Well, I got 2K2UM, and it's awesome. Thus far, I've unlocked Krizalid, Original Zero, Igniz, and my man, Omega Rugal.
Great game thus far. It's pretty much been what I expected; one huge last hurrah for the old, traditional KoF graphics. The music is sick, as expected (and almost as if SNK knew it would be a highlight, the music is notably louder in this game than it usually is). I'm really shocked at how great the 3-D backgrounds look, too! Igniz's stage is fucking beautiful, now! And whoever it is doing the art for this game needs to do art for KoF forever. The KoF cast has never been more well drawn…
I also feel it's worth noting that this game does the lamest thing ever; normally, the bosses are strengthened in Team Arcade, to compensate for the fact that it's 3-on-1. But they have their normal stats in 1-v-1 Arcade. Not here. They're STILL strengthened in that mode, making it RIDICULOUSLY hard to beat them! They've even got the hightened stats in SURVIVAL MODE and AS TRAINING DUMMIES IN TRAINING MODE!
Character-based notes below:
! Gotta say this game may have the sickest Rugal I've ever played with (aside from the broken-ass 2K2 original). First of all, the hard kick version of his HCB-K (I forget the name of the move. It's the one where he kicks the shit put of you with slicing kicks) knocks you toward the "wall," and bounces you back toward him, letting him then combo you into a Genocide Cutter or God Press for Massive Damage
. I'm still trying to see if you can connect with his Genocide Haven DM. Speaking of which, that move is now WAY more balanced, and is no loner the rediculously strong attack it was in the original 2K2. Plus, no more one-combo-KOs for Rugal...
! Still, his ability to combo both into his specials, and from special to special is insane. I've already been quick and handy with the R-Man before (I've gotten to the point where I can seamlessly spam Kaiser Waves, after all), but UM's Rugal has turned me into a whirling dervish of pain. I love it! I can literally blitz the enemy without stopping, if I want to!
! Also, I'm not seeing what the supposedly big deal with Krizalid and Zero are. Supposedly they're broken, but the only thing seemingly broken about Krizalid is how fast he gets meter from a blocked LP Typhoon Rage. His damage output is scaled WAY down from what it was (his dashing grab does NO damage on the initial grab, making the supposed brokenness of comboing into his DMs from that a moot point; it adds nothing except slight mindgames). As for Zero, he has very little in the way of what he can do. yes, his strikers are fast, but two of them can only attack right in front of him, and the one that can strike far opponents (Ron) can easily be avoided via jump, or just walking forward. After that, ALL he has are his cape attacks (which leave him wide open if he misses. If Zero tries to intercept with the wrong cape attack, he's fucked). Also, his vortex DM is weak as HELL, and his cape DM has to hit with all the hits to get maximum damage output.
! Still trying to get Geese and pals. Stay tuned; I'll give an update with how they play.
! UPDATE: GEESE. CAN CANCEL. HIS JAEI KEN. INTO HIS RAGING STORM.
! GEESE. CAN CANCEL HIS JAEI KEN. INTO HIS RAGING STORM!
! Holy SHIT! How long has this been going on?! Could he always do this?! Good GOD!
! Also, I have found what may be the sickest combo in KoF history with Rugal that isn't a broken one-combo-KO; HCB-LK. After the last kick, wait right before the opponent hits the ground, then LK Genocide Cutter. After their tossed in the air, you can hit them with his GIGANTIC PRESSURE (S)DM! You need to space it perfectly, or the Genocide Cutter won't hit, but if you do, HOLY FUCKS!
! You can combo into that DM normally from a LK Genocide Cutter, but combined with the other attack just makes it gross.
! Also, this now makes 2 games where I can successfully pull off Geese's Deadly Rave 90% of the time.