Dream Match 99 is basically a straight port of King of Fighters '98 title, featuring a larger roster of characters and an expanded library of options. Although the screenshots would suggest differently, be assured that the backgrounds are in fact a blend of 2D and 3D composition. Up until now, integrating sprites in tangent with polygons have never been an easy task, nor has it ever been engaged successfully. However, SNK, the pioneers which they are seemingly without minimal difficulty, accomplished this feat.

Powering up KOF 99, prepare for an awesome, two minute high-quality anime introduction which sets the stage very nicely; certainly a real treat. The characters animate very smoothly, although they pale in comparison to that shown in Zero 3. Sadly, SNK didn't added any new animation, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I didn't want to enjoy a solid arcade conversion without any new perks added. The special effects are the same, no change; so fans of the series will feel right at home. I personally would have enjoyed seeing a psuedo-Street Fighter style for defeating characters with "super combos" as opposed to the generic flickering.

The gameplay is where the game truly shines. At first, I was led to believe that it was basically the same formula as depicted in previous KOF titles. Though, after close observation of seeing a few experts players in action and a sample of FAQ guides (thank goodness for GameFAQs.com, I found a series of features that were included which in my opinion does not warrant this as a true sequel. The game contains new counters, evasive maneuvers, and two additional play modes: "Extra" and "Advanced". Plus, new teams have been added giving the total roster a count of 38 characters in all (including hidden ones). Dream Match 99 is faster, but you'll find that the gameplay basically is the same as it's been in the past. I suppose SNK went by the old saying : "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". ^_^

Sound is an important quality which fighting games truly need to enhance the mood and Dream Match handles this very nicely. All the hits and grunts are sharp and surreal, though it's not significantly improved compared to the previous titles. The music is exceptionally impressive; though I am not sure, but I believe that all thirty-eight characters each have distinctive themes. Each are unique and harmonize with the character accurately, certainly a trait which is very important in fighting games.

Overall, I feel that this game is for hardcore fans of the series, and for people who want to try something new other than Street Fighter. Although it's not a game which revolutionizes the 2D fighting game genre, it's simply a lot of fun to play. With a plethora of extras such as Neo Geo Pocket support allowing you to upload/download edited characters, SNK certainly did their best to provide a variety of gaming options. However, I can't extensively comment on this due to the fact that I don't own the handheld. In short, my only gripe is that the game resembles 98's modifications - abadoning the storylines and endings; it's just a pure fighting game.

· · · Nercm