Capcom vs. SNK: Millenium Fight 2000
System:
Dreamcast
Publisher & Developer: Capcom
Released: 2000
Genre: 2-D Fighting
Capabilities: VMU, VGA, & Jump Pack Compatible, also
Compatible with Neo-Geo Pocket Color Transfer Cable to transfer
data between this game and SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millenium
for NGPC
Review Date: March 21, 2001
The Game
OK, now hopefully you guys remember the little crossover events of 1999 and 2000 where SNK and Capcom made signed a deal to make a crossover game, Capcom vs. SNK, on a couple of there own systems. The agreement was, that SNK promised to release a few Capcom vs. SNK games on there own systems, Neo-Geo, and Neo-Geo Pocket Color. I’m not sure, but I believe they never got around to releasing the Neo-Geo version, but on the Neo-Geo Pocket Color they released 3 types of games. They did SNK vs. Capcom, the standard fighting game. And two versions(capcom and SNK) of SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighter’s Clash. Which was a trading card game that was made in the middle of the Pokemon playing card craze. Any ways, SNK went out of business in North America in June 2000, and people weren’t all that happy after finding that out, but they still had to look forward of Capcom’s version of the crossover game coming out within a few months. They did the Arcade and Dreamcast versions of Capcom vs. SNK, and millions of people couldn’t wait much longer. Well we now got the ultimate crossover on the Dreamcast, so will it live up to the standards? Let’s get onto the review and find out.
Graphics
Capcom still had the sprites here of all the characters, but they look better than ever. It looks like a good chunk of all the Capcom fighters (actually they’re all from Street Fighter, and SNK’s are all from The King of Fighters) looks like they got a complete make over, and they look way bigger, and even more detailed, than those 16-bit sprites you would see in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The backgrounds have a nice opening sequence to them before you start off each battle. The backgrounds themselves look great, although they aren’t in real 3-D like the ones in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. You got traditional backgrounds from the old Street Fighter and King of Fighters games, plus a couple of new ones like a car wreck, and a construction site. The animation over all the moves is just beautiful and better than ever. When Ryu does his hadoken, you can really see all the force he puts into it. And yes, the slow motion finishes look the best of all the Capcom fighters ever! With all that action going on screen, you would think there would be some slowdown? Well, there is virtually no slowdown whatsoever in the game. So the graphics are nearly perfect, with the only downside being that you would wish Capcom would finally go to some 3-D animated fighters.
Sound
All the classic Street Fighter and King of Fighters voices and music are here. From the classic chants of Ryu throwing his dragon punch to Kyo’s fireball, they are all here. And they all sound identical to their previous games, so don’t feel left out. The game’s background music is a mix of old tunes from previous SF and KoF games, with a few new ones for added flavor. They fit the tone of the game right, and will add to the excitement. Sound effects are the same as previous games, traditional basic stomp sounds for punches and kicks, and the classic “ugh” when the player is knocked out.
Game play
Controls are pretty easy to learn, with or without an arcade stick if you have one. You got the same basic controls as the other games, with low and high punches and kicks. You also got some special charge move by pressing two buttons simultaneously. As always, controls are customizable to your liking. I was so use to pressing the L & R triggers at once to do the Hyper Combos in Marvel vs. Capcom 2, that I was completely mixed up that wasn’t the same way here. Instead, to do your Hyper/Super Combo, you do a button combination that requires a few more button sequences than usual, but the damage it pulls off, is worth it. Now there are two special added controls: Capcom and SNK groove. All it does is just a special way to control your combo meter. The Capcom groove is just like it is in previous SF games where you combo meter raises as you deal and take more damage, and it raises from level 1, to 2, 3, and then max, where you can do various hyper combos and different levels. The SNK groove is just the same way, but you can raise your combo meters by simply holding High Punch & High Kick at the same time, which is much like “rasing Kai” in the Tekken games.
For modes of play, we got the main arcade mode, where you can choose pairs of 1-4 fighters on a team to fight in a team battle type of playing style. You beat a few teams, and go against the various bosses from the SNK and Capcom worlds. As you win more, you gain more vs. points which are used in the secret shop to buy secret costumes, stages, and characters. You also got training mode where you can practice against a dummy to perfect your moves. There’s also a vs. mode where you and a friend can go at it for fun as long as you want. Then there’s a new Game Replay mode where you can save the middle of a fight and continue it later, and view battle data. Then you got the secret shop mode where you buy hidden costumes, characters, and stages earned in the game’s other modes. And finally, there’s a really neat color edit mode where you can change the colors and patterns of the fighters in the game to your choosing, but you need an extra VMU file to save Color Edit and Game Replay data.
Replay Value
This is where the game really shines. Since the game is two player, you can always be battling a friend once you are all done with the main arcade. And you can keep playing the main arcade mode to beat your own high scores. Still getting tired of the game? Then mess around in the Color Edit for a while and see what wacky designs you can come up with the guys in the game. This game is also the second only game to make use of the Neo Geo Pocket Color/Dreamcast Cable Link, where you can transfer Vs. points acquired in SNK’s Neo Geo Pocket Color Game, SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium. The other game, for you people wondering, to make use of this feature was SNK’s only North American Dreamcast published title, King of Fighters Dream Match ‘99 (Really KoF ‘98 with some enhancements), which transferred data between Dream Match ‘99, and King of Fighter R-2 for NGPC.
In Brief
+: Great, traditional, 2-D fighting action, superb animation and sound, New Color Edit & Game Replay Modes!
-: Really would’ve hoped for some 3-D computer animated fighters, those hyper combos can be really hard to pull off than they seem
The Final Ratings Rundown
Graphics: 9.0
Sound: 9.9
Game Play: 9.2
Replay Value: 9.1
Overall: 9.3
Rounded to fit GameFAQs score: 9
Comments
This game lived up to the hype that surrounded it, but came in a little too late in my opinion, over a year after SNK’s NGPC version of the game. But the game is a blast to play, and the extra modes will keep you occupied for hours on end. If you’re looking for a realistic 2-D fighter on the Dreamcast, pick up this, or you’ll regret it.