Atomiswave Lineup Impressions

I've been interested in the Atomiswave arcade system for a while, but haven't done much investigation into some of the games that are offered on the system. So I dug around on Sammy's site and gathered some information on the games that caught my eye. The big arcade buffs will probably laugh at my lack knowledge of the latest arcade scene, but oh well.

The Rumble Fish
As I mentioned before, the original Rumble Fish is already availible for the system. The Rumble Fish appeared as an original 2D fighting game for Sammy's arcade Atomiswave platform early last year. It features a unique graphics engine that animates characters by their body joints dubbed the S.M.A Smooth Model Animation Syste. It enables varied graphic changes depending on the situation such as tearing clothes and falling hats. The system also allows backgrounds and graphics to vary to suit battle conditions. Because of this System, this 2D fighting game boasts graphics that allow smooth movement equivalent to that of 3D fighting games. Basically, the best of both worlds, IMO.

The art style, IMO, looks a lot like The King of Fighters meets Guily Gear. Sammy seems to be one of the only organizations that understand how fun 2D graphics can be. Capcom, SNK, and others should take notice on how to do 2D right. Maybe even some of this Sammy influence can rub off onto it's new partner, Sega.

This 2D fighting game consists (currently) of 7 playable characters that all have their own individual special arts, skills and super moves. Rumble Fish is a one on one fighting game which involves one person using their mind to manipulate their opponents mind in such a manner that allows them to gain the advantage over his/her opponent/opponent's character. This form of game system is both fun and challenging and keeps you hooked. Each character has their very own artistic and original designs, along with personalities and stories behind them. So not only is Sammy one of the only publishers that is actually pushing 2D graphical quality, but they are also making new, exciting 2D fighting franchises. Are you hearing this Capcom?

If you'd like to get a hands-on testimony of the gameplay, check out GameSpot's write-up .


Neowave The King of Fighters
After a decade of arcade and home console hits, with years of popularity behind it, one of the best fighting games to ever grace the 2D gaming world is back on a new arcade playform. This new version will feature some of the old missed characters from previous KOF's and will also feature new fighting modes such as Guard Break mode, Max X 2 mode and Super Cancel mode. This version has returned to the original one-on-one fighting system with no tagging or striking.

KOF has had many features in the past but not like the ones NEOWAVE have all put together. The characters have all been given completely new colors. Also there is a whole new 5th Button, never before experienced in any KOF. For the first time in a while, SNK is actually mixing things up a bit on their treasured franchise.

While the graphics aren't quite as beautful as The Rumble Fish or the Guilty Gear X series, its is a good improvement over SNK's fighters from their aging platform.

Guilty Gear Isuka
The brilliant 2D wonder is back in all its glory! Guilty Gear has rocked the 2D world ever since its very first release. It has captured the attention of 2D lovers worldwide. The original, vast and complex system of this classic sets it apart from other one on one beat 'em ups, also along with it's great and definitive character design. Guilty Gear has many great features to its system.

In Isuka you can now play up to 4 players simultaneously. You can either go against 3 other opponents alone to test your individual skills, or pair up with a partner and go head to head against an opposing team. The choice is yours. Now the level of excitement can be taken up yet again with Isuka.

I've mentioned this game before a few times -- including in my editorial, 2D Fighters Going Downhill . It didn't quite live up to their hype, but it may possibly see some improvements in the future.

Demolish Fist
Demolish Fist is a side scrolling beat 'em up where the player controls one of four characters, Enzo, Leoneer, Vanessa or Undead as you battle your way through various stages. There are many items, which are available to use as a weapons against your enemies. Each player has their own assortment of moves and specials that they can unleash at will. Also all four of these characters have the ability to use the 'Vertigo' technique. Demolish Fist is a polished fighting game that offers some interesting features to the almost extinct beatemup genre.

Demolish Fist is looking to carry on the tradition of Final Fight and others while taking the measures necessary to keep the game modern -- definately the type of thing I approve of.

I could only find one solid review and then one good discussion of the game. It sounds like its an acceptable game, but didn't quite seem to have the lasting impression that games of the past did.


Dolphin Blue
Nobody really looks at the video game market and says, "Hey, you know what we need? Another Metal Slug...only with more dolphins." Well, apparently the folks at Sammy did. They were also apparently right. This game came out in late 2003, but I must have totally missed it. Dolphin Blue is an action side-scrolling shoot-em up with great graphics ( see screens ), impressive sound and gripping gameplay . This platform shooter came out in 2003 with gameplay similar to Metal Slug, but it also features great high resolution 2D and 3D graphics.

While Metal Slug hasn't innovated much lately, but it instead taking a stab at the 3D world, Dolphin Blue looks to take over its place in the 2D world. Unfortunately, I'm not thinking many people know much about the game. There have been some people that have shared their actual gameplay impressions and reviews online-- it seems to be a solid game with some addictablilty, but still has some room for improvement.

Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star)
If you're looking for the freshest project from the makers of the Guilty Gear series, look no further than Sega's Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star). Gamespot's hands-on preview of the game gives games a hint of what to expect. Much like Guilty Gear XX, the game will feature high-res sprites, but the battleling will not have quite as much airborne action.

This Fist of the North Star title features ten playable characters including Kenshiro, Shin, Raoh, Toki, and Yuda. The fighting system utilizes five buttons-- weak and strong punch and kick bottons, along with a "special" move. In addition to a life gauge, your character has a North Star Seven Star Gauge. By striking your opponent with special moves, you'll be able to bring instant death to your opponent, regardless of how much energy he has left. You also have a Boost gauge and an Aura gauge, both of which build up when you do damage or are dealt damage.

1UP.com states,
"The view of the action zooms in and out, just like in Street Fighter III or old school SNK games like Samurai Shodown. To complete this graphically intensive package, colorful and detailed manga portraits of the fighters flash on-screen when specials are executed. The big burly fighter Mr. Heart is particularly impressive, with the ground crumbling under his very step.

Mostly ruinous scenes make up the backgrounds with plenty of on-lookers cheering the fight on. While the one-on-one action looks great in motion, we did count only a repeating four-frame animation for people and objects in the background. Typical of most 2D fighters, a special attack meter lies on the bottom of the screen, this time known as a "God Fist Blow" that can unleash nasty multi-hit combos."

For more of a feel for the game, check out these links:
IGN's Video Clips
Screenshots at The Magic Box
Official Japanese site

Much like other 2D fighter fans, I'm anticipating this title quite a bit. I'm hoping this will see a good US console release sometime in 2006.

Metal Slug 6
While I am a big fighter fan, Metal Slug might just be my favorite SNK series. And now that SNK has branched out from their legacy system and using the new Atomiswave platform, while they game won't look a great deal different than previous incarnations, we can expect the series to get a boost graphically in order to fulfill the creators' imaginations. In game previews, the current graphic upgrades are mostly in the backgrounds.

Those who've stuck with the series for its five previous installments (and there were are some bad ones in there) have some gameplay changes to look forward to. The game now features six selectable characters, including Ralph and Clark from the Ikari Warriors series. Ralph and Clark have a couple of moves all their own, adding some variety to the game. Part six also adds the ability to stock weapons and switch between them freely.

Videos at IGN
Screenshots at The Magic Box


Samurai Spirits: Tenka Ichi Kenkakuden
This month, we will finally have a Samurai Spirits (Samurai Shodown in the US) game for the Atomiswave platform. Tenkaichi Kenkyakuden is bascially a "dream match", which means it doesn't follow any specific storyline, therefore allowing a mix of characters that wouldn't normally meet (As in KOF '98). However, in order to fit the setting of the Samurai Spirits series, "Tenkaichi" is set during a matsuri festival , which leads the game into colorful backgrounds, no blood spilled and a couple of matsuri-spirited original characters.

The cast is huge: 36 characters as of now, and there is room for 4 more. They all come from the main series and only Earthquake (from SS), Chamcham, Kuroko, Sieger (from Shin SS) and Poppy (from SS Zero) miss the call as of yet. This means that along with the previously announced Wan Fû, old characters Nicotine and Gen An are back. The 3 original characters are Sugoroku, Andrew and Ochamaro. Sugoroku is a matsuri organizer reminiscent of the cast in Ie, Tatemasu! and fighting with an array of original attacks. Ochamaro is a robot filled with theatrical gimmicks. Andrew is a bishônen-type american guard with a bayonet.

To make full use of this impressive roster, Tenkaichi also allows to select one amongst six different fighting "spirits" - in a fashion similar to the numerous grooves in CvS2. Those fighting modes are based and named after each different title in the (main) series plus an original mode, and offer quite different styles of gameplay. Tenkaichi also uses the AtomisWave trademark fifth button of course.

MMC thread
Preview from 1Up.com
Screenshots from The Magic Box