Ever wonder what an 8-bit version of Art of Fighting would look like? Well, look no further than Ryuko no Ken for the PC Engine. Released in 1994, this late PC Engine release required NEC's expensive "Arcade Card" to run. So, to play this release, you not only need a PC Engine/PC Engine Duo with a CD-ROM attachment, you also need the Arcade Card Duo or Arcade Card Pro. These cards are not easy to come by nowadays, and can run over $70-100 depending on the model. Sounds like a hassle to play? Only for the die-hards? Exactly......
Assuming you have managed to track down the expensive Arcade Card you need, let's dive in. After a beautifully animated intro (very close to the Neo Geo original), you will encounter a screen you will become all too familiar with. A loading screen.....
The screen above will drive you nuts. Load times for each match are about 1 minute. Now, remember this is the early 90s. However, other fighters on the PC Engine usually have load times of about 20-30 seconds. I assume this is due to the large amount of memory needed for such large sprites. In any case, they are long. I don't think they ruin the game, but they are quite annoying.
Once the game gets going.....you realize the load times were worth it. Huge sprites (not as big as the Neo Geo), a great CD soundtrack, and solid play mechanics make it a great trip down memory lane. I would recommend getting a six-button controller, as the two-button PC Engine layout can certainly be frustrating. However, I made due with just the two buttons.
The game is not without some other flaws. For fans of modern fighters, this game is very dated. You are only allowed to choose two characters in the main story mode (Ryo and Robert). However, you can play as the other characters in vs. mode. Second, you have a "special move" bar that must recharge in order to unleash fireballs, etc. This is certainly annoying, but it is a quirk I have always found slightly charming in AOF. The game is also quite hard. Seriously, good luck beating Jack the first time.
A specific quirk of this version of the game is its fake "scaling" effect. Like the Neo Geo version, the game attempts to zoom in and out the closer or further you get from an opponent. Despite this attempt , the PC Engine hardware doesn't not really allow for the complex scaling of the NEO GEO. This results is a faux zoom effect. I did not find it as jarring as some have complained, but it might distract some.
In conclusion, Art of Fighting on the PC Engine is only for the hardcore. The Neo Geo version appears on countless SNK compilations, the Wii Virtual console, and in many other forms. There is a somewhat decent SNES/Super Famicom version out there as well. I would stay away from the Genesis/Megadrive version due to its horrible music and tiny sprites. Is this the best home version of AOF outside of the Neo Geo? Yes! Does it cost an arm and leg to get? Yes! You not only need an expensive PC Engine Duo or CD Rom, you need the Arcade Card. However, if you have these things, or have an emulator that can run this format, give it a shot. It is a curiosity from a long-gone era of 2D fighters, but a fairly great port for a machine that debuted in Japan in 1987.
+ Great-looking sprites.
+Fantastic CD Soundtrack
+Plays great
-Need a lot of hardware and Arcade Card to play
-Two-button layout is somewhat clumsy
-Long load times
Score: 7.8/10
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