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When a fighting game makes remarkable improvement over time, you notice it - quickly. More characters.
Crisper graphics that make the game feel alive. More fluid controls that allow for well-timed
special moves and counters. There are plenty of examples, but one that fits the Art of
Fighting theme I've aimed for this week is the third installation in the series. It's
Art of Fighting 3: Path of the Warrior, a game that makes for a better fit into the
SNK fighting game culture established during the mid 90s that can put itself in a class
with KOF 94, Fatal Fury 3, and the Samurai Shodown series. For the first time in the
Art of Fighting storyline, the focus shifts from the Sakazakis to Robert, who is having
some girl problems. His search for an old childhood friend leads him to Mejico, fortunately
just in time for Cinco de Mayo, and the festivities can even be seen in the stage with the same
name. The new boss character, Wyler, is threatening to develop a Jekyll and Hyde like potion which
turns him into a rather large human being whose fighting style can be shortened to one
word: SMASH. It's hard to choose between the gameplay and just how the game looks when
trying to decide which aspect has received the most improvement. If you put this game
in front of me before I knew the name, I might have thought it to be a King of Fighters title
with its smooth animations, gorgeous color scheme, markedly improved fighting controls,
and Kasumi Todoh, introduced first into AoF3 and later finding her way onto the King of
Fighters roster. My favorite part about the gameplay is that you can finally rush at an
opponent and not worry about having to set your feet before attacking. Setting the game
on Easy mode now makes a difference, which is a great thing for beginners. Well, up until
you run into Sinclair. She's still gonna take some time. But Art of Fighting 3 is a lot
of fun to play. At a time where Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat undoubtedly had a firm grip
on the reins of American arcade gaming, there are those that still look fondly at the Neo
Geo, SNK, and the game that saved the Art of Fighting series from fading away into obscurity.
You can find it on the Art of Fighting Anthology title for Playstation 2, but if you want the
full Neo Geo experience complete with opening intro dialogue for each fight, consider the
Neo Geo CD version for the full arcade experience right at home.