SNK Corp.’s Fatal Fury franchise is back in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, a winning sequel 26 years in the making.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves incorporates the same precision-based fighting gameplay updated with 3D characters on a 2D plane. A roster of 17 new and old characters offers varied technique for players, including the favorites like Terry Bogard and Rock Howard to newcomers like Preecha and Vox Reaper.

New is the REV System to enhance offensive and defensive options. REV Arts enhances special moves, REV Accel allows combos of REV Arts moves, and REV Guard is an enhanced defensive technique. A new S.P.G. meter, which can be placed at the front, middle or end of the health gauge, offers increase attack strength and REV Blow, a powerful knockback to attack or counter the opponent. Use too many REV moves and the character can overheat to prevent usage of the enhanced maneuvers.

The new system is a great addition to the already storied mechanics taken from Garou: Mark of the Wolves, much of which was based on precise position, cadence, special attacks, and defensive counters like Just Defended to absorb incoming attacks.

The new Episodes of South Town is an RPG-like mode that allows users to choose a character and fight random battles across South Town to build up EXP and enhance their fighter. It also includes exposition and endings for deeper character depth.

Offline modes include Arcade, Versus, Training and Tutorial modes. Arcade includes separate individual endings per character.

The graphics engine is solid at 60FPS and comic book cel-shading for all fighters. The result is a hand-drawn look that fits the Fatal Fury universe and brings the franchise a fresh coat of paint that doesn’t betray its sprite-based routes.

The music, a standout of Garou: Mark of the Wolves, is filled with jazz-based tunes and classic BGMs that provide an upbeat rhythm throughout.

Online play held steady with no lag. However, some veteran players like to lurk in the Casual Mode which can cause a ferocious pummeling to novice players.

SNK successfully puts Fatal Fury back in the competitive ring with City of the Wolves. The gameplay is precision-based, yet weighted enough for users to pick apart their opponents with new and old techniques built for maximum impact.