NeoGeo Online Collection Vol. 1 - Garou - Mark of the Wolves (Japan)
PlayStation 2
🇯🇵
Reviewed in 2006
82
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✪ Reviewed on January 12, 2026
76
PS2 port of Garou: Mark of the Wolves, considered by many the finest SNK game of the NeoGeo era. The T.O.P. system, memorable characters Rock Howard and Tizoc and perfect balance make it a versus fighting masterpiece. With online functionality, an exceptional version.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
A Japanese SNK Playmore compilation released in 2005, the first volume of the NeoGeo Online Collection. Includes Garou - Mark of the Wolves (1999) and its Online mode via Konami Network. A late NeoGeo fighting classic, considered the artistic peak of the Fatal Fury branch, in a polished emulation.
NeoGeo Online Collection Vol. 1 - Garou - Mark of the Wolves review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Everything is chiselled by hand: the fluidity of the fighters, the detail of the sets and the snap of the poses sign a masterpiece of pixel art. SNK reaches a rare expressiveness here, where every round looks like an animated page. This original release imposes a 2D elegance never equalled.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
The T.O.P. system and the "just defend" parry give this 2D fighter a bite and a tension that reward split-second daring. The sumptuous animation and the readability of the exchanges make every duel clear and spectacular. A small roster but one full of personality, this is a technical fighter of rare elegance that still delights purists of the genre.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The blazing swan song of its saga, this 2D versus charms with its edge and its tight-timed Just Defend system that rewards boldness. The superbly animated characters offer exchanges of exhilarating fluidity. Polished here for connected play, it opens rivalry to the whole world. Intense, elegant and accessible, a peak of SNK fighting that has lost none of its splendour.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Mastering the Just Defend parry system to turn around a badly started round turns every duel into a nervy gamble you constantly want to replay. Learning a character and reading your opponent revives the practice. The roster is tight, but this elegance of animation, this finely honed system and this tension of the counter keep a pull that connoisseurs never let go of.
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾1,1 GB📅22/06/2006
Published by SNK Playmore
NeoGeo Online Collection Vol. 1 - Garou - Mark of the Wolves (PS2) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
The first volume of SNK's NeoGeo Online Collection, porting to PS2 the revered Garou Mark of the Wolves, a late, cult peak of Neo Geo fighting. Confined to Japan, its interest lies in this careful port of an adored classic and the absence of a Western release rather than a tiny run. A piece prized by fans of technical versus.
Better with friends
A re-release of a jewel of one-on-one fighting, of formidable elegance where Just Defend rewards composure over button-mashing. The competition thrives on pure rivalry, pixel-tight timing and comebacks that make both players leap. Demanding yet perfectly readable, it offers duelists an inexhaustible ground where every face-off sharpens mastery and feeds long-running rivalries.
Is NeoGeo Online Collection Vol. 1 - Garou - Mark of the Wolves still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2005 on PS2, SNK Playmore's port offers, within its NeoGeo Online collection, the final chapter of the Fatal Fury line, often regarded as one of the most beautiful two dimensional fighting games. The T.O.P. system, which grants a power boost over a chosen portion of the life bar, and the precise dodging install a mechanic of rare elegance. The sumptuous sprites, the fluid animation and the charismatic roster have aged magnificently. The absence of a direct sequel feeds its cult status. Essential for devotees of SNK versus fighting and for lovers of two dimensional animation at its finest.
