Review of “City of the Wolves”

The release of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves marks the return of a beloved gaming franchise that has been dormant since 1999. Devotees of the series will find this latest installment a refreshing update that maintains the technical flair and distinctive gameplay mechanics they cherish, while those unfamiliar with the Fatal Fury legacy might see it as a unique offering in the crowded landscape of fighting games. However, it’s worth noting that the game doesn’t offer a wealth of content compared to some of its contemporaries.

Unlike heavyweights in the fighting game arena like Tekken 8 or Street Fighter 6, City of the Wolves doesn’t boast extensive alternate game modes, cinematic cutscenes, or high-end graphical flair. It strips things down to the essentials, focusing on its core as a fighting game purist’s delight, echoing the era of arcade legends that rewarded players’ mastery and quick reflexes. This focus on universal techniques over character-specific skills allows players to quickly pick up the game and feel competent, while mechanics like Just Defense, REV Blows, and counters provide a gratifying experience for those willing to invest the time in learning them.

The game might shine in the multiplayer arena, potentially enjoying a lengthy lifespan thanks to its engaging combat system. However, the single-player experience feels outdated and somewhat bland. Without a compelling story or a variety of engaging game modes, casual gamers might walk away feeling the game doesn’t quite measure up to the narrative depth or breadth of options found in major series like Mortal Kombat. Ultimately, your enjoyment hinges on how you set your expectations. For those prepared for what it offers, City of the Wolves might just be the highlight of your year in fighting games.

Creating a fighting game today often means balancing the demands of competitive players and casual gamers. Examining City of the Wolves through this lens, SNK manages to deliver a game that strikes a delicate balance between intricate gameplay and accessible fun.

Browsing through the move list of any character in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is refreshingly straightforward; there’s no need to memorize complex, multi-step combos. While veterans from games like Tekken might see this as a simplification, it’s this very simplicity that allows the game to maintain depth. Mastery isn’t about complex button combos, but about applying the same combat fundamentals across different character archetypes, allowing for a variety of play styles from heavyweights to nimble acrobats.

At times, City of the Wolves feels more akin to a single-player action game than a traditional fighting game. To draw a comparison, playing as the character Tizoc feels like wielding a greatsword, while Hokutomaru’s style resembles a rapier or spear—despite similar button inputs, their speed, range, and damage potential bring out different facets of the game’s mechanics.

The true test of your skills lies in mastering these universal mechanics, such as the REV Guard, which helps you maintain distance while blocking. This approach offers a graceful gameplay experience, allowing players to switch between characters with relative ease, making experimentation feel rewarding rather than daunting.

Executing these mechanics in the heat of battle is immensely satisfying. Combining precise blocks, calculated counters, tactical backsteps, Throw Techs, and perfectly-timed REV Blows feels exhilarating. Thanks to finely tuned hitboxes and new features like the REV Gauge and S.P.G., each fight holds an element of unpredictability without sacrificing skill or strategy.

For newcomers, the game’s combat system is quite approachable, largely due to its streamlined character-specific moves. Pulling off flashy and fluid attacks isn’t necessarily simple, but they’re less daunting to execute, welcoming those who are new to the series. The introduction of Smart Style, similar to Tekken 8’s Special Style, provides an alternate control scheme with simplified input for executing advanced moves. Yet, with City of the Wolves already having simple button inputs, Smart Style can sometimes feel like it over-simplifies the gameplay, making it feel as though the game is doing the heavy lifting for you.

While City of the Wolves doesn’t offer a traditional narrative-driven single-player campaign, it does include a classic arcade mode and the intriguing Episodes of South Town. Here, players explore the iconic metropolis of the Fatal Fury series in a non-linear adventure, leveling up characters and unlocking skills along the way. This RPG-inspired progression adds a layer of depth, as skills earned can be applied to any character, offering customizability in your approach.

However, Episodes of South Town can sometimes feel like a stretched-out arcade mode with added, albeit superficial, features. The lack of interconnected storylines within this mode leaves something to be desired, hinting at unexplored potential for a rich narrative or deeper single-player story arc. Despite frequent references to exploring South Town, the experience leans more towards menu navigation than actual exploration. While a fighting game doesn’t necessarily need complex exploration mechanics, the portrayal of this mode suggests a grander adventure than what’s delivered.

Despite these single-player shortcomings, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is an exceptional experience. It might not have the cinematic flair, extensive customization, or diverse game modes of its peers, but it more than compensates with solid game mechanics. SNK has successfully revived this dormant franchise for a contemporary audience, and future installments that refine these strengths could solidify its standing in the fighting game community.

Catch Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves when it launches for PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on April 24, 2025. Game Rant reviewed the game on the PS5 with a review code provided for evaluation.