When SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy was first announced, I was excited. A new SNK 2v2 fighting game that was a sequel to Gal Fighters and was going to be on both PS4 and Switch? I was hyped for the game. And then I began seeing more of it, and began having some worries but resolved to actually play the game before making judgement. Now, I have been playing the game thanks to the good people at NIS America and have to say one thing. This is a very weird game indeed.
To begin, SNK Heroines is not a traditional fighter by any means. I made comparisons between Blade Strangers and Smash Bros before, but the comparison is much more apt here. The game has very simplified controls and powerups tossed out for you to get during a fight, and it all feels different from a typical SNK fighter. I do like that you see your partner in the background, like in some previous SNK fighters, but overall, I do not think many purists will like the game.
The fighting feels less casual and more goofy for lack of a better term. Funny noises occur often when you strike and some of the powerups/stage hazards just feel out of place. This does not feel like a traditional SNK fighter or a sequel to Gal Fighters even. Gal Fighters was humorous yes, but SNK Heroines seems to go overboard.
Before a match, you select the main fighter, labelled the attacker and the support fighter who will be in the background as mentioned. Switching between the two is easy but the tag system honestly doesn’t feel needed at all in this game. Fights can end very quickly and to be honest, no fights I had ever seemed to actually make use of tag mechanics that much. It felt more like a lazy tacked on gimmick than anything else, except for the next issue.
The dream finishes are subject I am very sore on. They are needed to end the match and yet they often do not connect right. This is the only time a tag ever seems needed in a match, which is strange to me. They can only be done after some damage is dealt, but I would prefer actual supers, as this just feels tacked on like everything else.
Now I need to speak about what is on everyone’s mind, the fanservice look. It can be very strange to see, and there really is not a good story reason for it either. I am not opposed to fanservice in gaming, but I am not fond of it when it replaces substance in the game itself. That is what I feel SNK Heroines is, fanservice and flash over substance. The game looks great graphically, and it is clear that a lot of effort was put into designing it using the KOF 14 engine, but it just didn’t work for me.
I will not give any spoilers as to the story modes of the games, but SNK Heroines is one of the most bizarre games I have ever played. Defeating the final boss triggered an ending that left me stunned speechless and not in a good way. Again, I like weird and offbeat games, but I was really hoping for more from this.
Bottom line is, if you are coming into the game hoping for a hardcore fighter, then prepare for disappointment. If however, you want a casual fighter that is fun for a few minutes at a time or a game that is very offbeat, then SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy might be for you.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch