First Art of Fighting, technically jaw dropping on release with zoom and giant sprites. Inevitably aged on gameplay but still a cult landmark. A required tribute.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
Ryo Sakazaki searches for his kidnapped sister in South Town in this first Art of Fighting with record-size sprites and the Ki gauge. Published by SNK, released in Japan in September 1994. One-on-one combat with Ki gauge depleted by special moves, adversary zoom-in during combat. Japanese edition.
Ryuuko no Ken ~ Art of Fighting 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.
Bluesy and nocturnal, SNK's music plunges South Town into the sticky atmosphere of an urban thriller. Plaintive saxophones and heavy rhythms underline the rage of the duels and Ryo's quest. Enhanced by the format's CD audio, this jazzy mood remains one of the most striking of the budding fighting game.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,37 GB📅09/09/1994
Published by SNK
Ryuuko no Ken ~ Art of Fighting (Neo Geo CD) price, value & rarity
The first Art of Fighting where Ryo Sakazaki searches for his kidnapped sister in South Town, a pioneer of zooming sprites and the energy gauge, on the Neo Geo CD. Its desirability rests on its status as a founding game of a mechanic adopted across the genre and the affordable access the disc gave to this SNK classic. Collectors seek it for that historical value and its place at the root of the South Town world.
Is Ryuuko no Ken ~ Art of Fighting still worth playing in 2026?
Art of Fighting is the first fighting game of SNK's series, in which Ryo Sakazaki roams South Town to find his kidnapped sister, leaving a mark with record-sized sprites and the introduction of the Ki gauge. This technical ambition and the spirit-management system influenced the whole genre. The stiff playability, a limited roster and a fearsome difficulty show their age. For fans of retro SNK versus fighting and genre history, it is an essential founding title, especially precious for its pioneering role.
