The art is a much improved than the first oav. The designs are more sharper and the colors are brighter. The first oav tended to be a bit more circular with the designs but the designs are still up to date with their game counter parts. Like Terry’s sleeves on his jacket in the first oav and game were rolled up. While in this one, he cut off the sleeves. And of course, Andy’s hair color is switched to blonde. But what I really wanted to talk about is Krauser’s design. In the game, he had a moutache and an X on his head. He sort of looked like Rob Zombie in that kind of way. However, he loses the moustache and the x and has a more youthful look to him. It’s not really a bad thing in my eyes. He looks pretty cool and more intimidating and really looks like a young and hungry fighter. I also like his armor. It really adds more to his built and gives him a warrior king look.
For the fan service fan boys, you’ll love Mai. You don’t get to see her naked but I guess you can really enjoy her flashy clothing.
The fights in this anime have tremendously improved since the last oav. They are more elaborate and not really too reliant on the video games moves like reppukens or raging storms. There is more martial arts emphasis to it and they last longer. The movement of some of the fights are also pretty cool and I like the cinematography of some of the fights.
Again, I prefer the English dub. Joe’s voice in the Japanese version is now played by Hiyama Nobuyuki. He is also known as playing Nakazato in Initial D and Shiro from Gundam 08th MS Team. Granted he’s a great voice actor and gives Joe a much more youthful sound to his voice, he still lacks Joe’s carefree personality which is still done by his English voice actor instead. Much of the voice actors from the English and Japanese tracks that are coming from the first anime are still in. For Mai’s voice in the Japanese version she is played by well known veteran Kotono Mitsuishi. She is best known as playing Sailor Moon and Misato from Evangelion. Out of all the Japanese voice actors, I liked her the best. Her English actress is also pretty good and reflects on the personality of the character.
I also liked Krauser’s English and Japanese voice. In the English version, they naturally gave him a German accent. It sounds a little corny but he does sound intimidating. The Japanese voice actor Hirotaka Suzuoki is also a great actor. He is best known as playing Bright in Gundam, Kuno in Ranma, Shiryuu in Saint Seiya and Min Mei’s cousin in Macross. I guess with Japanese acting standards from my observations, I think Suzuoki was excellent as Krauser. He brought out a certain dramatic element to the character which you would probably assume out his Krauser’s personality. With the additions of Suzuoki and Mitsuishi, the Japanese track makes it much more fun to watch if you’re a seiyuu buff. I never really liked Terry’s Japanese voice that much. He really sounded a bit too quiet in comparison to just being mellow like Mark Hildreth.
The music is also a great improvement. Like the background music when Terry and Kim fights is also pretty sweet. It has more of an Oriental sound to it and really matches the intensity to the fight. I also love the ending song Keep on Calling. It’s not really sad like the first ending song but of course, I love how the ending songs in Fatal Fury really reflect the ending and the build up of the stories. The guitar playing is pretty sweet and the lyrics are really catchy.
This oav is a much higher improvement than the first. It excellently focuses on a lot of characters that are introduced and they get a great amount of screen time. The fights are better and everything is better. The story is not necessarily as cliché as the first one but the story in this one has been done before but I like the modern day twist it has. So thanks to the improvement the anime has.
