Best Fighting Games on Neo Geo

Nothing is better than reliving your old childhood days by playing some retro console games. I have always loved fighting games, especially those retro but realistic-looking ones like SNK has developed. 

I have many favorite Neo Geo games, but when it comes down to choosing the best ones of the fighting genre, four stand out in my book. Let me tell you all about them in the following section. 

Best Fighting Games on Neo Geo

There are hundreds of Neo Geo games to choose from, but when I’m asked to mention some of the best fighting games on Neo Geo, then these are the names that come to mind:

• Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge (1996)
• The King of Fighters (1997)
• Garou: Mark of the Wolves (1999)
• The Last Blade 2 (1998)

Short Overview

Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge (1996)

I have chosen the fourth installment of the Samurai Shodown series for this list because it is the best, in my opinion. 

This is because it showed much improvement over the previous three installments while retaining Neo Geo’s simple yet complex and beautiful graphic design.

Improvements and story

Unlike the third installment, Samurai Shodown IV has little to no glitches during gameplay, drastically improving its dynamics. It was made shortly after in a successful attempt to correct all the mistakes of the previous parts.

Chronologically, the story of Samurai Shodown IV takes place somewhere between Samurai Shodown I and II and is a continuation of the story that happened in Samurai Shodown III.

Gameplay

Many changes have been made in this installment of the game. For example, the developers have simplified the combat system, removing abilities such as dodging or blocking. This makes the gameplay more fluent and fast-paced, enabling the player to create unique combos. 

New features, such as the option to “forfeit by suicide”, have been added, allowing the player to enter the next round with a fully charged Power Gauge. 

The King of Fighters (1997)

The second place on my list goes to The King of Fighters 97, as it is another game I played and love. It is a huge improvement over the 95 version, with a total of 30 fighters and six additional characters. 

Improvements and story

Compared to previous versions, The King of Fighters 97 features better and improved animations and a more realistic AI response. The graphics keep that Neo Geo spirit, giving the sense of 3D realism from the mid 90ties.

The game’s story revolves around the famous tournament for fighters worldwide, through which the best will emerge. However, the scheme behind the entire tournament is the release of Orochi, an evil being, into the mortal world. 

Gameplay

The King of Fighters does not differ much from any other fighting game, but it still has its mechanics and characteristics regarding gameplay. 

For example, the game lets you select a team of three fighters, and you can choose the order in which they fight. Different gameplay is created each time, depending on your choice.

The game also has two modes: advanced and extra, each with challenges for you to learn and overcome. 

Garou: Mark of the Wolves (1999)

Garou: Mark of the Wolves is another favorite of mine regarding the best fighting games on Neo Geo. Many people consider it the best fighting game of all time because of its stunning visuals, incredibly dynamic gameplay, and animations.

Improvements and story

Being part of the Fatal Fury Series, this game’s storyline follows Fatal Fury 3, referred to as Fatal Fury 4: The Mark of the Wolves. Terry Bogard is the only character to return from the previous installments, while all the others are new and meant to replace the old ones.

As far as improvements are concerned, Garou: Mark of the Wolves is a masterpiece compared to the prequels. The graphics and animations are drastically improved, especially in the boss fights. 

The Neo Zooming feature was removed, so the game looks crisp and sharp at all times during gameplay. 

Gameplay

As far as gameplay is concerned, Garou: Mark of the Wolves will make you constantly envision your opponent’s next move. Each character has a set of special moves, which will take time to master. I know, as it took me several months of constant gameplay to master Terry Bogard alone.

All in all, Garou: Mark of the Wolves offers deep and dynamic gameplay, which I can surely say is unique to the game. 

Read more: Best Neo Geo Games Review

The Last Blade 2 (1998)

The second installment of The Last Blade is the last of the best fighting games on Neo Geo that I decided to include in this list. Even though It can’t compete with Samurai Shodown, it is a masterpiece of its own because it is quite a beautiful game with unique gameplay.

Improvements and story

The Last Blade 2 is significantly improved over its prequel, with even better character designs and fluid animations. All of that is beautifully accompanied by immersive weapons and combos, paired with unique sounds that are much better than the prequel.

The game’s plot continues one year later after the events of the original one. All the characters from the first game are also available in The Last Blade 2, although Shikyoh returns as the zombie Mukuro. Kagami’s boss in the previous game can now be selected as a playable character. 

Gameplay

When you compare this game with Samurai Shodown, you will see that they are similar in gameplay, although their mechanics are completely different. 

You can see this difference in the two distinct fighting styles, Power and Speed, which determine a completely diverse gameplay based on your chosen character. 

Power focuses more on how much damage you inflict, while speed makes your character faster and more focused on evasion.