King of Fighters has been up and running for ten chapters now, and it's not showing any signs of stopping. King of Fighters XI brings classic 2-D fighting back to the forefront, for better or for worse. For those who prefer glossier 3-D brawling efforts, you should stick to the likes of Virtua Fighter 5 and/or Tekken 5. Everyone else, feel free to pick up a controller.

The game features over forty-five brawlers, with two-thirds of the group already available right from the start and the other third unlockable over the course of the game. Many of the mainstays in the series return, including the voluptuous Mai Shiranui, the no-nonsense Terry Bogard ("Okayyyyyy!") and several others. In addition, there are new additions to the cast, including characters from other SNK games such as Metal Slug and Ikari Warriors.

Classic 2-D gameplay is King of Fighters' bread and butter, and SNK continues to serve it up just as well as when the series was on the Neo-Geo. Combos, super moves and counters come off easily with the regular controller, although a fighting stick will serve you better. One great new addition to the series is the ability to switch out characters mid-fight, similar to Capcom's Versus games. Not only can you save a weakened fighter from an embarrassing defeat, but you can also team them up to pull off devastating combos. It's very cool.

King of Fighters XI also has numerous modes to choose from. Solo fighting, team fighting, practice, challenge, survival and multiplayer modes are available, along with a gallery where you can store unlocked pictures. Sadly, there's no sign of an online mode, which was a popular option in the game's Japanese release. It's also worth mentioning that the single-player modes aren't nearly as much fun as the multiplayer, due to the inclusion of two very cheap bosses. Just when you think you have a leg up on defeating them, they launch a massive, unblockable attack that knocks you flat. At least the game's still a romp when you play against a friend.

In terms of presentation, this latest King of Fighters isn't going to win any awards. The graphics are 2-D, with hand-drawn animations and backdrops scattered throughout. That's not entirely a bad thing, however. The game reverts to the old-school style of the series, rather than the unpolished 3-D appearance previously seen in King of Fighters 2006. The game loads rather quickly, too – always a plus when you want to get right into a fight. The audio includes average brawling tunes and a cavalcade of squeaky Japanese dialogue. At least SNK didn't attempt to translate the voices into sloppy English.

Best of all; the game sells for $20. That's a great deal considering the amount of fighting action. King of Fighters XI may lack technical prowess and reasonable bosses, but it delivers when it comes to knocking your socks off. Here's hoping part twelve continues to buck the trend.

Our Final ScoreGood

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