GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES

About

"GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES" is the latest entry in the "FATAL FURY" Series, now on Steam with enhanced battle mechanics such as the T.O.P. System and Just Defended. The game features multiplayer capabilities, a training mode to master your skills, and leaderboards to track your progress. Fight your way to the top in the King of Fighters: Maximum Mayhem tournament.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 573 reviews

gameplay31 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Garou: Mark of the Wolves is praised for its beautiful sprite work, smooth animations, and engaging gameplay mechanics, making it one of the best 2D fighting games ever made.
The recent update by Code Mystics has introduced rollback netcode, significantly improving online play and making matches feel smooth even at higher pings.
The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique moves and playstyles, and the T.O.P. and Just Defend systems add depth to the combat.

The initial port by DotEmu was criticized for performance issues, including frame rate drops, input lag, and audio desynchronization, leading to a poor gaming experience.
Some players have noted that the character roster is relatively small, with only 14 characters available, which may not satisfy those looking for a larger selection.
The online community is currently sparse, making it difficult to find matches, and the lack of a ranked mode limits competitive play options.

gameplay
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
41%
5%
The gameplay of this title is widely praised for its tight mechanics, beautiful sprite work, and engaging systems that offer both simplicity and depth, making it accessible yet rewarding for players. While some characters may feel less balanced, the overall experience is enhanced by innovative features like "just defend" and the "top" system, which add strategic layers to combat. With a strong emphasis on fluidity and fun, this game stands out as a classic in the 2D fighting genre, appealing to both newcomers and veterans alike.
- “Classic arcade fighter with top-notch gameplay and graphics, now with rollback and a sequel on the way.”
- “Amazing graphics and gameplay considering it's a 21-year-old game now.”
- “The gameplay and mechanics are fast, fluid, and deep with just defends and the T.O.P. system.”
- “The gameplay is really simplified compared to every other Fatal Fury or KOF game, but they are able to achieve this in a fun and interesting manner.”
- “Solid if tricky mechanics: a lot of focus on canceling moves to enable combos instead of relying on easy combo systems, a tops system that amounts to gaining a special move and healing while your health is in a range you choose on your health bar, etc.”
- “Though part of the Fatal Fury series, Garou has nixed the two-plane dodging mechanic.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
38%
10%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, retro aesthetic and high-quality sprites, showcasing impressive 2D animation that holds up well even after 21 years. While some users noted issues with the menu design and interface, the overall visual presentation, including iconic stages and character designs, reflects the developers' passion and commitment to quality. The game successfully combines nostalgic visuals with modern enhancements, making it a standout in the fighting genre.
- “Graphically, this game is still very handsome to look at; it's like that one guy you know from high school, who's had the glow-up back then and still maintains it into his 30s... you know the type!”
- “The game pushed the graphical limits of the Neo Geo with gorgeous 2D animation, and the gameplay feels tight and fluid.”
- “Amazing graphics and gameplay considering it's a 21-year-old game now.”
- “The menu artworks are bad at times and the UI quite repulsive but simple.”
- “Audio delay, input lag, ungodly amount of frameskip with no option to turn it off, ugly as hell menus ruin the aesthetic.”
- “It is an emulator playing the Neo Geo ROM, with a graphical interface that seemed a little 'rushed'... and the game plays slowly, with a little lag and not too responsive.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
4%
13%
The music in "Garou: Mark of the Wolves" is consistently praised for its excellence, with many reviewers highlighting its beautiful and diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The game's audio complements its stunning sprite work and smooth gameplay, making it a standout title in the fighting genre. Overall, the soundtrack is regarded as a significant strength, contributing to the game's status as a cult classic.
- “Amazing soundtrack”
- “Garou: Mark of the Wolves has amazing art, top-notch music, killer animations, and a diverse yet accessible cast.”
- “And what SNK does best in its music is to give you a very good variety of different music to listen to.”
- “From its gameplay to its roster, to its soundtrack, to its sprite work.”
- “The game's soundtrack and characters rock.”
- “This goes along with the typically high-quality sprite work and music you can expect from late 90s SNK.”
story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The story in "Garou: Mark of the Wolves" is engaging, featuring a non-canonical narrative centered around Rock Howard, who grapples with his identity and the legacy of his father’s death at the hands of Terry Bogard. While the game offers a solid lore experience with unique character endings and insights, some players find the story mode challenging and wish for more extensive storytelling elements. Overall, the narrative is appreciated for its depth and character development, despite the limited continuation of the overarching plot.
- “Garou: MOTW sees the non-canonical story of Rock Howard; after his father is killed by Terry, this latter takes the kid under his wing and raises him as his own. Call it a major guilt trip, but the kid, lost in the choice of following either one of two paths, figures he's got powers... would he follow his adoptive dad Terry Bogard and save the city?”
- “The story for this game is really enjoyable too, with fun lore to discover with each character that you can explore.”
- “As every good game, it requires a rich story, which indeed Garou has.”
- “Sad that the story will never continue.”
- “The AI in story mode is near impossible.”
- “You will get a variety of characters to play with, each one with a particular 'final' bout against his enemy in the game, getting a special pre-fight speech which will reveal insights to the story and the characters' reasons to be there and fight!”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players praising its smooth performance and excellent netcode, particularly in online matches. However, some users have reported occasional performance issues and sound problems, suggesting that an optimization patch could further enhance the experience. Most players, especially those who updated to the latest patch, have not encountered significant performance problems.
- “Just showing support for the movement of adding proper care and effort into fighting games online and performance on PC, which shows beautifully with this game.”
- “It's easily the best port of MOTW we've ever gotten, fantastic netplay, no performance issues.”
- “Runs smoothly and the new netcode is really great!”
- “Manages to succeed with flying colors in every factor besides single player content and very occasionally its performance.”
- “If you peruse through all of the reviews, you'll probably come across negative comments about the game's sound, performance, and netcode.”
- “At this point in time, some users are experiencing peculiar sound and performance hiccups, but I myself have yet to replicate them.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The stability of the game has significantly improved with the transition from the problematic Dotemu port, which suffered from input lag, screen freezes, and audio glitches, to the more reliable Code Mystics version. Users report smooth controls, excellent rollback netcode, and no notable bugs or glitches, resulting in a much more stable and enjoyable experience.
- “The sounds and gameplay are awesome for this port; I haven't spotted any glitches or bugs.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or performance issues.”
- “I've experienced consistent stability throughout my playtime, making for an enjoyable experience.”
- “Dotemu's port is terrible, featuring massive input lag, screen freezes, audio glitches, and numerous other bugs.”
- “It's just the original Neo Geo ROM in a very buggy wrapper to get it to work on PC.”
- “Gone is the buggy, laggy Dotemu version, and is replaced by a great work by Code Mystics that gives accurate emulation, and, more importantly, excellent rollback netcode, which is a must for any fighting game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its intentionally poor translations that add a comedic touch, alongside a lighthearted tone that complements its impressive animation and combat. Players appreciate the amusing anecdotes related to their gaming experiences, which contribute to the overall enjoyment.
- “Bonus points for the translation that's terrible, but in a good way that's funny.”
- “Mark of the Wolves features the best animation, combat, and locations, and even has a nice sense of humor.”
- “Funny story: I initially had the game on my SSD and it was close to unplayable. I installed it on my HDD and it was better—still frame skips, but at least more playable than before.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is noted for its unevenness, with some characters feeling underwhelming, yet the overall experience is enhanced by excellent mechanics, impressive presentation, and striking character designs that range from visually appealing to uniquely quirky.
- “Not the most balanced thing ever (some characters just kinda suck), but it's a damn good time with great mechanics, insanely good presentation, and awesome character designs.”
- “Its character design is either great to look at or it's a weird but fun design.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players note that the ability to play as bosses adds a unique layer to the game's replayability, enhancing the overall experience. However, technical issues such as frame skipping can detract from the enjoyment, potentially affecting the desire to replay the game.
- “The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique.”
- “With multiple endings and character builds, there's always a reason to dive back in.”
- “Bosses are playable as normal characters.”
- “The funny story is that I initially had the game on my SSD and it was close to unplayable. I installed it on my HDD and it was better - still frame skips, but at least more playable than before.”