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Review: SVC Chaos for PS2!
Not a match...STRUGGLE!! Here it is, the reason for U.S. PS2 owners to get their system modified. The full title of this game is "SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom." Not to be confused with "Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000" or "Capcom vs. SNK 2: Millionaire Fighting 2001." Those two games(which I highly recommend) were designed by Capcom, in very much the same old style Capcom has always used, but many SNK characters were brought in and redrawn to match Capcom's art style. Now, with SVC Chaos, SNK has done the same thing, bringing a slew of Capcom characters into a King of Fighters-style fighter and redrawing all of Capcom's sprites. And I have to say I'm happy with the result. Capcom's art is still prettier, but after they recycled the same character graphics so many times, this is pretty refreshing.
In Capcom's games, some SNK elements were also brought in such as different types of super meters, rolling and parrying, and team-based fighting. Likewise, SNK changed a few things to make Street Fighter veterans feel more at home, most notably the classic Street Fighter Alpha-style super meter. One thing worth noting is the addition of desperation moves: a move that can only be performed once per match, when your life is low, but which causes tremendous damage if it connects.
Overall, lots of fun for anyone who likes 2D fighters, and especially fans of Street Fighter or King of Fighters. A new game of this sort was really overdue, and I was thirsty after having nothing new but Capcom vs. SNK 2 to play for the last three years or so. I'm especially happy with SNK's choice to use Hugo from Street Fighter III, who here is even more enormous and devastating than he was. He practically stands the height of the screen. I kinda miss Zangief, but it can be forgiven since they provided a worthy substitute.
I do have a few minor complaints. Fighting the computer, as in all these games, can be rather frustrating. Especially when the CPU can pre-emptively counterattack just about any move you make with a faster move. Be prepared for the computer to totally abuse this and other tricks no human player could do. But, it's to be expected. The computer is dumb. Another thing consistant with past SNK fighters is that the boss characters are ridiculously over-powered. Especially "serious" Mr. Karate, that guy's a monster. There are some characters I'm very glad to see here(Demitri, Firebrand, Hugo, and Zero most of all) but there are some that I can't understand putting in the game when there were so many better choices. Sagat? Tabasa? Does anyone really use those guys? Where's Cammy? Where's Blanka? How about Lord Raptor, Honda, or Rock? Oh well, Violent Ken is cool, he's based on Bison's mind-controlled Ken from the end of the Street Fighter II movie. Lastly, I wish there were more modes of play than straight one-on-one matches. Maybe other games have spoiled me, but I wish there was a tag team mode or something. But in any case, I love the game, and it's a big breath of fresh air after so long without a new 2D fighter. A guy's gotta have his fix.
Shame on Sony USA for not allowing this game to come out over here. They just created another Xbox exclusive and angered fans like myself. Curse your black heart, Sony, and your unjust anti-2D bigotry. Because of that, all of the game's dialogue is in another language. Mine is Korean, because it was cheaper and came with a free t-shirt. I believe the Neo-Geo version is available in English, but not the PS2 port. But at least I get to play it now, me and my flip-top PS2.
Old-school fighting fans everywhere should rejoice and get their hands on this game if you can. I wouldn't say it's as good as Capcom's efforts, but then Capcom hasn't given us anything new lately. Here's hoping SNK makes a sequel. HAMMER FRENZY!!!
BBQ at July 23, 2004 
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Comments
That is some damn fine 2d Fighting.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at July 23, 2004 10:46 AM
A friend of mine said it was horribly unbalanced (arcade) so I tried to scrounge up a rom but to no avail. I still want to play it, I mean, GOD YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I WANT TO PLAY THIS GAME. But, I don't really give my PS2 loving any more, so I'm stuck with the Xbox version.
Posted by: Einherjer Mach 334234 at July 23, 2004 11:18 AM
I already have this one pre-ordered for Xbox. With the new PS2 Street Fighter gamepads coming out this week and my Xbox adapters I'll be in 2D heaven.
Posted by: Kevin at July 26, 2004 11:31 AM
Yes, a lot of people use Sagat. More than those that use Cammy.
Posted by: americandodgeball at June 1, 2005 10:16 AM
Nah Cammy is a hell of a lot more fun than "Bob" Sagat. She is fast, hot and has fun moves.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at June 1, 2005 5:58 PM
For the love of god, people! Stop trying to post porno spam here! I'm closing the comments!
Posted by: BBQ at November 25, 2005 3:04 PM
