The Neo Geo was home to so many classic fighting games that people love, but one that I feel stands above the others in terms of uniqueness was Waku Waku 7. To be clear, this is one of the most unusual and off beat fighting games ever made. The cast of characters are ones who are parodies of other games, of anime, manga, comics and of movies, (Japanese as well as western made), such as shotoclones, sword fighters, anime action girls, and so on. This game also happens to be one of the most awesome fighting games ever made and holds up extremely well. It has that special charm of being easy to learn but difficult to master, while being fun to play and enjoy.
The fighting is excellent with fun visuals that still look great today. To give some reference, the visuals have that look that games like Street Fighter III and Darkstalkers had, and yet still feel like they are depicted in the SNK style, which is somewhat different. As well, the music in the game is absolutely fantastic and switches from off beat sounds to fun and energetic ones, while always getting you into the fight.
The characters are amazing, each feeling alive and unique, while also having a plot that is ridiculous and derivative but somehow still works great. . Combine all that with the fun gameplay, and I cannot understand why this game has languished in obscurity for so long. There are issues, don’t get me wrong. The difficulty ramps up very fast as you progress, which can catch someone off guard, and learning the moves can take a while. That said, this is all standard for a Neo Geo fighting game.
To be honest, I would love to see a modern sequel that continues the story and even adds to the parodies. As mentioned, this is a very significant release for the game, and I am hoping it sells well enough that there will be interest for a new game. I would love for this series to come back and become a stable of the eSports scene. Until then, the game is available as part of the Arcade Archives series so I suggest players check it out that way. You will not regret it.