[GAME] SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy Review

Developer: SNK

Publisher: NIS America

Genre: 2D Fighter

Format: Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4

Released: September 7th 2018

Purchase SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy Here: https://store.nisaeurope.com/products/snk-heroines-tag-team-frenzy-limited-edition-ps4

Let me get straight into this review by saying that SNK Heroines just like me in a skirt is very much based purely on fan service. Not that it’s a bad thing. The problem though is that the potential in the game drops dramatically. It’s frustrating to say that more effort has gone into being able to take pictures of the characters than the combat system itself. I’ll go deeper (easy) into the combat system a little later. Let’s jump into the positives though.

The game is very bright and colourful (seems to be a trend for NISA titles recently) Which is always a plus in my book. The music is upbeat and very JPopy. Yep that’s now a descriptor. The dialogue between characters can be pretty hilarious (Poor Terry). Can’t believe I’m excited about something like but the menu has shortcuts on the shoulders buttons to jump straight to what you want to play. There is even a menu prompt for watching livestreams which is great to see. Streamers are getting a lot more air time. Huh huh! Also the villain Kukri is a great laugh. He without a doubt steals the show when he is on screen. The crazed sand sculpture maniac.

Now is the time for the combat system to take a blow. Firstly it’s very simple and easy to learn so you won’t struggle to win fights by messing up combos. The downside is it’s a simple combat system. Let me explain. You know that feeling when you spend hours trying to nail a 7, 8 or 9 hit combo…… yeah that’s not in this one. You can get that high by tagging in a partner after you do a 4 or 5 hit combo with your first character but it doesn’t happen often and not for a lack of trying.

Added to the combat are random items. Unfortunately the AI knows this as well and on the higher difficulties they always have the perfect item stopping you from getting to higher combos. It’s a shame you can’t used your item to cancel out theirs. Even if it were to use some of your special gauge. Items easily take away from the skill element but do add variety to fights.

I’ve put it off but let’s get into the fan service. You can customise your character, bend them over, have them winking and take a picture of them on an 8 bit backdrop. Sound good? I mean it’s a great way to show off the graphics. *wink*

There are soo many different combinations of poses and options you can choose for the characters. It’s great for a certain demographic. Photographers. This is for practicing right? It is a little sad that there are more photo choices than accessories and costumes that you can buy for your roster. Speaking of.. The roster is 14 ladies and guest characters. Given how big the character base is for the SNK franchise this is definitely on the low side.

No doubt they have other characters planned as DLC but that’s the problem. Put at least 20 in the game first then think about DLC. Better yet if you know it’s a low count roster. Why not give your character 2 stances so they at least play different. The combat system is limiting enough that a few of the ladies feel the same anyway. Something tells me I’m thinking too much about a game which the primary focus is about staring at unrealistically voluptuous women in costumes. As life is meant to be.

SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy gets 7/10 for me. Even with the many issues I have with the game, I still had fun playing it. Do yourself a favour and don’t go into the game thinking it’s a competition fighter. Slam on a costume and get taken in by the campy atmosphere.

Or just get Athena to cry in front of you with devil wings, a Cowboy hat and posing like a cat.