Successful Art of Fighting sequel with expanded roster and clearer system. Animation still classy, attractive noir and chrome mood. Major SNK fighting milestone.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
Ryo, Robert and ten other fighters compete in the pre-KOF tournament with massive sprites in this second Art of Fighting. Published by SNK, released in the US in September 1994. Combat with Ki gauge system, twelve characters including playable bosses, enriched South Town settings. US edition.
Ryuuko no Ken 2 ~ Art of Fighting 2 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Gigantic sprites and dynamic camera zoom: SNK imposes a spectacular staging, revolutionary for 2D fighting. The faces marked by blows and the backdrops of South Town overflow with character. This graphic virtuosity, snappy and polished, illustrates all of the studio's pixel-art know-how.
Broader and nervier, the sequel enriches its urban jazz with flamboyant brass and themes specific to each fighter. The CD version deploys sumptuous arrangements that elevate the game's giant sprites. This musical generosity, stylish and rousing, marks a peak of the genre on the format.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,53 GB📅09/09/1994
Published by SNK
Ryuuko no Ken 2 ~ Art of Fighting 2 (Neo Geo CD) price, value & rarity
The second Art of Fighting where Ryo, Robert and ten others clash in the tournament preceding KOF, famed for its huge sprites, on the Neo Geo CD. Its desirability rests on its place in the South Town genealogy that leads to King of Fighters and the affordable access the disc gave to a founding fight. SNK collectors seek it for that narrative importance and its enlarged cast.
Is Ryuuko no Ken 2 ~ Art of Fighting 2 still worth playing in 2026?
Art of Fighting 2 extends SNK's fighting game with still-huge sprites, an expanded roster and a refined Ki gauge system, in the tournament preceding the KOF. The impressive animation for the time, striking character design and increased depth make it an entry superior to the first. The at-times confusing readability due to character size and a high difficulty temper the enthusiasm. For fans of retro SNK versus fighting and saga history, it is an important landmark, rich and demanding.
