SNK introduce King of Fighters Maximum Impact 2 to the Playstation 2 this month, produced by artist and designer Falcoon, the game promised to build upon and enhance the frantic gameplay of the original, as well as adding a number of new and exciting features, so how does it does it live up to it’s promises?

First of all the game now includes 24 characters which are selectable from the start, with other characters hidden and waiting for you to find them. The main difference between this series and others of the same name is that we now move from a 2D to 3D world, this obviously has some benefits that otherwise would not be discovered.

This time around there is a strong emphasis on defence with two new moves, super cancel and counterstrike added and overall the gameplay feels much more balanced because of it. As with other games in the series the opponents (especially in the later stages) are very difficult to be and therefore to win a match players will have to use every ounce of technique and timing that they can muster, yes there is certainly more to this game than closing your eyes and bashing the buttons in the hope that you will send your opponent to the floor.

Graphically, the switch to 3D has improved the feel of the game, increasing both the detail and animation it helps the gameplay to run along nicely, making for a more enjoyable and realistic experience . The sound too is pretty impressive as the background music and sound effects all add an increase of realism to the experience.

Overall this a very good reworking of a game which has had quite a few versions, it seems that the designer has put a lot of thought into what would work and this has paid off. This game should appeal to newcomers and veteran fans of the series, so if you are considering buying one of the many fighting games gracing the PS2 at the moment make sure you look this one up.