KoF fans have endured a lifetime of 2D iterations of this long-running fighting franchise, and the one time it did manage to go 3D it wasn’t the best of experiences. However, things are about to change, as Ignition Entertainment and SNK Playmore bring Maximum Impact 2 to the PS2 with new characters, improved fighting and more super moves than Capcom can shake a stick at.

KoF Maximum Impact brings back a lot of favorites along with introducing a few new faces. The trailer showcases some of the characters and a bit of the fighting...and I have to say that the game looks pretty cool. Some of us have become so numb to the awful graphics featured in most PS2 games we tend to forget that the PS2 can actually output more than acceptable visuals.

The only downside to this game – based on the trailer – is that it’s not quite as fluid when it comes to fighting. King of Fighter fans might recognize what I’m talking about; when it comes to the execution of the specials some of the characters just quickly execute their super-moves but without the same kind of fluid conviction that made them so devastating looking on the Neo Geo and at the arcade. This game is still lightning fast – like many other KoF games – but 3D fighters usually don’t execute with the same kind of framerate fluidity and responsiveness that most 2D fighters exhibit. This is just a common observation, but I’m sure the game will play out a lot better than what it appears in the trailer.

With that said, it’s a sweet trailer. And I can’t wait for this game to finally come out for the PS2. Enjoy the trailer below.