The Long-Awaited Return of Fatal Fury: A Conversation with Yasuyuki Oda

The Fatal Fury series, which debuted in 1991, has seen numerous iterations over the years, with the last mainline entry being Garou: Mark of the Wolves in 1999. Now, after a quarter of a century, the series is set to return with Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. We had the opportunity to sit down with Yasuyuki Oda, the producer behind the game, to discuss the new features, character design, and competitive play. Oda explained that the team had always intended to bring back Fatal Fury, but were tied up with other projects. However, with the success of other SNK titles, such as Samurai Shodown and The King of Fighters 15, the time was right to revive the series. The game features a mix of old and new characters, including Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, and newcomers Preecha and Vox Reaper. Oda noted that the team focused on characters with unresolved storyline arcs and aimed to add depth to the world-building. The game also includes guest characters from Capcom's Street Fighter series, Chun-Li and Ken, which Oda described as a collaborative effort between the companies. In terms of gameplay, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves features the SPG system, an evolution of the Tactical Offense Position system from Mark of the Wolves. Oda believes this system will provide players with more freedom and opportunities for tactical decisions. The team aimed to balance the game to appeal to both casual and hardcore players, with a high skill ceiling but not one that excludes others. Oda also discussed SNK's approach to competitions and esports, highlighting the company's grassroots Esports Support Program, which aims to help tournament organizers. As we concluded our conversation, Oda reflected on how much the industry has changed since he first started in 1993, from developing games for arcade platforms to the current console landscape. He also shared his desire to create a South Town action RPG, based on a location in the Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting games, and confirmed that he is leading the revival of the Art of Fighting franchise.