Ahead of EVO Japan 2024, SNK has detailed the gameplay mechanics for their upcoming fighting game, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. Anticipation is high as the guide includes crucial game mechanics that players need to master, notably centering around the innovative REV System.
Key defensive strategies highlighted include Just Defense and Hyper Defense, both making a comeback from Garou: Mark of the Wolves. Just Defense activates by timing a block perfectly against an incoming attack, reducing the REV meter slightly while aiding in health recovery and enabling a Guard Cancel. This maneuver makes it possible to quickly counterattack during a block with a range of moves, including Special Moves, Ignition Gear, and more.
Hyper Defense functions similarly, but it keys off forward inputs against successive strikes. Utilizing these defenses effectively allows players to disrupt their opponent's flow and launch powerful counter-offensives.
The game also introduces "Braking," which lets players cancel the animation of certain special moves to extend their combo potential, while "Feints" deceive opponents by simulating the start of a special move but pulling back, offering strategic deception and reduced recovery times.
Fatal Fury offers two control styles: Smart Style and Arcade Style. Smart Style is designed for streamlined gameplay, allowing players to deliver Smart Combos with repeated inputs or Combination Attacks up close. Arcade Style, on the other hand, provides access to the full range of techniques, including Feints, which are exclusive to it.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is slated for an early 2025 release, though specific platforms have not yet been announced. This development promises to offer both veteran fighters and newcomers a deeply engaging and tactical fighting game experience.