Aggressors
of Dark Kombat
REVIEW: Aggressors of Dark
Kombat, also known
as Tsuukai GANGAN Koushinkyoku
in Japan (which translates to Thrilling Intense March) was one of the NeoGeo's most obscure
2D fighting games. The only difference
between the Japanese version and the international versions, besides the name
change, is the inclusion of blood when a critical hit is landed. AODK's most
distinguishing mechanic is the ability for characters to move vertically on the screen,
as well as horizontally like in most 2D fighters. Weapons also
become available at certain times during the fight and can be picked up and used
by the characters.
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Joe
with the henchman attack? No wonder weapons are allowed.
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Besides kicks, punches, and a
few weapon-based attacks, characters in Aggressors of Dark Kombat can also execute a Gan
Gan Attack (AKA Crazy Attack in the US version). This move can be performed when the
opponent's health bar is flashing red and the power bar is full. When a fighter's Gan Gan move connects, that character automatically wins the round.
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There's
a love story in this super move. 
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AODK's roster is quite small but introduces
mostly newcomers to the SNK world, with the exception of Fuuma
from World
Heroes making a random guest appearance. Why not include Hanzou, too?
That should've been an easy one and would've helped the depressing roster size.
If you ask this 2D fighting game player, I'd say the roster is painfully small
and mostly uninspiring, which is probably the
biggest downfall of Aggressors. The pre-fight dialogue from characters is
entertaining and comical, as this game charmingly doesn't take itself very seriously, but
AODK as a game seems "incomplete" and more weird than
anything else. As a matter of fact, Aggressors of Dark Kombat was selected as the
"Strangest Game of 1994" by EGM.
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Second rule: Spiked bats
allowed.
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| Page Updated: |
March
25th, 2025 |
| Developer(s): |
ADK
(Alpha Denshi Corp.) |
| Publisher(s): |
ADK |
| Distributor(s): |
SNK |
| Designer(s): |
Kazuo
Arai |
| Platform(s): |
Neo Geo, Neo Geo
CD, PS2, PS4 (PSN) |
| Release Date(s): |
July
1994
 /
 Arcade
1995
/
Neo Geo CD
Dec. 18th, 2008
PS2 - in ADK
Damashii
March 1st, 2017
PS4 (PSN) -
in ADK Damashii |
| Characters: |
Joe
Kusanagi,
Goh Kidokoro,
Kisarah
Westfield, Bobby Nelson, Lee Hae Gwon,
Leonhalt
Domador,
Kotaro Fuuma,
Sheen Genus |
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Featured Video:
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| Related Games: |
Mortal Kombat, World Heroes, World
Heroes 2,
World Heroes 2 Jet, World Heroes
Perfect, Street Smart, Savage Reign, Kizuna
Encounter, Ninja
Master's, Super Street Fighter 2,
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo,
The King of Fighters '94,
Samurai Shodown 2,
Virtua Fighter,
Killer Instinct |
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Gameplay
Engine
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5.0 / 10
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Story
/ Theme
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4.5 / 10
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Overall
Graphics
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5.5 / 10
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Animation
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4.5 / 10
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Music
/ Sound Effects
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5.0 / 10
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Innovation
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6.5 / 10
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Art Direction
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3.0 / 10
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Customization
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3.0 / 10
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Options / Extras
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2.0 / 10
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Intro / Presentation
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3.5 / 10
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Replayability / Fun
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3.5 / 10
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"Ouch" Factor
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4.0 / 10
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Characters
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3.0 / 10
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BOTTOM LINE
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4.7
/
10
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Review based on
Arcade version
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| Final
Words: |
Aggressors was an ultra obscure NeoGeo fighting game. I could see how the game might've appealed to some
NeoGeo fighting game / beat-em-up fans in the 90's who were looking for some variety. Ironically, variety is exactly what Aggressors of Dark Kombat was short on.... Only 8 characters? Yeesh.
Back in the mid 90's arcade days, I didn't spend much time with this game. I was busy putting time into amazing genre-defining fighting games, like Samurai Shodown 2 and Killer Instinct in 1994 (to name just two of my favorites). Could you imagine how the Aggressors arcade machine looked next to the likes Darkstalkers or Virtua Fighter
2? There's not denying this game was outclassed pretty decisively in 1994 / 1995.
You wouldn't be missing out too much if you never got around
to playing this one. It's got a very small (and weird) cast, mostly generic character designs, sub-par animation, and... no names under the
life bars? 
That hurts my OCD. It's like this game is trying its hardest to be different and weird
before anything else (and arguably, it succeeds at just that). Ohh, and they definitely parodied Mortal Kombat by spelling "Kombat" with a K in the title... good one ADK! At least they did something right.
Aggressors of Dark Kombat comes off as a sort of "experimental" fighting game that didn't get finished but somehow was released anyway (and if a sequel was planned, it obviously got scrapped). In retrospect, the game is worth a try for some laughs.... but Aggressors of Dark Kombat pales in
comparison to many other fighting games in 1994-1995. Interestingly, SNK didn't completely forget about this
obscure game and even brought back some of its characters in 2005's NEOGEO Battle Coliseum.
~TFG
Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen
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