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FIGHT! Street Fighter vs. King of Fighters

FIGHT! Street Fighter vs. King of Fighters

The King of Fighters XIV just came out for the PS4 and it’s blowing away all of our expectations. What we assumed would be a clumsy and forgettable transition into 3D for SNK’s long-running, flagship fighter turned out to be one of the best fighting games we’ve played in generations. Needless to say, Street Fighter V now has some stiff competition for the title of “Best Brawler on PS4.” It’s time to duke it out. Two games are going into the ring, and only one will emerge the victor – which will it be?

Best Visuals: Street Fighter V

Best Visuals: Street Fighter V

There’s really no contest here. Unreal Engine 4 deserves some major props for making Street Fighter V one of the most gorgeous fighting games to ever hit consoles. Character models are so expressive, and the animations are silky smooth. Plus that ectoplasmic-aether-jello-ink effect is just plain awesome. The King of Fighters XIV has a lot of heart, but it would look right at home on a PS3 or Xbox 360.

Most Memorable Characters: KoF XIV

Most Memorable Characters: KoF XIV

KoF XIV not only boasts double the roster with a staggering 50 characters to choose from, but I found those characters more full of life and more satisfying to play. This despite their last-gen 3D representations and toned down animations. Characters personalities really shine through in their actions, and special attacks feel more unique to each combatant. It’s also incredibly endearing to see the short scenes of dialogue that play out when certain characters meet up in a match. It really speaks to the longevity of the series and its time-honored legacy.

Better Soundtrack: Street Fighter V

Better Soundtrack: Street Fighter V

I don’t care who you are or what kind of music you like, if the Street Fighter V theme doesn’t make you bang your head (or at least jerk it around emphatically), you’re not fully alive. It’s a fighting game, so the formula for inducing adrenaline-fueled aggression is simple. Crank up the base in that EQ, add a few more guitars and a few more layers of distortion, wail on the double kicks, and throw in a breakdown every thirty seconds. Capcom made sure to switch things up with some pulse-pounding electronica as well, and the occasional orchestral epic raises the stakes for boss fights.

Better Online Multiplayer: KoF XIV

Better Online Multiplayer: KoF XIV

KoF XIV is still working out a few kinks with its online multiplayer system, but at least we can actually connect and play, which is more than Street Fighter V fans could say in February. I really like SNK’s system as well. A player opens up a lobby which can host up to 12 people. Within that lobby are six separate rooms where players can split off and face each other individually. The rooms are labeled and organized such that anyone wanting to host a tournament need only create room and invite their friends. There’s also a dedicated online mode for free fighting and a dedicated mode for training with another human player.

Better Controls / Mechanics: KoF XIV

Better Controls / Mechanics: KoF XIV

This is a subjective call, but this is all I know: I love fighting games, and I just couldn’t stick around for Street Fighter V after the hardcore community took off. The line that divides casual fighters and dedicated tourney players is a thick one, and playing online feels like some kind of masochistic practice. KoF XIV feels more open, but doesn’t sacrifice depth or complexity. The more powerful moves are dizzying combinations of inputs and cancels. For more casual players, every character has a rush combo which can be executed simply by rapidly tapping the light-punch button, but its effectiveness is limited. The tutorial and trials in KoF XIV also do a much better job at getting you up to speed and feeling confident. Street Fighter V didn’t even have trials when it launched.

Better Replay Value: Street Fighter V

Better Replay Value: Street Fighter V

SNK and Atlus gave us all of the goods right out of the gate. We have our story mode, we have 50 playable characters, and we have a little bit of free DLC. I prefer it that way, to be honest, but the one thing Capcom has going for it is mystique. The fact that additional modes and combatants have been meted out slowly means Street Fighter V tends to stay in the headlines, always with something to entice lapsed players to come back and see what’s new. The Street Fighter brand is also considerably larger, which means come tournament time, it makes headlines and dominates streams. While I still think that KoF XIV has more to offer, I have to concede that Street Fighter V will retain the larger player-base for longer.

Victor: KoF XIV

Victor: KoF XIV

What can I say? I’m in love with The King of Fighters XIV . It’s aptly named. This is the best fighting game I’ve played in years, and I don’t think I’ve ever woken up so excited to play a fighting game since my Soul Calibur IV days. SNK and Atlus really did right by their fans and completely over-delivered in every way. You’d think that any series would grow stale by its 14th iteration, but as far as I can tell, The King of Fighters has just reinvented itself. Street Fighter V feels more like Street Fighter 4.5 by comparison.

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