Fatal Fury
In 1991, SNK released Fatal Fury: King of Fighters on its Neo Geo arcade system. Takashi Nishiyama designed the game after leaving Capcom to work for SNK. He wanted to create a fighting game with characters that were easier to empathize with than those in Street Fighter. The original Street Fighter featured Ryu as a martial artist in a white gi. Nishiyama had originally created Terry Bogard as a Caucasian man wearing a leather jacket for Street Fighter before changing his mind. When he moved to SNK, he implemented this concept as Terry Bogard instead. Terry and his brother Andy became heroic leads contrasting with the comical Joe Higashi. Geese Howard was modeled after Italian mafia figures rather than any specific famous person or fictional character. Billy Kane served as Geese's right-hand man with Godfather-like influences. SNK was surprised by Geese's popularity which topped Terry Bogard in fan response regarding playable character requests.
The story begins in South Town during the early 1990s where crime lord Geese Howard killed Jeff Bogard in front of young Terry and Andy. Ten years later the brothers returned to participate in the King of Fighters tournament held by Geese. After winning the tournament Terry faced Geese at the top of Geese Tower sending him falling from the building. One year later Wolfgang Krauser hosted a new global tournament to draw out Geese's killers. Terry defeated Krauser who took his own life in shame. Three years later Geese survived using a magic scroll seeking three legendary Sacred Scrolls of Jin. Terry raced to recover them while contending with Jin Chonshu and Jin Chonrei. Geese recovered the scrolls but chose to destroy them so they could not be used against him. In Real Bout Fatal Fury Geese held another tournament culminating in a final battle between him and Terry. Geese refused Terry's attempt to save him and willingly fell to his death. Terry decided to raise Geese's orphaned son Rock Howard ending the cycle of violence. Garou: Mark of the Wolves takes place ten years later featuring Rock as protagonist. Kain R. Heinlein organized the Maximum Mayhem tournament to make Second Southtown an independent city-state. Rock left Terry to learn the truth about his mother Marie still being alive. Days later Billy Kane revealed Geese's legacy included the Sacred Scrolls which he had preserved. An unknown figure stole all of it before Billy could give Rock the legacy. A new tournament announced by Franz Stroheim offered the stolen legacy as prize. Rock became possessed by the Sacred Scrolls' curse due to being a distant descendant of the Jin family. Terry freed Rock from possession and destroyed the scrolls allowing Rock to move on with his life.
The original Fatal Fury featured a two-plane system where characters fought from different planes. By stepping between planes attacks could be dodged with ease. Later games dropped this system replacing it with complex dodging including half-second dodges into background and three-plane systems. Characters had moves that attacked across two planes or both planes at once. The plane system was fully abandoned beginning with Garou: Mark of the Wolves. Ring-outs allowed a character to lose if thrown into edges of fighting backdrop. Single-plane backdrops eliminated dodging causing moves sending opponents to opposite plane to do collateral damage. The Deadly Rave super combo required players to press preset button series with exact timing for entire combo execution. Just Defend protected blocks in which players regained lost life without wearing down guard crush meter. This removed block stuns making combo interruptions smoother. Real Bout Fatal Fury simplified controls introducing Power Gauge allowing player to perform super-powered special moves. Fatal Fury 3 introduced Combination Arts as new type of combo techniques. Real Bout Special retained many classic characters while adding Geese Howard as secret final boss. New moves were created for Rock and B. Jenet before development was put on hold. Ideas for sequel revealed in June 2016 showing artwork and sprites of cast from cancelled Neo Geo version.
Paul Rand of Computer and Video Games called Fatal Fury one of best Neo Geo games available in 1992 comparing it favorably with Street Fighter II. It became Japan's fourth highest-grossing arcade game of 1992 below Street Fighter II two versions and Captain Commando. GamePro review of Neo Geo version praised action-packed gameplay and great character graphics concluding it awesome sequel ranking up there with Numero Uno fighting game. Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded SNES version Game of the Month in May 1994. During mid-1990s The King of Fighters became SNK's most popular IP while other works like Art of Fighting 3 and Fatal Fury 3 poorly received by gamers. Frank Provo noted Geese's introduction as biggest accomplishment continuing appearing in other games. Avi Krebs joked even though Geese fights wearing wristwatch he pulls out all tricks possible making him hardest character to defeat. IGN writer Ryan Clements agreed saying Geese almost physically impossible to beat requiring cheapest absurd tactics to win. Eric Bratcher labeled Geese big hook from series along with Terry Bogard nearly un-killable. Animation of Mai's breasts cited as earliest examples of breast physics in video games later refined steadily though Mai remained most prominent example in 2D animation. Brett Elston compared witnessing half-naked women entering workplace for first time to gaming periodicals abuzz commentary on what Mai's bobbing bosom meant for industry. Ryo Sakazaki popularity inspired concept of The King of Fighters whereas Capcom VS. SNK made Art of Fighting duo face their own parody Dan Hibiki. Den of Geek regarded his debut in Fatal Fury Special as first real fighting game crossover.
The series inspired trilogy of animated productions produced by NAS with SNK featuring character designs by Masami Obari. First television special aired in 1992 on Fuji TV titled Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf adapting plot of first game. Another television special followed in 1993 titled Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle based on second game also airing on Fuji TV. Theatrical film released in 1994 titled Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture featured original plot and new characters. VIZ Communications picked up license producing English dubbed versions releasing straight to VHS then DVD. Subbed version of Fatal Fury 2 featured scene involving rematch between Joe Higashi and Big Bear cut from dubbed version. Many soundtracks manga comics other books video tapes and drama CDs released in Japan for series as whole and individual entries. Brief OVA set after Mark of Wolves events titled Memories of Stray Wolves packaged with 15th anniversary soundtrack collection. Events of first game loosely adapted in web series The King of Fighters: Destiny. Characters made guest appearances in Dead or Alive 5 Last Round Tekken 7 Fighting EX Layer Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Street Fighter 6. Games from other genres like Fall Guys included Fatal Fury characters. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves features real-life celebrities and fighters from Capcom's Street Fighter as special guests.
Common questions
Who designed the game Fatal Fury and when was it released?
Takashi Nishiyama designed the game after leaving Capcom to work for SNK. In 1991, SNK released Fatal Fury: King of Fighters on its Neo Geo arcade system.
What is the story background of Fatal Fury involving Geese Howard and Jeff Bogard?
The story begins in South Town during the early 1990s where crime lord Geese Howard killed Jeff Bogard in front of young Terry and Andy. Ten years later the brothers returned to participate in the King of Fighters tournament held by Geese.
How did the gameplay mechanics change from the original Fatal Fury to Garou Mark of the Wolves?
The original Fatal Fury featured a two-plane system where characters fought from different planes until the plane system was fully abandoned beginning with Garou: Mark of the Wolves. Later games dropped this system replacing it with complex dodging including half-second dodges into background and three-plane systems.
When were the animated productions for Fatal Fury released and what titles did they have?
First television special aired in 1992 on Fuji TV titled Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf adapting plot of first game. Another television special followed in 1993 titled Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle based on second game also airing on Fuji TV while theatrical film released in 1994 titled Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture featured original plot and new characters.
Which year did Electronic Gaming Monthly award the SNES version of Fatal Fury Game of the Month?
Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded SNES version Game of the Month in May 1994. This recognition came after the game became Japan's fourth highest-grossing arcade game of 1992 below Street Fighter II two versions and Captain Commando.