To start things off, let's be honest... SVC Chaos's graphics look pretty ancient from the start. Many of SNK's characters are just old rehashed sprites... and when I say old, I mean OLD, like King of Fighters '95 old... *cough* Lookin' at you Kasumi *cough*. Considering many other fighting game titles of 2003 (and earlier), SVC Chaos is definitely lacking in the visuals department. Players who thrive on "flash" in their 2D fighting games will probably be disappointed, as Super Moves many of the particle effects just don't "pop" like in other 2D fighters.


Most of the backgrounds in SVC Chaos lack color, detail, and excitement... to say the very least. Surprisingly, no "classic" Capcom or SNK battlegrounds (or even BGMs) make the cut, which is pretty disappointing in a title like this. As far as character sprites go, SNK paid homage to Capcom's characters pretty well. The Capcom favorites look pretty spiffy in SNK's style and are well-animated for the most part. The awesome in-game artwork also does them a lot of justice!

 

 

Players familiar with classic King of Fighters gameplay will feel right at home, because SVC Chaos feels very similar to the most recent KOF title, King of Fighters 2002. The staple 4-button layout remains the same, but the team system has been replaced with a classic 1-on-1 format. Pulling off a Shoryuken or a Yoga Flame will be easy for Capcom veterans, but the gameplay mechanics may take some getting used to, as they are slightly more "stiff" and arguably a bit faster than most Street Fighter games. Aside from that, most of the typical KOF gameplay elements and fighting game fundamentals are in place.


Chaos uses a "Capcom style" 3 tier Super Gauge called the Groove Power Gauge, which fills as the player attacks or guards. When the gauge reaches level 1 or 2, players can perform Super Moves, and use Guard Cancel Attacks or a Guard Cancel Front Step maneuvers. When the gauge is full, a MAX Activation occurs, turning the gauge into a timer. The player can then freely cancel any of their attacks, special moves, or super moves at will. Each fighter also has an "Exceed" technique which can only be performed a single time when the player has half life. A new technique called the Front Grand Step is also in place, allowing the players to leap towards the opponent and cancel into a basic attack. The player can perform this technique while guarding from an opponent's attack, which will consume one Power Gauge level. 

 

 

Die-hard 2D fighting gamers can definitely have some fun with Chaos, and I suppose that's whom the game is intended for. One of SVC's unique attributes is the personalized dialogue between all characters, which is something long time Capcom and SNK fans will appreciate greatly! Before each battle, every character has something to say to their opponent (all of which is character-exclusive), and there are definitely some cool and funny ones to see (in addition to some other ones that make absolutely no sense due to another SNK trademark - Bad translation).

 

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Page Updated: July 20th, 2024 Developer(s): SNK Neo Geo Publisher(s): Playmore Artwork by: Nona    Character Illustrations Hiroaki     Poster Art Falcoon    Poster Art Platform(s): Neo Geo, PS2, PS4, Xbox, Steam, Nintendo Switch Release Date(s): July 24th, 2003         Arcade Nov. 13th, 2003        Neo Geo Dec. 25th, 2003        PS2 Oct. 7th, 2004           Xbox July 20th, 2024         Steam, PS4, Switch Characters:  Kyo Kusanagi, Ryu, Ryo Sakazaki, Ken, Terry Bogard, Iori Yagami, Chun-Li, Mai Shiranui, Dhalsim, Choi Bounge, Hugo, Earthquake, Akuma, Guile, Shiki, Tabasa, Vega, Kasumi Todoh, Kim Kaphwan, Balrog, Sagat, Genjuro Kibagami, Demitri Maximov, Dan Hibiki, M. Bison, Goenitz, Geese Howard, Mr. Karate, Athena, Red Arremer, Zero, Violent Ken, Mars People, Shin Akuma News Links:  July 2024: SVC Chaos now available on Steam, PS4 & Switch with Rollback Featured Video: Related Games: SNK Vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium, Capcom Vs. SNK, Capcom Vs. SNK: Pro, Capcom Vs. SNK 2, SNK Vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash, Card Fighters Clash 2, Card Fighters Clash DS, Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior, The King of Fighters '95, The King of Fighters 2002, The King of Fighters 2003, Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown 5, Warzard, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Capcom Fighting Evolution, SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy    Gameplay Engine  7.0 / 10 Story / Theme  8.0 / 10 Overall Graphics  6.0 / 10 Animation  7.5 / 10 Music / Sound Effects  5.5 / 10 Innovation  7.0 / 10 Art Direction  9.5 / 10 Customization  4.0 / 10 Options / Extras  6.5 / 10 Intro / Presentation  7.0 / 10 Replayability / Fun  6.5 / 10 "Ouch" Factor  7.0 / 10 Characters  8.0 / 10 BOTTOM LINE  7.1 / 10  Review based on Arcade version       Final Words: SNK Vs. Capcom Chaos packs a solid character roster, a badass intro, and some brilliant fan-service... but the overall package definitely seems a bit rushed. The character dialogue intermissions and endings offer some incredible fan-service for old school fans who appreciate "small details"... but the standard 2D gameplay and aged visuals may fail to impress some players who might be expecting more out of a 2003 fighting game. SNK should have taken more time with the backgrounds and overall visuals. For such an epic crossover, I think using the graphics & gameplay engine from Garou: Mark of the Wolves would've been SNK's best foot forward. (Yes, that project probably would've taken a lot more time to complete, but I think it would've been worth the wait.) A larger character roster (or sequel) also would've helped the game stand out, but I think most Capcom and SNK fans still appreciate what we got from SVC Chaos. At its core, SNK VS Capcom Chaos is an "average" 2D fighting game... but the extra fan service and Art Direction bumps it up a few notches and makes it worth playing. I did enjoy playing SVC Chaos competitively at arcades using badass characters like Genjuro, Earthquake, and the awesomely redrawn Capcom crew in the ol' KOF engine. The official artwork by Nona is top notch and incredibly unique, as well. SNK really went all out with the character dialogue interactions and fan service. Check out some of the game's badass artwork below! ~TFG Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen                                                    Click Here for all Character Bust Artwork!   Click Here for all Posters / Box Artwork!                                                 Click Here for all Character Artwork! Click Here for all Screenshots! FOLLOW    ON:                             TFG NEWS CHARACTERS GAMES