Over the years a couple games have tried to break the preconceptions associated with fighting games. Guilty Gear Isuka tried to add four player combat the traditional set up, Power Stone was basically a party game and SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy wants to bring the world of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale to the usual one versus one setting.
The experience is pretty simple. Select a team, fight like you would normally and then get ready for items and mayhem ending with someone losing to a super move. What makes it fun is a couple things.
First and foremost, items go a long way. Some are simple, like something falls and stuns your opponent, where as others negatively impact both sides, something I was told resonated more with players. Using these items is crucial to being successful, as they have such a strong impact on how the match plays out. Once players get closer to defeat, they’re also given a random item in hopes of turning the tides. Sometimes it will work, where as other times you’ll still lose.
The only downside is very similar to All-Stars, which is a super is required to actually win. Good players should be able to dodge it and regardless of how well you do, a single mistake can easily cost you the match. It isn’t all bad though. Matches are generally quick and to the point, making it easy to shake off a loss.
To further this, a good number of costumes are present, along with other things to enhance the experience. Every character in the demo had a joke costume based off the game, their traditional look and then a serious one based off the character itself. These will need to be unlocked, though they make for a more robust offering than different colors.
While I didn’t experience SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy extensively, it looks like the type of game that will be fun in a party setting or to those looking for a quick game to play. With easy controls, multiple costumes and easy to understand mechanics and items, it makes for an experience closer to Mario Kart than Street Fighter.