Art of Fighting 2
Sequel adding new fighters and Geese Howard as hidden boss.
Art of Fighting 2 (released in Japan as Dragon & Tiger Fist 2) is a fighting game from SNK that came out in 1994 for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems. It follows up on the 1992 original, Art of Fighting, and brings back most of its characters while adding three new ones—Yuri Sakazaki, Eiji Kisaragi, and Temjin—for a total of twelve fighters. The plot picks up a year after the first game, in 1979, with Ryo Sakazaki and his friends seeking revenge against crime boss Geese Howard, who had manipulated them in the earlier story. Geese hosts a King of Fighters tournament to draw them in, and after defeating Mr. Big again, Ryo faces Geese but the villain escapes. This game is a prequel to the Fatal Fury series, which takes place 12 years later.
The gameplay keeps the core mechanics of the first Art of Fighting, including Desperation Moves and strategic taunts. New to this installment is a rage gauge, which increases when taking damage or taunting, and does not limit special attacks like the previous spirit system did—the spirit system was removed entirely. Bonus stages were also reworked: players chop down a tree to boost health, defeat punks within a time limit to increase health, and the Initiate Super Death Blow stage now ties into each character's super move.
Development took about a year. Because the game didn't have a direct story like its predecessor, designers had more freedom with the characters. The popularity of Fatal Fury: King of Fighters and its animated adaptation led to Geese Howard being included as the final boss. Critical reception was mixed, with praise for the expanded cast but criticism of the high enemy AI. The game got ports to the Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD, and Super Famicom, and was later re-released as part of the Art of Fighting trilogy on other consoles. It led to a sequel, Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior, in 1996, and its characters also appeared in The King of Fighters series.
Among the new fighters, Yuri Sakazaki is Ryo's younger sister and Takuma's daughter, who was a hostage in the first game but now fights after training in Kyokugenryu. Eiji Kisaragi is a ninja from a clan that opposes the Sakazaki family, working as a mercenary. Temjin is a Mongolian dock worker saving money to teach at a small school back home.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Art of Fighting 2
- Developer
- SNK
- Publisher
- SNK / Super Famicom / Saurus
- Director
- Akira Goto
- Producer
- Eikichi Kawasaki / Hiroshi Matsumoto
- Programmer
- John Guso
- Artist
- Ayumi Tsuzaki / Higashi Pon / Kimura Ken
- Composer
- Yasuhiro Naka / Yasumasa Yamada / Yoshihiko Kitamura
- Series
- Art of Fighting
- Platforms
- Arcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD, Super Famicom
- Genre
- Fighting
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game's story is set a year after the original in 1979. After learning they were manipulated by Geese Howard in the first game, the Sakazakis swear revenge. Geese, a rising star in South Town's criminal underworld, summons 12 fighters to a martial arts tournament called 'The King of Fighters'. Ryo Sakazaki defeats Geese in combat, but the criminal escapes. Geese Howard, the main antagonist of SNK's Fatal Fury series, appears as a secret boss if the player meets specific requirements in single-player mode. The events of the Art of Fighting trilogy are canonically a prequel to the Fatal Fury series, set 12 years before the first Fatal Fury game.
Reader's Guide
Art of Fighting 2 is significant as the direct sequel that expanded the playable roster from two characters to twelve, allowing all characters to be used in single-player mode. It introduced the rage gauge, which limits special attack use and effectiveness, and reworked bonus stages including tree-chopping and punk-defeating challenges. The inclusion of Geese Howard as a hidden boss linked the Art of Fighting and Fatal Fury series, establishing a shared timeline. Critical response was mixed due to high enemy AI and improved cast, though graphics and sound were praised. The game spawned Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior in 1996, and its cast was included in The King of Fighters series. Yuri Sakazaki's playable debut, inspired by Mai Shiranui's popularity, led to further character development. The game was ported to Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD, and Super Famicom, and later re-released with the Art of Fighting trilogy.
Did You Know?
- Art of Fighting 2 was developed in one year by SNK.
- Geese Howard appears as a secret boss, not a playable character, except in the SNES version's Vs. mode.
- The game's plot is set in 1979, a year after the original, and 12 years before the events of Fatal Fury.
- The rage gauge is a new mechanic that increases when taking damage or taunting, unlike the spirit system from the first game which was removed.
- The tree-chopping bonus stage increases the player's health, not the rage gauge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Art of Fighting 2?
Art of Fighting 2 is a 1994 fighting game made by SNK for the Neo Geo platform. It is the direct sequel to the 1992 original and expands the playable roster to twelve fighters.
Who are the new characters introduced in Art of Fighting 2?
Three fighters debut in this entry: Yuri Sakazaki, Eiji Kisaragi, and Temjin. They join the returning cast from the first game to round out the twelve-person roster.
What is the plot of Art of Fighting 2?
Set in 1979, one year after the first game, Ryo Sakazaki and his companions set out to confront crime boss Geese Howard for having pulled their strings in the earlier story. Geese draws them into a King of Fighters tournament as part of his scheme.
Who is the hidden final boss in Art of Fighting 2?
Geese Howard, the main antagonist of SNK's Fatal Fury series, appears as the secret end-of-game boss. His inclusion made the title a notable crossover moment within the SNK universe.
What platforms was Art of Fighting 2 released on?
The game shipped for the Neo Geo arcade cabinet, the Neo Geo AES home console, the Neo Geo CD, and the Super Famicom. All releases were handled by SNK as both developer and publisher.
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