Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm Review

Developed by three former SNK employees, Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm is a throwback to classic 2D fighting games for better and for worse. With development originally starting in 2008, the 2D fighter has seen many forms, and originally saw release as a free product. Now, after a successful crowdfunding attempt to finish and polish up the release, Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm is finally available for purchase.

While the game's development has been anything but normal, Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm is an insanely polished fighting game. Well, at least in terms of the actual combat. Anyone familiar with four button fighting games will instantly feel at home with Nyu Media's fighting game. There are two different types of attacks (kicks and punches) that can be thrown at both light and heavy variations. It is a simple system, but one that is extremely polished and feels great.

One of the standout systems in Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm is the game's parry system. While it isn't as complex as Street Fighter III, players will be able to parry both high and low strikes. Each type of parry has a dedicated button, and it is a skill that needs to be mastered for high-level play. Beyond the parry system, there isn't a lot more to offer. There are combo attacks and supers, but they are standard-fare in fighting games.

It is a good thing that Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm feels familiar, since the game doesn't do a good job of teaching players the mechanics. This is not a game for those new to the fighting genre, as there are no tutorials or instructions that explain the game's systems. For as polished as the actual gameplay is, the rest of the game simply feels dated.

In fact, the first thing players will notice is that the game runs at a 640×480 resolution. There are no screen options, that is just what the game runs at. While this resolution doesn't hamper the game at all, as it still looks beautiful in action, it is a bit jarring at first when the Steam overlay pops up and takes up a quarter of the screen.

The overall user interface and presentation is also less than stellar, as the main menu is just confusing. For example, there are two different arcade modes listed, but both are just listed as 'Arcade'. One tells a more in-depth story, while the other is more streamlined, but not differentiating the two on the menu is just a strange choice. Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm just feels like a game that was developed in the 90s and just magically appeared in 2015, nothing about the presentation seems modern.

Despite most of the game feeling like something that fighting game fans have seen many times before, Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm does have one feature that is unlike any other game. When players select their fighter, they also select their own commentator. Yes, you read that right. The commentators range from notable fighting game figures (such as UltraDavid) and in-game characters. Whenever players pull off notable moves, the selected commentator will pop on-screen to say something, even if it usually isn't related to what happened. Some fighting game players will find this annoying, and it can be turned off, but I found it to be one of the funniest parts of the experience.

Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm does support both local and online play, but setting up an online match is a little more difficult than it should be. For example, instead of having you enter a name in-game, players will have to enter one at the launch screen. Thankfully, the online matches I played all ran smoothly, so it is all fun once you figure out how to get into a match. It is just a shame that the presentation holds the game back from being a more welcoming game.

There are not many modes to be found, but there is a standard training mode. One nice touch is that the training mode features combo challenges that can help players learn the moves. This isn't done nearly as well as Street Fighter IV, but it is still a nice touch. Sadly, it will still require a lot of work on the player's part to figure out how to play each character. There are two Shotokan-style fighters that will be immediately familiar to Street Fighter fans, though.

While the user interface is clumsy, the in-game graphics are top-notch. The animation seen in-game are simply beautiful, and it is some of the best 2D sprite work seen in a fighter in a long time. Backgrounds are also varied, and Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm is just a joy to look at.

The music found in Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm may not be as impressive as the game's gorgeous visuals, but it is still catchy. Sadly, the game's audio isn't mixed super well, especially when the commentary is enabled. This is another small issue that hurts an otherwise stellar experience.

Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm manages to bring back some of the best parts of 90s fighting games, but also feels dated in some areas. The actual fighting is top-notch, but unless you are a hardcore fighting game fan, you'll be turned off by the sub-par presentation. Fighting fans will find a lot to like with the actual combat, however, and Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm is some of the most fun you can have with a 2D fighter.