Working Title 07.27.07: X vs. Y: SNK

Posted by Jordan Williams on 07.27.2007

You can't have Capcom without SNK, so now it's time to make an SNK Dream Team. Who is going to make the cut?

Welcome to the #1 Column to Outsource, Working Title!

Last week we took a break from the surprise series X vs. Y to break down the fallout of E3. This week we are right back to business, this time I WAS going to make an SNK Dream Team.

Notice I said was?

Well, it had been a week and I had been pretty much racking my brain to think of how to narrow down a company with so many people like SNK for a 10 person Dream Team. I came to realization that I couldn't do it. Today I was going to call it off and do a Dream Team for the next in line, but then I got an email from Phil Watts, Jr.

He has been the one putting together the GREAT lists to parallel mine in the Working Feedback section, and his SNK list he sent me was WONDERFUL. So I decided I'm going to let him have the spotlight this week.

All of the picks for the SNK Dream Team are HIS. His picks, his comments. I've added in my own comments after his. Thanks Phil, you saved my ass this week.

So let's get on with the show


X vs. Y: SNK (Phil Watts, Jr. Edition)

The following are the picks Phil, not me. He uses his own special set up for his lists. He puts in characters that have NOT appeared in a VS. game before. He also reserves his #10 Spot for Final Boss characters, whereas I reserve it for Joke Characters. He also lists his carry-overs. Enjoy the read.


Anyway, SNK definitely has a treasure trove of characters. Hell, even KOF started out as an exercise of bringing characters from their different properties and bringing them together (Athena had her own game before being a regular in KOF; Ralf & Clark were in the IKARI WARRIORS series; plus you have various characters from Fatal Fury and Art Of Fighting that became regulars.)

The setup, again: 10 characters that never appeared in a VS. game, followed by carry-overs.

#1 K'
King Of Fighters 99


Phil's Comments : One of the many advantages that SNK has over Capcom is that fact that they've been able to move their story forward with each game. So it's only right to bring in one of their recent main characters that have been tacked on to the series.
My Comments: I agree with this move, where K'(said as Kay-Dash, or at least that's how I say it EDIT: Duncan Newton-Gaines sent me an email saying that it is actually pronounced Kay-Prime. Thanks for the correction) isn't one of my favorite characters, he is right up there with Kyo and Iori in the since of being a main character of the KoF series.

#2 Goro Daimon
KOF 94


Phil's Comments: Another advantage that SNK has over Capcom is their wide variety of grapplers (and the fact that you don't have to purposely miss a move in order to pull off a grapple!) Vice and Raiden are only the tip of the iceberg. It's pretty sad that Capcom only has Goro sitting in the background during Benimaru matches (see CvsS1). In my opinion, this Judo master should've been in there instead of Raiden.
My Comments: Man, a friend of mine would LOVE this pick. He is a giant mark for Goro. I personally think it's LONG overdue for him to appear in one of the VS. games. Completely agree with the Raiden comment. They should've put in Goro or Blue Mary

#3 Blue Mary
Fatal Fury 3


Phil's Comments: To keep with the subject of SNK's variety of Grapplers, I'm also bringing in Terry Bogart's on-again/off-again love interest, as she's a pretty good grappling/counter-based character. With so many characters like Ramon, Shermie, Tizoc, Maxima, Clark, and many others, it's hard to pick a favorite.
My Comments: You read my friggin' mind. Blue Mary is quite possibly one of my favorite female characters in all of SNK next to Vanessa. My favorite male character is reserved for TKD Jesus, Kim Kapwhan

#4 Ralf Jones
Ikari Warriors


Phil's Comments: As much as I would love to bring in his partner Clark instead (I might let Clark come in to do his Awesome Bomb super), Ralf is a lot more aggressive and would fit in nicely. GALACTICA (pause for one minute) PHANTOM!!!
My Comments: RALFU KICK. Not much else to say. Although I think Ralf was in CvsSNK 2. Yeah, I'm sure he was.(Edit: Damon John Zehner informs me that I was indeed wrong. I acually looked it up earlier and never got around to editing it. But he reminded me. Thanks)

#5 Vanessa
KOF 2000


Phil's Comments: One of my favorite KOF characters. Most boxing characters in fighting games are often portrayed as brainless morons. SFIII's Dudley broke that mold and Vanessa completely destroyed it. Here is a boxing character that's incredibly fast and unpredictable. (I was thinking of bring her Lucha Libre wrestler partner Ramon along, too, but the wrestler department has already been filled up).
My Comments: Again, you've read my damn mind. I love Vanessa, although I'm not a big fan of Ramon. Vanessa along with Kim and May Lee were pretty much my home team in the later KoF games. She is one of those characters that a button masher can beat you with, but a skilled player will just tear you to shreds.

#6 Adelheid
KOF '03


Phil's Comments: Since both Rugal and Geese have been in the spotlight for a while, I'd push both of them aside this time out and start a rivalry between their respective sons, with Rugal's son Adelheid (who has most of his father's move set) and Geese's son Rock Howard (who uses bits of Geese and Terry Bogard's move sets).
My Comments: Better than putting Rock in. God, I hate Rock.

#7 Lee Rekka
Last Blade 2


Phil's Comments: I was going to bring either Eiji or Gato in here...but then I remember this game called Last Blade 2 and how cool it was. and since they already had one Last Blade character in the VS. series (Hibiki), I'd bring in a character they should've brought in. He's the Shaolin Monk type that uses lots of air combo's and who's main weapon is a fan.
My Comments: Ah, Last Blade. One of the few games I did NOT play.

#8 Marco "Kushnood Butt" Rodriguez
Garou: Mark Of The Wolves


Phil's Comments:He will be the sole Shoto fighter in the SNK side. As much as I like Ryo and the gang, I always liked Marco's style better. He'd be someone that would give Ryu a run for his money. (By the way, "Kushnood Butt" is the actual name they gave him in the English version. I kid you not.)
My Comments: BUTT! Yep, I remember him from Garou. He was one of my least favorite characters because whenever I got to him he'd make me his complete BITCH. I guess that's what I get for using Dong Hwan exclusively.

#9 Oswald
KOF XI


Phil's Comments: This one is too good to pass up! This card-plucking Irishman shows that SNK can still conjure up some cool characters.
My Comments: I have no idea who this is...so...um...next!

#10 Amakusa
Samurai Shodown series


This is seriously the best picture I could find of him

Phil's CommentsOkay, we went to the well with Geese and Rugal (both regular and GOD-variety) the past several times, so I wanted to bring in someone else as the end-boss. I thought about either Krizalid or Igniz (villains of KOF 99 and 2001 respectively), but since I already have 5 KOF contestants listed, I had to dig through another SNK game for a villain. Then I remembered how annoying the original end boss to Samurai Shodown was, especially with that damn slap move...and since he hasn't been in the spotlight in a while, I'd bring him back and build him up a little more.

CARRYOVERS: Terry (in his Mark Of the Wolves look), Mai, Kyo, Yuri (I'm having Yuri fly solo this time out), Kim, Iori, King, Rock, Genjuro, Geonitz, Athena (Goddess form).

I'd like to thank Phil once again for saving my ass. For those of you who don't know who Phil is, he writes for 411 over in the Music section. If you want to know more about him, go ahead and read his stuff right HERE

Next week...

Next week will continue chugging right along with X vs. Y with the last Dream Team, I've got Marvel, Capcom, and SNK. It only feels fitting to bring it full circle, it's time for DC to get in on this action.

Man, that's going to be a hard one.

Until next time, I'm Jordan Williams...and KIM KAPWHAN OWNS YOU.