works in conjunction with a more intense combo system that is quite likely to be one of the most satisfying examples ever integrated into a fighting game. Effortlessly moving from foreground to background is something which you'll likely be frequently taking advantage of especially if you like to play defensively plus when you take into account the vast amount of counters and special moves at your disposal it's hard to find anything to dislike.

You now not only have the entire character roster from the original game but also a few new fighters to play with, all of which fit in near-perfectly so as not to upset the existing equilibrium which is pleasing to see that this much level of thought has gone into even this element which can be a sticking point of most modern fighting games but thankfully not here. The concise controls featuring buttons for kicks, punches and heavy attacks are simple yet satisfying on their own but really shine when stringing together combos; granted getting good at using the control scheme takes time but it's quite simply one of the best fighting experiences available once you get fully into it.

Naturally the visuals are of a spectacular standard with that special attention to detail that SNK have become known for especially during the nineties, characters animate amazingly well even today alongside the backdrops which are nothing short of breathtaking. Aurally all that you would expect from the series is here featuring some new compositions that are the usual winning combination of Rock plus Synths that have suited the series for a long time so naturally they add a lot to the proceedings along with the suitably satisfying sound effects providing that extra layer of realism.

It's undeniable that Real Bout Fatal Fury Special is one of the best fighting games SNK has ever released so having it available on the Virtual Console is a genuine privilege and I would urge any would be fans of the genre to download it without hesitation as it's easily worth the points. If you're merely only casually interested however then you may wish to look elsewhere for your fighting fix as it does take a bit of time to get into but rest assured that it's definitely worth investing in.

Verdict : One of SNK's finest fighting games to date.

That's it for another installment of VC Weekly which will return again soon. So until then, enjoy the rest of the week and Game On!