But you have to admit. KOFXII did put a little more oomph.

The arcade features definitely met my expectations :)

I'll say it again. I must have Street Fighter IV

"Yeah, wow. Street Fighter IV. Very nice. It's totally like that thing we did like 2 years ago. *snicker*"

Mutual respect and admiration is for pussies.

KOF 97-2000 are pretty good...........

Heh, this is the year the fighters come back. There's also that game from the makers of Guilty Gear coming out, don't know much about it though.

Every corner is covered anyway. Street Fighter, KOF, Soul Calibur, Tekken...you can't ask for anything more.

He should've made a comment about how they stole Crimson Viper's design from KoF. :P

Sweet this could mean a new SNK vs Capcom!
Well i can dream cant I!

@Saint Anima: I could, for instance a new DoA with even more enormous breasts! See, I could ask for more!

But I won't.

New Tekken? Nice!!! Hopefully this street fighter delivers some great gameplay!! Its crazy how Street fighter is in number 4, Street fighter seems like one of those rappers that puts out 10 remix's between hits.

@Sinnbox: lawl.

But "We are totally!"? Whats the meaning behind that?

Maybe this new Street Fighter will compel some company to make a new Street Fighter anime series thats half decent.

Can't say I'm much of a fan of King of Fighters, but I am very psyched for Soul Calibur 4!

@The_Inquisitor: Thanks for your restraint; at least now the world won't implode due to an overdose of jubblies.

Tickled pink is more than an understatement for me lol. I'm not a huge fan of Arcana Hart, or so much Guilty Gear, but I'm even happy to see new releases for those fans as well. This is like... the fighter's renaissance. It's almost ridiculous how many BIG fighting titles are coming out this year. Not just a barrage of doujin fighters.

I hope with the up-to-date facelifts, and even *gyuh, not a fan* the addition of online play, will encourage new players to try these out and see how fun/rewarding fighters can actually be.

Fighting games fo this year... Street Figther IV, King Of Fighters XII, Soul Calibur 4, Tekken 6, Blaz Blue. Hoping to get them in my console, because arcades are dead out of Japan.

3d fighters are really dropping the ball this year, what with Tekken 6 being face palm worthy insane and soul calibur Iv being all multi SKU Star wars, but the 2d fighters are simply amazing this year. KOFXII> SFIV

"It's very similar to King of Fighters in that we're trying to do something new with the franchise."

It's amazing that you can be called very similar for doing something different.

I wonder though, if SVC was to return, then would the characters in SF IV be in 2d to match the SNK characters? or would the SNK go 3D? or would they stay in their original form?

@Insomnia Bob: Well they do make fighting games. Maybe that attitude is infectious.

...Didn't King of Fighters XI just come out?

I'm still pissed that Chun-Li looks like a guy with abnormally large man hands and huge pecs. So yeah, not tickled pick. :(

KoF XII is looking pretty sweet though. :)

New? There's not anything new in KOF XII. Heck, I've perfectly summarized this game before: Sprites that Kurt Cobain didn't get to see.

@slacker164:

Don't worry my friend, those aren't large pectoral muscles under her blouse.

@Pherias:
KoF games usually come out in Japanese arcades first, then console in Japan, then eventually consoles in the US/Europe. So while it's a recent release in the west, it first came out in 2005 in Japan.

Tekken is my fighter of the year cause I'm a huge Tekken fan, but these other titles r nothing to sneeze at

@Ruglia: I uh... don't get it?

I am more excited for the HD remake of SF2 than SF4. Some of the KoF games were really good though but I can never remember which year it was that I really enjoyed.

For a real fighting game perfect storm though they would need to be making a new Killers Instinct as well.

@SolidOni_ds: I remember playing Street Fighter 2 on my SNES as a kid, smirking whenever I kicked ass as Chun Li, getting electrified by Blanka every time I jumped at him. Those were great memories.

So with me, SF IV wins my buy by default.

King of Fighters series always has a place in my heart as having the slickest character design and fighting style and makes it a cut above the Street Fighter franchise though the gameplay seems less forgiving than SF.

Arcana Heart 2 will be out in Arcades in Japan later this year, and Arcana Heart will be coming stateside on April 8th.

Also, I'm digging the new layout for comments.

@Ruglia: So what do you expect? It's a fighting game with fighting gameplay mechanics. I could just as easily say that SFIV is the same old game with a new paint job.

There's really not much room to expand in this genre short of going 3D.

Capcom vs SNK 3 in 2009? 2010?

I'm still waiting for the real KOF comeback...
I hope KOF XII will meet my expectations :)

this year looks fucking awesome for fighter fans
i could say i'm tickled mauve i'm so excited

Still hoping for another MvC installment. :(

2008 is shaping up to be pretty damn pimp for fighting fans. Street Fighter 4, new KoF, Soul Calibur 4, Samurai Showdown Compilation, SF2 HD, and Blue Blaze...

It makes me very very happy.

@onidavin: Sprites that aren't dated back to 1994.

@Lancehead: I just hope people realize quickly enough that this isn't some new KOF as a lot of persons are saying.
Street Fighter at least has introduced the new Save system, the revenge meter, AND has been absolutely revamped as far as looks go. That's a little bit more of a change than just adding new sprites.

with the remake of KOF 98, the new KOF, SF4, and SC4 im gonna be very busy this next year memorizing move lists.

Hell I don't care if it's recycled. I just love me some KoF.

Man I can't wait! I'm in heaven. Just gimme Rez 2 and Gradius VI and I can die happy. Oh yeah and maybe that Fez game. And maybe a new Guilty Gear also. I'm just as excited about SF4 as I am about KOFXII, but I kinda wish Street Fighter had gone in the KOF/GG direction. High res 2-D sprite heaven.

@Ruglia: You seem to know what you're talking about so I'll take your word for it :P.

I've never been much of a fighting fan. The only fighting game I own is SC2 for the Cube. I'll probably pick one of these new titles up though (cause I wanna try something different, I guess). Currently, I'm leaning towards KoF just for its character designs.

@The_Inquisitor: I'd rather have a DOA that was at least playable for me. It was a bloody pain in the butt to try to get the hang of the counter system in DOA4, and quite honestly, it pissed me off. I'm terrible with counters/parries, etc, etc...especially since my eyes don't register each individual incoming attack as keenly as a hardcore gamer does. Maybe I'm just getting old too soon. (I'm 23, and I suck balls at most games.)

Change is a very risky road to take in any franchise, but for KOF, it was an overhaul that was long past due. I wouldn't make an opinion on whether or not SNK has truly brought the series into the next generation of 2D fighting until I saw a better video or screen, but I am glade they are starting to make changes of their own while still being optimistic about the changes of their long time competition. Very classy SNK. Can't wait for both.

I actually wonder what Capcom thinks of XII.

Capcom is "trying to do something new with the franchise", THEREFORE they are "very similiar to King of Fighters"...

I like SNK, but if there's anyone being innovative out there, it's CAPCOM, and not them.

I'll say it before and I'll say it again 2007 was the year of the shooter, 2008 is the year of the fighter!

But seriously... Can we please get another CvS? 2001 was soooooo long ago.

"I was impressed."

Translation:

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (sigh)"

I want so many games (particularly fighters) this year, it's not even funny. I guess college can wait though. Seriously, Tekken 6, SC 4, SF IV, KoF XII, Brawl, BlazBlue, SF II HD, Arcana Heart, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core + (now with story mode) etc. And that's just the fighters!
I can't wait!

@KeroseneClimax: Here's an HD video then, [www.gametrailers.com]
I like it so far!
@liberty0x: A remake of KoF 98? When did this happen? Link! Now!

Who isn't waiting for Street Fighter IV?
Gamers who don't even play fighters regularly are salivating just anticipating this release.

@Scott: xDD
This year I am a very happy gamer. So many good fighters at once, it's just so awesome. I'll have to buckle down and memorize some move lists.

@Siye: I play almost nothing but the Street Fighter and KOF franchises, and I think it looks like an ass-load of shit.

Fighting games for the Fucking win! haven;t been this hyped for fighting games since ps2.

@muppetsausages: Ah, you never know.. you might like the game after you get a chance to play it. So be easy on the "ass-load of shit" for now...

I admit, the character renders aren't exactly to my liking but well I'll see how it plays first before passing judgment.

@TheCleaningGuy: Thanks. From the large, high-resolution sprites to the detailed movement in the background, The animation looks stunning. I particularly like the detail of Kyo's taunt after doing his 100 Shiki: Oniyaki to Ash. An excellent addition to quality 2D animation in fighters. Like many of the games you mentioned, I can't wait to get this.

Yes I have to say I am excited to see some new fighters coming out. It's been too long. And even though I enjoy a good Multiplayer FPS, my roots are forever tied to Fighting Games. Like the first time I inserted a quarter into Street Fighter II with my uncle. I still remember it like it was yesterday :)

My money is on KoFXII