outlet

Naturally, nothing compares to the true experience of playing a fighting game in the arcade, but this little baby does a nice job of giving great fighting gameplay for those boring road trips mom and dad are always taking you on. It's not a game I'd recommend you go out of your way to play, but if you're going to have the time to sit around, this is definately something worth having with you!

Sometimes I miss Benimaru, but I think I'm over that now.

I have been a fan of SNK since i got a NeoGeo. I loved the fighting games, and in particular, playig as Athena. Them Match of the Millenium came out, and SNK took on Capcom. I loved it. This is just another installment of King of Fighters games...and like most all of its predescesors, it is great.

The deep fighting system that has become synonymous with the King of Fighters franchise is alive and well in The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood for the GBA. Among the 21 available characters, you'll find old favorites alongside three newcomers who are exclusive to this title. King of Fighters' classic three-on-three battles are the mainstay of this GBA version with a special story mode that lets you vie for the throne.
The character art and animation are fantastic, as are the detailed backgrounds. The effects for special attacks are similarly striking. Unfortunately, the soundscape doesn't follow suit and is actively annoying in places. Each character's unique fighting style offers special moves and combos, though some of them are unreasonably difficult to execute. When you get it right, though, the results are sufficiently devastating. A "Striker" command lets you call in a teammate to make a quick attack on your behalf, which can also make a huge impact on the outcome. Cancels are a piece of cake and can lead to counters that annihilate your opponent.
Due to the fast-paced action, the controls will leave you with aching hands and thumbs. It's especially noticeable if you play on the quadrangular GBA SP. Of course, this level of intensity means that there's a good game underway, and you'll want to keep at it despite the pain. It is a must have for KOF veterans on the go.