SNK’s latest addition to their popular fighting game series, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, is none other than Street Fighter mainstay Ken Masters. In an interview with PCMag, Yasuyuki Oda, lead producer of City of the Wolves, and Masami Obari, animator for the game’s Ken anime opener, discussed how Ken was chosen as the new DLC character.
According to Oda-san, SNK wanted a character that embodied the same level of iconic status as Terry and Mai in Fatal Fury. Ken, with his rivalry with Terry, fit the bill perfectly. The team also felt compelled to include Chun-Li, another Street Fighter icon, in the game for similar reasons.
When it comes to Ken’s visual design and move set, Oda-san stated that SNK was granted creative freedom by Capcom, allowing them to adapt Ken’s Street Fighter 6 version while incorporating his most iconic moves from previous games. This resulted in a unique version of Ken that fans can enjoy.
While there are no plans to announce guest characters from other fighting game publishers at this time, Oda-san acknowledged the surprise inclusion of real-world individuals Ronaldo and Salvatore, which has allowed the game to reach new audiences globally.
As for the development process, Oda-san shared that players often use the systems in unexpected ways, surprising even the developers. However, with modern game testing methods, these surprises are relatively rare. The team is still considering how to incorporate features like ring outs and line-sway on more stages.
Obari-san discussed his design philosophy when creating Ken’s anime opener, focusing on showcasing both beauty and coolness while emphasizing Chun-Li’s wild nature. When it comes to animation production, Obari-san noted that the process has evolved significantly since working on the original 1990s Fatal Fury anime, with modern techniques allowing for greater flexibility and creativity.
Overall, the addition of Ken Masters as a DLC character is a welcome move for fans of both series. With his unique blend of Street Fighter style and Fatal Fury flair, Ken promises to bring excitement to City of the Wolves.
Source: https://uk.pcmag.com/games/159396/city-of-the-wolves-qa-snk-talks-ken-dlc-comic-book-inspirations-and-the-new-anime-intro