HAMSTER’s ACA Neo Geo series has brought a number of one-on-one brawlers to the Switch, and now here’s another one. The first Art of Fighting game may have been visually impressive for its time, but it was lacking in the gameplay department meaning there was little reason to pick it up on Switch. Laughing in the face of sequential order, HAMSTER now skipped the second game in the series to bring Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior to the eShop. That’s no bad thing, however, as it improves on the formula considerably.
The visual presentation of Art of Fighting 3 is superb. The gritty look of the first two games has been ditched in favour of an animated one that works wonderfully thanks to good detail in the surroundings and the smooth animation of the fighters. The zooming camera (based on the relative positions of the fighters) still features - which enhances the experience - and stages are varied with good touches such as scenery distorted behind flowing water, grass gently swaying in the wind and impressive shadow effects in one particular level.
There’s a good range of sound effects along with rocking and jazz-like music tracks that add to the atmosphere, but the most effective stage from an audio point of view is the one that takes place in a street some distance away from carnival-like celebrations. Lights and fireworks can be seen far away as you fight in a quiet street (a lone dejected-looking man at a bar the only other visible person), and here the music is provided by a distant band, rather than featuring prominently in the sound mix.
As before there is a button for punch and a button for kick, with a third button providing strong attacks (what these are depend on your current position). Once again your ability to perform special moves is dependent on your spirit gauge, but thankfully it doesn’t decrease too much with performed specials, though should your opponent taunt you it does take a big chunk away. You can of course recharge it by holding down an attack button.
The lack of attack buttons could be limiting, but there are still a number of moves you can perform and the new rush attacks add to the excitement of battle; these are performed by simply holding forwards and mashing the punch or kick button. Should you find a good opening these can prove to be very effective, particularly as you can also combine these with special moves.
Your fighter has a number of other moves too, such as a throw and the ability to attack your opponent when they are lying on the floor. Attacks can be sidestepped and with careful timing of your moves you can juggle your opponent in midair to deal lots of damage. It feels quite different to other games, more Virtua Fighter than a typical 2D brawler. Should you be the one who has received a lot of damage you can turn the tide of battle with a devastating Desperation move when low on energy. All of these elements fit together well, with fast paced and smooth gameplay that leads to plenty of enjoyable fighting.
The only returning characters are Ryo and Robert (plus Yuri as an NPC) and disappointingly they are joined by just eight others. There’s some good variety in the fighters however, with various spinning, jumping and projectile attacks giving a different feel to each of them, as does the fact some have weapons. Sword-wielding Sinclair and hulking end-of-game boss Wyler are not visible on the character select screen, but picking them is simply a matter of pushing the cursor past the edges of the screen.
Aside from Sinclair and Wyler each character has an ending, so there’s some replayability in trying to see them all. On the default difficulty setting (4 of 8) this is not too difficult, as whilst the fights get tougher as you progress there’s a lot of opportunity for rush attacks, a very useful strategy to master. Increase the difficulty, however, and the CPU opposition will counter many of your button-mashing attempts at victory, providing a tougher challenge as you learn new ways to fight.
As standard, games released in the ACA Neo Geo series come with some nifty features such as button remapping and the ability to add scanlines (and even a scrolling video line) to the image for that old-school CRT look. There’s also two extra ways to play the games thanks to the one-credit Hi Score and five-minute Caravan modes. Typically you try and see how many points you can rack up with these limitations and then replay to do better as you try and move up the online leaderboards. These modes work better in some games than others, and in Art of Fighting 3 they work very well indeed.
When playing a one-on-one brawler the focus is more on winning than on how many points you’ve got. SNK seemed to realise this and here it's ditched the score and added a timer to keep track of how quickly you can clear the game. The faster you are, the higher you are on the game’s leaderboard and subsequently this has had an effect on the additional ACA modes.
For example, the five minute Caravan mode now challenges you to see how many wins you can get in that period. Is it possible to clear the game in that time? At the time of writing the best anyone has managed is seven wins. With only nine fights in the game, possible placements on the leaderboard are limited, but there’s an addictive quality when you miss out on a win by a few seconds, then go again as you hope to manage it the next time around to increase that win tally.
Hi score mode is simply about clearing the game as quickly as possible, with the 1-credit limit adding some additional challenge. There’s also an online leaderboard for the regular arcade mode, and whilst that too is about beating the game quickly it allows continues. As continuing sets the timer back to what it was at going into the fight it doesn’t matter if you mess up as (unlike in Hi score) you have another attempt at it rather than heading back to the beginning. If looking to set super-quick times in the arcade mode you can also dive into the options menu to set the game to single-round brawling.
Trying to improve your placement on the leaderboards adds a lot of replayability to the game, but the multiplayer is another reason to keep returning. As always a second player can buy into the arcade mode at any time and challenge you to a fight, and here the game shines as you attempt to string combos together against each other, dodge attacks and look for new ways to be victorious. The only downside being the paltry ten-character lineup that is considerably less than other games, including some HAMSTER has already brought to the eShop.
Conclusion
Characters would continue to turn up in the King of Fighters games, but this was the final instalment of the Art of Fighting series - and it goes out on a high. Despite the limited three attack button setup there's a lot of enjoyable and fluid fighting provided thanks to the rush attacks combining well with special moves. Juggling and dodging attacks adds to the fun and the animated look of the game works well. The low number of fighters included is disappointing, but trying to set a new fast time is addictive, particularly with the standard ACA online leaderboards. The first game may have been one to skip, but Art of Fighting 3: Path of the Warrior is a welcome fighting option for the eShop.
Comments 44
Looks alright. This won't be the finale for HAMSTER and NEO-GEO ports.
While I agree that 3 is better than the first Art of Fighting, I don't think the difference is nearly that drastic. The series has never been particularly great. This is closer to a 6.
Sold
I was quite impressed with the rotorscoped sprite animation back in the day. Looking at it today... reminds me what a smart kid I was, it still looks awesome.
@tsdenizen Art of Fighting 3 easily shames the previous ones in terms of animations. And the color palette is way better.
In terms of gameplay, the game had some issues in that it was easier to corner an opponent and prevent him/her from fighting back.
Anywhoo, this review is fine. The only issue with it is that it fails to mention that it does have a storyline in there. Its not a huge issue, tho.
@crackafreeze Has there ever been a ACA sale on the other platforms such as PS4 and XB1? I've bought a lot of them on my Switch until now, somehow thinking that won't happen any time soon.
I keep finding myself buying these ACA ports just... because. Every new one I get that friggin Hori Fightstick looks better and better.
@Megal0maniac They occasionally go on sale on the PS4, but I noticed a lot of them are more expensive. Some are $14.99 instead of the Switch's $7.99. Also, I remember some of the older NeoGeo ports on PS4 lacking some of the cool options that the newer ACA ones do.
One of the better fighters on the Neo Geo, and a definite must-buy for fans of the genre, if you ask me. And even if you don't...
@NEStalgia You know the drill...
@Shiryu If that's the case, you really were a smart kid, and you're still a pretty smart person today...
Sounds good. I'll have to check out videos, & maybe get this, if I ever get a NS.
Never was a big fan of AOF, but I might pick it up later. Now, let’s get the FF Real Bout games.
Stupid retro pixelated indie games Neo Geo arcade low res 2D fighter samey same old looking games. . . .wheres my Super Mario World 4th VC edition?? ;P
@Pizzapasta I have two of those right here, I got them in a sale for a 100 bucks each. They're amazing! It really adds to the experience, a lot more fun with them when compared to playing with just the joy-con or the Pro controller. But it does take a bit of a learning curve though. Also, I might order a few Sanwa buttons to see how they compare to the standard Hayabusa ones.
Hmm, at what percentage was the sales discount? Can't find anything about it at the moment.
@Megal0maniac It was a couple weeks ago during a flash sale. I think it was $14.99 on sale for some weird number like $6.49 or something like that... Might have been one of the fatal fury's or KOF... can't remember, they all bleed together after a while.
@Pizzapasta I know there are a few Neo Geo games on PS4 that are slightly different to these Arcade Archives releases,mainly they have online play. I don't think Hamster have anything to do with them either, I may be wrong on that though.
I planned on picking up just 2 more fighters, Samurai Shodown 2 and The Last Blade to sit proudly beside Garou and KoF98.The Last Blade is coming in the next few weeks and I can't wait to play it. If I was to get a 5th fighter it was going to be Waku Waku 7 but now this one here is tempting me. I really want to get an arcade stick before I get any more fighters though but it's hard to justify spending £120 on top of all the games I'll be buying.
@OorWullie That seems to make sense. I'm mainly going by the thumb nails, but the older NeoGeo games on PS4 look worse than the Hamster versions and are more expensive, but the newer PS4 NeoGeo games look almost identical to the Switch ones.
On a side note, I was playing some of the ACA games and was thinking to myself how wonderful it would be to have online play. Since Hamster is handling all the old Nintendo arcade games I wonder if online play will be enabled for all of them once the Nintendo online service gets turned on.
@OorWullie I'm not even a fighting game guy but I already have a few off the ACA collection. I like playing brawlers and old shmups with sticks too though. I keep looking at that Hori stick and I'm going through the same dilemma. I don't know if I can justify $150 stick for a few fighting games. Then I think about the 8Bitdo one that's only $80, but it looks like that one is using all Mayflash parts, and Mayflash is really not great.
So hey Nintendo...Hamster... How about those VS System Nintendo games you said we meant to be getting? or at least something else then endless Neo Geo Fighting games...
@ClassSonicSatAm Right after we get 3D movies on Netflix for the 3DS.
@GC-161 Really that long? XD
@Pizzapasta I'm not a huge fighting game fan either, I enjoy them but I've always been pretty rubbish at them.I just wanted to have a few of the very best ones. I have all the Neo Geo shoot-em-ups so far and I've just bought Mutation Nation so I have the 3 beat-em-ups worth owning. Sengoku I've skipped but hopefully the sequels will arrive soon as they look great. I've bought loads of these Neo Geo releases and I can't really say I regret any of them. If I had the Arcade stick I'd enjoy them even more so I think it would be a worthwhile investment but aye,it's £120. I considered the 8bitdo one as well but I think if I'm going to get one I might as well get the best one.
@ClassSonicSatAm There was news a few years back about being able to watch Disney/Pixar movies in 3D on the 3DS using Netflix.
Still waiting...
@OorWullie what are the other two beat em ups that you have? I know the first Sengoku is trash, don't know why they haven't given us the much better sequels yet... I know the robo one looks "okay" and then there's the other one that looks like final fight but I heard it wasn't that good. I like playing the arcade beat em ups with my wife cuz she can just add more quarters and doesn't get frustrated. The problem with NintendoLife reviews of the ACA games is that they basically all get a 7 or 8 so it's hard to tell which ones are really worth it. I'm enjoying this one so far even more than Mark of the Wolf because of the simplicity of the controls. Might pick up the Hori stick today...
@ClassSonicSatAm To be fair, they've been pretty good at spreading out the releases with different genres considering how much of the Neo Geo's library is made up of fighters.I own 22 of them and only 2 of them are 1v1 fighters. The next few weeks we have an action platformer, a basketball game and a football game to go among the couple of fighters,one of which, The Last Blade is an absolute classic.
@Pizzapasta Robo Army and Burning Fight. The 3/10 BF was awarded wasn't very fair, it's better than that. Both of them aren't classics but if you enjoy the genre then for sure you'll get some enjoyment from them, especially in co-op. Have you tried Wulverblade yet? That's top drawer, love it. Possibly the best beat-em-up I've ever played but it's tough going.
@Pizzapasta Because it's better than... MotW is an overrated game, far worse than Fatal Fury 3 or Real Bout.
Almost fair review, though a 7 should be more appropriate. KOF 96, FF3 and RB are far better than this. I'm curious what they will get.
Beautiful animation aside, I'd have to knock AoF3 down a notch for corner nonsense (very limited options to get yourself out of a corner, if at all) combined with unblockable desperation moves that can act as match-winning Ultimate K.O.'s (it doesn't matter if it's the first round, landing an Ultimate K.O. wins the match!) really throws off the game's balance. I mean, maybe adding a defensive roll for 25-35% spirit and/or a low counter toss would probably fix things right up!
@ClassSonicSatAm The Vs. Nintendo games should release independently of the weekly NEOGEO game, going by how Mario Bros. released on a different day of the week than the usual Thursday.
But, there's not an endless stream of fighters left compared to what we have already. Off the top of my head there's:
-The King of Fighters 96, 97, 2001, 2002, 2003
-Fatal Fury 3, Real Bout, Real Bout Special, Real Bout 2
-World Heroes, 2, Jet
-The Last Blade (coming soon, yay!), The Last Blade 2
-Art of Fighting 2
-Fighter's History Dynamite
-Samurai Shodown 2, 3
-Savage Reign, Kizuna Encounter
-Ninja Master's
-Aggressors of Dark Kombat
...if there's no issue with licensing:
-Rage of the Dragons
-Power Instinct: Matrimelee
-Breakers, Breakers Revenge
-Voltage Fighter Gowkaiser (not looking forward to this)
99.99% not happening (I assume):
-SNK vs. Capcom
-Tengai Makyo: Shin Den (a.k.a. Far East of Eden Kabuki Clash)
-Double Dragon (not sure if the rights are just held by Arc System Works or also by Gramercy Pictures)
There may be a couple more out there (like that pre-rendered CG one that I forgot the name of), but there's about 27 fighting games out of around 100 NEOGEO games left to release. Yeah, that's a sizable chunk. But think of it this way, that's a little over 1 fighting game per month until the end, if they spread it out. Not a bad ratio...but damn, you're right, that's a lot of fighting games, LOL! ;p
@OorWullie No I haven't. I really don't enjoy the Art Style. I like pixel art more than the weird paper doll art style. I keep hearing good things so I'm tempted now... My wife is bugging me now. We're at Fry's and she's telling me to get the Hori Stick, but I'm hemming and hawing. We were just in a Japanese style arcade that just opened up by my house and I mentioned I wanted to get a stick like those formmy office. And she was like "that would be so cool! Let's go!" But now that we're at the store I'm being indecisive.
Slow news day I guess...
@Pizzapasta Most guys would be worrying about how they can justify spending that amount on a luxury item to the better half so if your wife is telling you to go get one, I'd say go for it.
I had those reservations about Wulverblade's art style too but it looks much better in motion. Really nice looking game and the combat is fantastic. It's proper violent though.
@OorWullie well... I'm playing Aero Fighters 2 with a Hayabusa stick. Pretty rad. I have to say though, I didn't expect the ball to spin so much and the buttons seem squishier than I would have thought... Maybe I just need to break them in.
@Pizzapasta You mean that the ball is loose? That's pretty normal I'm now pretty much used to the Hayabusa buttons, they don't have a lot of feedback but maybe that contributes to speed.
@Megal0maniac Yeah. They're pretty touchy, but fast.
I'm not really a neo geo and beat Em up dude. Just another arcade fighter I won't be buying on an eshop full of arcade fighting beatemups.
This is the best of the Art of Fighting series. Its really good
@masterLEON Well they said we would get then in the coming weeks...it's been over a month since Mario Bros... at this rate we have the normal VC out when we get those Vs System titles.
Surly they could add other arcade systems then just Nintendo and Neo-Geo.
@GC-161 I remember...with the 3DS on it's way out (and heck even the 3D is not being used in newer releases) most likely aren't going to happen.
@ClassSonicSatAm That wasn't the issue at the time they made that announcement, tho.
The problem was that Disney was pulling away from Netflix. They're going to yank off all their movies from the service as soon as their contract is up.
@OorWullie Fair enough, but would like to see other systems.
since a lot of the non fighting games on the Neo-geo seen to get lost...or had the option to get them on PSP years ago.
Only Neo Geo game I would love is Neo Bomberman, since it's never been rereleased outside of mame/arcade.
@ClassSonicSatAm I'm hoping at least the next Nintendo arcade title would drop before Thanksgiving. Mario Bros. seems to have legs, at least in Japan (It still hasn't left the top 15!). It'd be in everyone's best interests if they get going with the rest of those soon.
The other arcade systems are what's available on the PS4 Arcade Archives since a couple years ago. Speculating here, maybe HAMSTER will start releasing some of those other arcade games some time after the Nintendo titles?
@masterLEON @ClassSonicSatAm It's a shame Sega, Namco or Capcom won't let Hamster do the same with their arcade classics. They have so many classic games that the vast majority of gamers have never experienced.The arcade archives releases by Hamster on PS4 look good and I'd certainly welcome them on Switch but they're nearly all 80's games. The mid 90s arcades though were so far ahead of what we were playing at home, at least until the Dreamcast arrived. Some have appeared in collections over the years but even those don't seem to happen anymore.
I have some of them on PS4 like Double Dragon and Bubble Bobble..do wish we get more 90's or at least 80's arcade classics we knew about.
There's a lot of good Konami and Tatio arcade games they could do too..
but with SEGA specially, we got a lot of remade arcade games on 3DS by m2, but how about putting them on console? or re port some of ones on Xbox 360. would love to see Daytona USA and heck Sonic The Fighters on the Switch! XD
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