Home /
Neo Geo AES

Real Bout Fatal Fury Special

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

The supreme trial of strength awaits! 19 of Fatal Fury's hottest heroes collide! One year since the fearsome conclusion to "Real Bout", the hungry wolves ready themselves for a new battle, "Real Bout Special" - the paramount pugilistic proving ground! The game retains the cast of the original ...

Download

0/5 Votes: 0

Report

Developer
SNK

Released on
1997

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

Downloads
Fighting

Wikipedia
View article →

Report this app

Images

Description

The supreme trial of strength awaits! 19 of Fatal Fury’s hottest heroes collide! One year since the fearsome conclusion to “Real Bout”, the hungry wolves ready themselves for a new battle, “Real Bout Special” – the paramount pugilistic proving ground!

The game retains the cast of the original Real Bout, with the addition of Tung Fu Rue, Cheng Sinzan, Laurence Blood and Wolfgang Krauser from Fatal Fury Special, with Krauser serving as the new final boss. Geese Howard, who was killed off in the end of the original Real Bout, appears in this game as a hidden final boss in a special “Nightmare Match” and as an unlockable playable character in the home versions. The game also features hidden “extra” versions of Tung Fu Rue, Billy Kane, Blue Mary, and Andy Bogard, for a total of 23 (24 if counting Geese) characters.

Real Bout Fatal Fury Special

Overview & History

Released by SNK in 1997 for the Neo Geo AES home console, Real Bout Fatal Fury Special stands as a high-water mark for the publisher's golden era of 2D fighters. Eschewing the traditional narrative progression of its predecessors, this entry serves as a "dream match" installment, bringing back deceased villains like Geese Howard alongside a massive roster of 19 playable characters. The storyline is largely non-canonical, focusing instead on pure competitive friction and refined mechanics rather than advancing the South Town saga. SNK completely overhauled the engine from the previous *Real Bout*, ditching the ring-out system and tweaking the multi-plane line system to create a faster, combo-heavy fighting experience that remains beloved by retro arcade enthusiasts.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Mechanically, *Real Bout Special* introduces the innovative Power gauge system, split into three levels that allow players to execute devastating Super Special Moves or enter a Desperation state when vitality is critically low. The game replaces the old ring-out boundaries with unbreakable walls, introducing wall-bounce combos that reward aggressive corner pressure. Characters possess deeply varied toolkits; for instance, Terry Bogard utilizes his signature Power Wave and Rising Tackle alongside devastating chained normal attacks, while Geese Howard counters opponents with his iconic Reppu Ken and brutal throwing reversals. The addition of the "Hissatsu Shin Ninpou" inputs and instant overheads elevates the skill ceiling, making execution precision vital for tournament-level play.