The same as the PS1 version (NOT an emulation, don't misunderstand please) without the frustrating loading times, and to play as Chameleon you just gotta hold HP and LP instead of that six button combination that I can't remember right now... Btw, the Classic characters are unlocked with 7 on the NumPad, if you're player 1. There's DualShock 4 support too, BUT try not to lose connection when the game is loaded, otherwise after you reconnect your DS4, you have to restart the game to be recognized again. About the swapped music, it is almost fixed... almost because there are still some flaws: as an example, MK2 The Armory uses its theme! But MK2 Kombat Tomb uses The Armory song... BUT Kombat Tomb song is used in MK2 The Portal! What?? (also there are certain stages like MK1's Courtyard which use MK3 music, but I guess it's just game limitations since that MK1 song is not in the game. There's also no music at the end of the rounds, as always. Another game limitation, I guess) Intro videos can't be skipped tho', ugh... Anyway, if you're looking for the PS1 experience enhaced, then this is your version. It runs nice, and (of course) it's pretty fun.
This is the game of my childhood, my first ever original game! It was given to me as a gift by my cousin, like 18 years ago, and I still have the original CD (in fact, right now, at less of 1 meter of distance). Sadly, installing directly from the CD, the game won't work unless you apply a fix... well, that until now. After all these years, GOG brought this jewel to us, and I can't be more happy about it! Pro's: - Kind of Diablo style gameplay, with maps that can have various secrets. You have to OBSERVE very well! - At difference of other games from the same era, rushing with the team of characters is not worth. In this game, you must think before acting. - Super simple but effective gameplay... CLICK UNTIL THEY DIE! - The camera control is very good. You can rotate it, something that some games of the same time couldn't do. - Memorable soundtrack (and now as a grown-up, I can say I never noticed how AWESOME it is), there's also funny voice acting that adds to the experience. Cons: - For some reason, my game softlocks on the intro, skipping it at the first seconds would solve it. However, in the instalation from my original CD with a patch, that doesn't occur. Weird. Didn't tested it on W10, this happens to me in W7 Ultimate. - I don't know if it is just the time that passed from the last time I played it, but the cinematics felt a bit "laggy"... well, they always were laggy, but not as much as now, although I might be wrong. The gameplay, however, is flawless. Note: Someone in the forums said the Multiplayer mode works with the files from the OG game but crashes. Because I have it here, might give a try and experiment... Overall, and for the REALLY cheap price (even more on offer), I consider you must grab it. Is a very well crafted and straight-forward adventure game that will give you a very entertaining time.
The game starts and you have a very, VERY basic menu. You see a section of Options, and here starts the awful: NO KEY BINDING!! The "Game Controls" option will show you just an image of the keyboard controls and THAT'S IT. The "Game Options" are basically the "dip switches" of the rom, then you have the option to toggle the fullscreen mode on or off, the general volume, and NOTHING ELSE. Also, for some weird reason, to scroll up and down the Game Options, you must use left and right, up and down change the values of each. There's an save state feature, tagged as "Save" and "Load" options. The performance of the emulation is ok though, but it is incredible that a free emulator can offer a waaay better and intuitive experience to the player, ratter than an official package. Shame. You should grab the files in the instalation folder, they're kof2k2nd (game), kof2002 (parent file) and neogeo.zip (bios file), have them together in a folder, get your favourite free and legal emulator, launch the game, configure everything at your pleasure, and enjoy it as how it must be: as a great fighting game. Btw, here's K9999. It's something.
This is the first game I've bought on GOG, and this is my first review. I completed it and even got all the trophies after 40 hours of gameplay aprox.. As a Castlevania fan, I could say THIS fills the hole we have in our hearts, however it has its flaws. Pros: - It FEELS as a truly Metroidvania experience. Variation on stages, interesting bosses, exploring... - The soundtrack, at the hands of Michiru Yamane, is 100% amazing and it has subtle details that will remind you to old tracks of the saga. The song of the first stage feels as if its telling you "Hello, missed us?". It's superb. - The shard system, which took their roots from the Sorrow sub-saga of Castlevania, is incredible. There is a wide variation of them, different uses, you can FEEL the upgrades (not like in Dawn of Sorrow) if you apply them, it is very well done. - The crafting system is cool and engaging as well. The sidequests are engaging to do these. - Three different endings, but the hints to advance avoiding the bad endings are not so cryptic. Cons: - Having played old Castlevania's, you can start to feel at a point that it is monotonous. I understand SotN is the pinacle of the franchise and that others took elements of it... This game did, of course, but sometimes it's way too literal. - The models of the characters sometimes can feel a bit odd... A character could be crying or having an extreme emotion and the model, in the cutscene, stands still. - Not great graphics overall... not a big deal to me but you may be interested in this. Besides, there are a couple of enemy models that start to bug and distort after they die, a very VERY ugly visual detail. - Near the end of the game, you can see there is a lack of creativity with the enemies. - Let's not talk about the Kickstarter goals being cut (search "Bloodstained Roguelike mode" and you will understand)... Overall, it is an entertaining experience, but it could be better polished. Waiting for more updates! I hope they come... I hope...
