K-1 Revenge

by Scary Larry
January 01, 2000 00:00 AM PST

K-1's revenge isn't s sweet as it could be, but it certainly will buck up fans of kickboxing who want a cool fighting game to showcase their passion for the sport.

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Adding to a whole slew of sports games that feature heavy-hitting action (like Contender and Knockout Kings), K-1 Revenge packs in the element of extra limbs along with its martial arts influence. But is kickboxing more fun to play now that K-1 Revenge is here?

The Agony of Their Feet
Although Jaleco's last kickboxing game, K-1 Arena Fighters, wasn't the breakthrough success some kickboxing enthusiasts were hoping for, its new game puts all the bells and whistles into the ring. You fight one of fifteen FIghters with specialized moves like killer right hooks, spinning backFIsts, and knee facials--all within the parameters of your standard three-knockdown boxing match. There are also some limited combos and special moves, but don't expect to FInd anything flashy like burning uppercuts or FIreballs. K-1 keeps it real by employing more realism than glamour.

All Toe Up
Will your hardcore FIghting fan want to step into the ring? Probably not. The game's embargo on style and its emphasis on real kickboxing substance make the gameplay one-sided. And although the graphics seem like honest representations of the popular FIghters in this sport, the blocky polygons and one-dimensional crowd don't stand up against more polished games like Knockout Kings.

Standard FIght sounds and sluggish controls, especially when counterattacking, don't help raise the bar for the genre. Still, Revenge is a deFInite improvement over last year's title and is a lot of fun to play once you master the moves, which aren't as deep as in other games. In fact, any pug can make it to the top with the right combos. K-1's revenge isn't as sweet as it could be, but it certainly will buck up fans of kickboxing who want a cool FIghting game to showcase their passion for the sport.