Games That Should Be Revived : The KOF Maximum Impact Series
[KOF Maximum Impact is SNK’s first attempt to recreate the KOF Experience in 3D Graphics.]SNK is a company that many people love the world over and is widely known for its arcade and home console releases. SNK, after creating a successful line of 2D King Of Fighters games, eventually decided to take their flagship fighting game and elevate it to the 3D Level. Thus creating their 3D Sub-series KOF : Maximum Impact. The title Maximum Impact was used to differentiate this game from your standard KOF game. While this is not SNK’s first attempt at creating a 3D fighting game, it is, in fact, one of their better endeavors.
[ The KOF Maximum Impact series follows the story of the brothers Alba and Soiree Meira respectively. Image Source: KOF MI Reg “A”]KOF Maximum Impact features an alternative storyline of the events of Southtown. Following the events of Real Bout Fatal Fury, in which within that continuity Geese Howard, the man who was known to be the top dog of Southtown at the time had fell to his death. Geese had a confrontation with his nemesis Terry Bogard. Without Geese being in the picture, as Southtown’s undisputed ruler, many gangs vie and fight for control of Southtown. Eventually, Southtown comes under the control of one crime boss known as Fate and order were restored for a time. That is, until a rival crime boss named Duke wanted Fate out of the picture, with both sides trying to assassinate each other to put an end to the turf war. This assassination eventually leads to Duke taking over all of Southtown, this, in turn, prompted Fate’s adoptive sons Alba and Soiree Meira to join The KOF Tournament in hopes to defeat Duke and avenge the death of Fate.
KOF Maximum Impact aside from having faces from the mainstream KOF Timeline has a list of unique characters all on their own.
The primary reason as to why The KOF Maximum Impact series should be revived is predominantly so the actual series can get finished. As of the time of writing this article, KOF Maximum Impact never got the final game within its series. Nor any did any of its non-sequel spin-offs most notably being KOF Maximum Impact Regulation A2. For a series that was actually good rather than bad? This is a bad thing for a company to have on its record. The secondary reason is mostly that the KOF Maximum Impact series was a breath of fresh air in a series that tried too hard to stick to an otherwise textbook formula. An example being in three of the mainline King Of Fighters arcs. SNK focused on nothing more than the Orochi Storyline (ranging from KOF: 95 – 97 arcs. KOF: 2003 – KOF XIII arcs and KOF Neo Blood and Howling Blood arcs respectively). KOF Maximum Impact for the time brought a new and innovative concept and story line to an otherwise stale plot angle. This with its completely original story line was a major draw in for the fan base that KOF Maximum Impact has. Also, unlike its mainline counterpart, KOF Maximum Impact had a dark and gritty feel which was reminiscent of the previous generation King Of Fighters titles. I.E KOF 95 and KOF 96 which was also another major draw into the series. Minus the mixed reviews, it got from the series hardcore 2D fan base, regardless of the fact according to SNK themselves. KOF Maximum Impact sold well over in Japan. However, KOF Maximum Impact 2 / KOF 2006 had mixed reception as it did amazing in the states as one of the highest selling King Of Fighters games. However, over in Japan it only did average at best.
How can this title be improved?:
[ KOF Maximum Impact Regulation “A2” was one of the KOF Maximum Impact titles that had gotten canceled as a result of KOF XII’s poor sales ]KOF Maximum Impact can be improved by having a more diverse cast of mainline KOF characters within its games, rather than just the more popular KOF Characters. For example, a line up of “Robert Garcia,” “Ryo Sakazaki,” and “Takuma” rather than just “Ryo Sakazaki” and “Takuma,” or for another team have Iori Yagami, “Vice,” and “Mature” rather than just Iori Yagami by himself as the only representative of his KOF team. It’s this crucial lack of diversity which was KOF Maximum Impact’s greatest oversight. Now “KOF Maximum Impact” also had several O.T.G otherwise known as On The Ground combos, which allow you to continue a combo on a downed opponent. This system did not go over well over with the more tournament level KOF Players. This can be fixed if they took more of the combo elements of their mainline 2D Counterpart and ported them over to 3D specifically thus stabilizing an already combo heavy game. Storyline wise? Personally, KOF Maximum Impact already fixed this within KOF Maximum Impact 2 by giving each of the characters their own uniquely fleshed out story lines. If they were to revive this series, perhaps they can take a nod from Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 and add an in-game encyclopedia for the games more confusing storyline and lore aspects as some questions even left the most knowledgeable of KOF Fans struggling to put the pieces together. Structure wise? The game should go from a more “1” vs “1” aspect to a “3” vs “3” aspect like the other games within the King Of Fighters series have, This would attract a bigger following rather than the humble amount of fans it has now. As for the last suggestion as to how “King Of Fighters Maximum Impact” can improve upon itself? Just simply tie up any loose ends that the series has. This is because KOF Maximum Impact as a whole did not deserve to be canceled halfway through.
KOF Maximum Impact as a whole is one of the more better established KOF Spinoffs as there have been weaker titles within “The King Of Fighters Continuity”. I.E: “KOF Kyo”, “KOF Ex / Howling Blood” in which in the latter game you did not even get to fight the main antagonist. etc. So looking at it from reviewers standpoint KOF Maximum Impact, at least had enough of a following to warrant a final game within its series. But as it stands currently? SNK had stated within an interview that they have no plans for “The KOF Maximum Impact” series at this time. Considering that the last numerical installment within the series was during the year 2006 and it’s 2017. It would be nothing short of a shame of this spin-off entry within the King Of Fighters continuity was fated to be put to the sidelines in favor for story-lines that aren’t as good as this current chapter within “The King Of Fighters” franchise.
Terrence T. Watson (n) - self styled professional gamer / director. Talented humble adult who has personally forged his way through life in a variety of things. Famous on both the internet and outside of it but all in all your everyday cool guy. Personally my favorite systems are anything Playstation and I like almost every genre of gaming except horror.
