Garou: Mark of the Wolves (Neo Geo)

This page details development materials of Garou: Mark of the Wolves (Neo Geo).

Source Code#

In 2022, Twitter user 2021Kduck obtained a CD-Rom containing source code data for Mark of the Wolves. Some noteworthy findings were documented on their account.

Early Names#

In the source code, some characters are consistently listed with different names in both their character data and comments. These are most likely early names the characters had before settling on the final names. Translated from the Japanese text, the differing names are;

Some early graphics that support the early names. The names written in English here are spelled incorrectly, a sign of the game's translation being unfinished at this point.

Garou: Mark of the Wolves 2#

Sometime shortly after Mark of the Wolves released, the same team started work on what would have been the game's direct sequel. It's believed to have entered development around 2000, but promptly slowed down to the point of being reported as cancelled by 2002, most likely for such reasons as SNK's impending bankruptcy at the time. The project had been reported as restarting development at several occasions since 2005, until a MOTW sequel finally materialized in the form of 2025's Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

In the years since the project's initial cancellation, some design documents and sprites have been uncovered from that stage of development, showing a sample of how SNK had initially envisioned a MOTW sequel.

Roster#

In 2016, during an interview with key members of SNK, they briefly described development of Mark of the Wolves 2, during which they showcased this image showing the planned roster of playable characters for the game. The image is dated to the 12th of April, presumably 2000 as Mark of the Wolves released in November the previous year.

Aside from all 14 characters from the previous game being present (plus Marky next to Kevin, who would likely return as an NPC), 6 new characters would be introduced, including;

• Jess Young, a man who seems to be a boxer and dresses as a butler.
• Kuan Konta, a female Muay Thai practitioner who was to be Joe Higashi's apprentice. Though she did not materialize in this game, she was later referenced in Joe's backstory for The King of Fighters XII and some win quotes in The King of Fighters XIII. Despite this, a different character was introduced for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves in Preecha who filled the role of Joe's apprentice.
• Daniel Hale, a man wearing an elegant suit. Has the look of a bodyguard of sorts, similar to Karmen from Art of Fighting 3.
• Ed Palmer, another man in a suit who also seems to wear a bandana on his head. Somewhat similar in appearance to Billy Kane from previous entries.
• Dolvic Bourne, a man of afro descent wearing a large yellow coat.
• Geki Gao, Gato and Hotaru's father who was previously alluded to in Mark of the Wolves. He would later appear as an NPC in City of the Wolves, notably with a different design than the one seen here.

In 2022, Twitter user 2021Kduck would obtain a CD-Rom containing prototype data for MOTW2, including sprites created during development. One such is this updated spritesheet for the roster, dated 5 days after the previous on the 17th of April. All the characters shown before are present, plus two additional ones who were seemingly intended as NPCs;

• Joe Higashi, covered in bandages from an unspecified accident. Would presumably have appeared as part of Kuan's intro/win animations. Would notably later appear as a DLC character in City of the Wolves.
• An unnamed woman next to Dolvic wearing a gala attire. She reportedly would have been Dolvic's wife.

Some of the previously-added sprites have been altered as well. Kuan's idle frame was changed to show a different stance. A part of the previous frame is left-over at the bottom of the sheet. Dolvic's sprite was altered to have him more properly wear his coat instead of having hang off the side. Some additional sprites are present at the bottom that appear to be sketches of front and back-facing sprites for the new characters.

New Moves#

Also among the unearthed sprites are additional moves the old characters would have gained for this game.

A variant of Terry's signature Rising Tackle that travels diagonally and ends with a mid-air kick. Terry would ultimately gain a similar move in City of the Wolves as an EX variant of Power Dunk, though it instead ends with a mid-air punch.

A move for Kim Dong Hwan where he rides an unidentified object in mid-air. May have been intended as an air throw.

Kim Jae Hoon would have gained a variant of the Kuu Sajin move that his father Kim Kaphwan has used since Real Bout Fatal Fury.

Two animations are shown here for Gato; First, an attack where he palm thrusts in the air. Second, an animation where he turns around and covers his eyes. Would likely have been a new intro animation.

Notably, all the new sprites show Gato's eyes closed, and even the frame of his idle animation is altered to have his eyes closed. This reflects his status following his Mark of the Wolves ending where he was blinded. This detail would also be maintained in City of the Wolves.

A move for B. Jenet where she spins around in the air. Presumably would be a new aerial special move of sorts.

A move for Marco where he does rapid-fire kicks in the air. Most closely resembles Robert's Muei Shippuu Juudankyaku super from The King of Fighters '97.

Several animations are shown here for Hokutomaru; First, an animation of him striking a pose, perhaps for a taunt or intro animation. Second, one of him dive bombing towards the ground. Third, one of him floating in the air with his scarf, perhaps intended as a new movement option for him, similar to Twelve's glide in Street Fighter III 3rd Strike.

Finally, Andy Bogard can be seen here. Given that he's included within Hokutomaru's sprites, he was likely intended to make a cameo in his intro/outro animations.

What seems to be two animations for Freeman are shown here; First, one where he jumps in the air, maybe for an intro animation. Second, one where he performs two big slash attacks, presumably a new special move.

A move for Tizoc where he seems to do a Body Splash in the air.

A move for Kevin Rian where he rolls into a crouching position, then grabs the opponent and does a throw resembling the Jigoku Kuruma, Ken's recurring back throw in the Street Fighter series.

Two moves for Grant are shown here; First, one where he rushes forward and does a big kiai. Second, one where he does a karate chop towards the ground.

Three moves for Kain are shown here; First, one where he does a grounded knee bash then a jumping palm strike. Second, one where he rushes forward in a manner similar to his Schwarze Panzer special move. Third, one where does a similar rushing move in the air.

New Characters#

Some W.I.P. sprites for the new characters are present among the unearthed data as well.

One of several spritesheets showing W.I.P. data for Kuan Konta. This shows a concept for her alternate color palettes.

Some more spritesheets showing animations for her walking forward, running, and guarding/being guard-crushed while standing. Note that these animations are incomplete, lacking shading compared to the completed idle frame in the first spritesheet. These spritesheets are dated to the 11th of May 2000.

A spritesheet for Jess Young's basic movement options. Note that all but the sprite at the top left are incomplete, lacking shading across the board plus unfinished outlines in some sprites. The sprites present here show his animations for; the idle animation, walking forward and backward, a unique crouching forward dash with two variants, a regular forward dash, crouching, jumping, all variants of blocking, being knocked down, and rolling from a knocked down position.

New Stages#

Some preliminary data for new stages is also present. Seemingly no programming has been completed for the stages by this point, as they only have some unfinished background graphics.

Two stages seem to be displayed here; A bridge next to a town surrounded by water that resembles Venice, and a plains stage next to a windmill.

A stage that seems to be set outside a mansion with two cars nearby.

A stage that seems to be set inside a warehouse with some security guards nearby.

Two stages are shown here; One set inside a room in a fancy building, perhaps the same mansion seen before, and another set inside a coliseum at dusk.