Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Season 2 Trailer Released

 

After earning the title of “Best Fighting Game” for 2025 at last month’s The Game Awards, SNK prepares to turn up the heat for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves by giving the franchise’s latest brawler more combatants to look forward to with every succeeding month with Season 2 in high gear!

Get ready to say high to Kim Jae Hoon, Nightmare Geese, Blue Mary, and Wolfgang Krauser first, with more on the way soon!

Street Fighter 6: Terry Bogard Gameplay Trailer Released, Playable This September 24!

 

Here’s The Big One! OK!!!

After a couple of teases here and there, the long awaited gameplay trailer AND release date for Terry Bogard is finally here right on time for Gamescom 2024 - showing off SNK’s own mascot and the lead of the Fatal Fury franchise dishing out his moves as he joins Street Fighter 6 and becomes the first official crossover character on a mainline Street Fighter game!

In addition to showing off his familiar moves like the Power Wave, Burn Knuckle, and Rising Tackle, Terry also gets his tried and true Super Moves in the Power Geyser and Buster Wolf, as well as a new Level 3 Super called the Rising Fang! Also, Garou: Mark of the Wolves fans will be happy to know Terry’s “Wild Wolf” jacket look is also coming as an alternate costume!

Terry Bogard joins the roster as the second DLC fighter of Year 2 of Street Fighter 6 this September 24!

Summer Game Fest 2024: Street Fighter 6 Reveals Year 2 DLC Cast… Including Terry and Mai From SNK!

Revealed during this year’s installment of the annual Summer Game Fest, the next set of DLC fighters that are coming to Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 - and it’s two fan favorite characters from the franchise and two from… SNK’s Fatal Fury and King of Fighter’s franchise?!

That’s right! Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui join the SF6 roster, while Elena and M. Bison return - and the DLC line-up and release window for Year 2 is here!

EVO Japan 2024: Akuma, Lidia, and Marco Rodrigues Revealed for SF6, Tekken 8, and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

 

One of the biggest fighting game events held every year returned in full force to the Land of the Rising Sun, as the Evolution Championship Series or EVO Japan was held this weekend - and with it tournaments for popular fighting games such as Street Fighter, Tekken, and the King of Fighters. Results and replays of that can be easily searched online, but the event was also bundled with a couple of highly anticipated character reveals and announcements for some of the current titles and an upcoming one slated for release next year!

Check out the trailers for Marco for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Lidia and the new Season 1 content for Tekken 8, and Akuma for Street Fighter 6!

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves New Gameplay and Characters Trailers Released, Game Arrives Early 2025

 

Following the conclusion of the SNK World Chanpionship 2023 Grand Final event in Los Angeles, SNK finally showed off more content and teases for their upcoming sequel to Garou: Mark of the Wolves with Garou: City of the Wolves ala Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves! 

Two trailers were shown off highlighting the brand new “REV” system that will be introduced into the game, as well as three characters joining in the fight in the returning Tizoc, Hotaru Futaba, and new fighter Preecha - joining Rock Howard and Terry Bogard in the sequel!

Check out the REV system gameplay in action!

And here’s two versions of the character reveal trailer!

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is set to be released on Early 2025, with a playable demo coming to EVO Japan next month.

EVO 2023: Garou: City of the Wolves Teaser Revealed by SNK!

 

One of the most eagerly anticipated fighting game sequels officially got a title thanks to the folks at SNK, as the previously untiled follow-up to "Garou: Mark of the Wolves" is now called "Garou: City of the Wolves"!

Shown at this year's Evolution Championship Series tournament, check out the short but sweet announcement trailer that shows the return of Rock Howard and Terry Bogard, as well as sound bit teases of other fighters from Mark of the Wolves!

FATAL FURY CotW / 餓狼伝説 CotW｜Teaser Trailer

Also known as Fatal Fury to westerners, the game now has an English title of "Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves"! No release date has been revealed for Garou: City of the Wolves, but SNK has promised more updates in the future as the game is currently in development!

EVO 2022: SNK Teases and Greenlights New Fatal Fury/ Garou Sequel!

 

After over 20 years since the last entry "Garou: Mark of the Wolves" was released, SNK is finally giving Fatal Fury/ Garou fans what they've long dreamed of and desired - as the company teases and greenlights a new sequel following the conclusion of The King of Fighters XV finals at this year's Evolution Championship Series aka EVO 2022!

Here's the teaser video uploaded by SNK following their DLC announcements for KOF XV and Rollback Netcode coming to Samurai Shodown! 

NEW FATAL FURY / GAROU | Teaser Trailer

Check out more details and info via SNK's Twitter page!

The King of Fighters XV Reveals DLC Roadmap Starting with Team Garou and Team SouthTown!

 

SNK is prepared to shatter all expectations for King of Fighters fans even after the game launches, as The King of Fighters 15 has revealed their DLC roadmap for additional characters to the game! A total of 12 DLC fighters will be added - and it starts with Fatal Fury universe characters from the past and the future!

Say hello to Team Garou consisting of Rock Howard, B. Jenet, and Gato this March, and then Team South Town with Geese Howard, Billy Kane, and Ryuji Yamazaki this May!

KOF XV DLC｜TEAM GAROU｜Trailer

The King of Fighters 15 will be released for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 17!

The King of Fighters XV has been delayed to 2022

 

KOF Fans who have waiting for the newest sequel in SNK's fighting game series will have to wait a little longer for the next installment in the series, as the company has made the difficult decision to delay The King of Fighters XV to the first quarter of 2022 due to the rising cases of COVID 19 happening in the country.

Via the official website of SNK, KOF XV producer Yasuyuki Oda delivered a message to the fans. 

There are many fans who are anticipating the release of KOF XV in 2021, however at this point in time, we unfortunately have to announce that KOF XV will now be launching within the 1st quarter of 2022. 

 

The development timeline we set out to reach in the beginning has been affected by the ever-still rising cases of COVID-19 within Japan. We have made the ultimate decision in the end that the product’s quality must come first, and so with that decision comes an altered release window.

We sincerely ask for your kind patience and understanding as our development teams continue to work hard on KOF XV as we draw closer to its release.

The King of Fighters XV will now be released some time in Q1 2022. 

Terry Bogard celebrates his Birthday Week with KOF XV Reveal Trailer!

Literally... ARE YOU OK?! At long last, Terry Bogard stands revealed for The King of Fighters XV, and the Legendary Hungry Wolf is back in his classic trucker costume and unites the original Fatal Fury team alongside his brother Andy Bogard and their buddy Joe Higashi!

Check out the trailer below, which comes a few days after Terry's actual fictional birthday - March 15! Happy Birthday Terry!

KOF XV｜TERRY BOGARD｜Character Trailer #10 (4K)

As the man every SNK and Fatal Fury fan has been waiting for, Terry Bogard has appeared in every single iteration of The King of Fighters series, so his presence was just a matter of time and now we got him! Shatter All Expectations and let's look forward to KOF XV soon!

The King of Fighters XV Official Trailer Released

 

Time to shatter all expectations and prepare for another installment in SNK's King of Fighters saga, as the company has finally unveiled the reveal trailer for "The King of Fighters XV" - which is a direct sequel to KOF XIV and features fan favorites like Kyo Kusanagi, Benimaru Nikaido, K', and Mai Shiranui returning along with the new main character -- Shun'ei.

Here's the reveal trailer for the game.

KOF XV｜Official Trailer (4K)

The King of Fighters XV will be released some time this year!

ICYMI: SNK's Terry Bogard is coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate!

ARE YOU OOOHHHKKKAAYYY?!

After teasing that their next DLC fighter would be revealed, Nintendo has announced via their recent Nintedo Direct reveal video that SNK's own mascot fighter Terry Bogard will be the next Smash Fighter to be added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate!

You know him as the hero of the Fatal Fury and one of the main stars of The King of Fighters series, now see him duke it out with the rest of the stars of Smash Bros.!

Terry Bogard in Smash Bros. Ultimate REVEAL TRAILER
Terry will be smashing his way to SSBU as the latest DLC fighter this November!

This is... The King Of Fighters Movie?!

There will be a King Of Fighters Movie next year, and yes, it will feature Kyo, Iori, Mai, and Terry... but will it do any good? Judging from this trailer, I think we may end up in a world more far fetched than the one established over the years by the folks at SNK Playmore.



Ok... this is more sci-fi than epic fighting game madness. Honestly I never expected the KOF live action movie to work wonders. With fighting game movies like Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li "setting an example", it leaves me wondering how the future of videogame based movies will fare with films like these rolling and disapponting its hardcore fanbase. For the benefit of the doubt, I'll probably go see it for fun, but I wish the flick stuck more to its roots.

Video Game Review: The King Of Fighters XII

I finally have it... and not all is what it seems.



The King Of Fighters XII
Publisher: SNK Playmore, Ignition Entertainment
Developer: SNK Playmore
Released: July 28, 2009

The King Of Fighters XII is what it is - a pretty looking fighting game. After trekking through the series' long and fruitful history, I finally have the next entry in SNK Playmore's epic brawling franchise... and so much has changed here. It is the culmination of almost four years hard work by the folks of Ignition and SNK Playmore, and the final product is what many consider to be the "Rebirth" of the legendary fighting game series, which celebrates it's 15th anniversary this year. However, that being said, is the re-imagination of this brawler absolutely worth your time and pennies? Read on and find out.


In terms of appearance, KOF XII doesn't disappoint when it comes to looks alone. The graphics have gotten a major overhaul, and it has, through leaps and bounds, exceeded my expectations of a much needed makeover for the series. Every character has been careful hand drawn and reanimated for this game, so mainstays like Terry Bogard (back in his original Fatal Fury outfit) and Ryo Sakazaki look fresh and pleasing to the eye. All of this was done because of the advent of High Definition technology, so if any of you poozers have an HDTV at home, you'll be loving all the visual eyecandy this game offers. Don't get me wrong, I love the classic 2D sprites that SNK has used for the past 15 years prior to this game, but it's a refreshing change to have new graphics, and seeing the animation alone is worth time invested on this game.


How does KOF XII play? It's back to old school basics and team rules once again. Players select three fighters from the roster to make up a three man team and brawl it out in a series of 5 rounds. There is also the option of playing the game in a standard one-on-one match, but where's the fun in that if you can't have diversity? It's all about the fight on this one, and you have 22 characters to choose from, and that already includes the console exclusive additions - Mature and Elizabeth. After selecting three guys, you can choose between five stages, and then comes the order of your team. Afterwards, the match begins, and all that's left for guys to do is beat the living crap out of each other.


Players, of course, win matches by eliminating all members of the opposing team, so overcome the odds and put your skills to the test! Every character has different moves and skill sets to master, so it's up to the player's abilities to adjust and master a particular fighter and get acquainted with how they perform in the ring. Also, a couple of neat features have been introduced to the playing field that can change the tide of battle. Guard attacks return and can counterattack opponents, while Deadlocks cancel out two fighters moves of equal strength and doesn't produce any damage. However, the most impressive addition to KOF XII is the Critical Counter System, which is truly as damaging as it sounds. Just below the health bar is the Critical Counter gauge, which fills up as you inflict and take damage. When that's full, time your hard punch when an opponent strikes to counter it, and from there you're free to dash in and execute a string of painful combos! This lasts for as long the meter is still charged, so time your attacks wisely and end it with a super finish!


Because it was released in next-gen systems, the game boasts online features, and that's where the meat of the action lies. You can contend against any opponent around the world and fight for fun, sport, or to increase your rank. To do this, someone has to create a fighting room, where up to eight players can join in. While two guys fight against one another, the others can choose to view the match and become spectators. This of course relies on your internet settings, so if you have a slow connection, it's going to be a headache contending with lags (more on that later). On a last note, Players can also make up "clans" of their own (for the PS3 version only), and fight alongside two other guys, competing against other teams to make their name in the online fighting world.


Now for the downside: the game has absolutely no storyline and no boss for players to finish. There are only "5 time-trial" stages in Arcade Mode, so those looking for a continuation of the "Ash Crimson" saga will have to wait until the next game arrives. It seems the guys at SNK prioritized the makeover rather than the story, so it's pretty much like '98 and 2002 where the game serves as a filler that people can compete and test their skills on. Unfortunately, you get a limited roster, and some fan favorites like Mai and K' didn't make the cut. Don't get me wrong, I understand that all the characters were hand drawn and all the sprite actions had to be reanimated, but would it have killed SNK just to add more moves for some of my favorites? Kyo, for example, has reverted back to his '95 move list, and no longer has the fiery punches that made great combo starters in the past entries. His rival, Iori, lost his powers in XI and now sports new moves and a new costume in this game. However, it's sorely lacking and people will have to rely on the same patterns over and over again. How I wished that SNK had more time to give this game depth, but I guess almost four years of work really took its toll on the guys, and the results alone prove that the game was no easy feat to program.


Another downer is the fact that most, if not all characters, remain unbalanced. Some of the guys, like Leona, Benimaru, and Ash, have more moves and supers to dish out than other regulars like Iori, Clark, and Mature. It's moments like these where you feel the game kinda feels rushed and uncompensated by the fact it has "pretty slick graphics" alone. When I started playing KOF years ago, what I loved about it was the depth and massive character roster it gave to fans as compared to the popular worldwide brawler that was Street Fighter. It was 2D, yes, but it pushed boundaries... so much so that I feel it later inspired elements seen in Capcom's VS games and the Guilty Gear series. This KOF, however, falls short in the fighting and single player category. It only works well if you're playing with friends or when you're online... and the latter part alone can be an intoxicating experience. Unlike Street Fighter IV, the lag issues in KOF XII are intolerable, and causes unbridled frustration for gamers unlucky enough to come across the problem. I tested this myself, and the slowdown in SFIV is a cakewalk compared to this. At least the game automatically disconnects if there's a lag problem... THIS one hardly does. It's problems like these that make the game all the more disappointing for me. So much potential, yet lots of setbacks to face after its release.


So is KOF XII worth the purchase? Only if you're a fan like myself and have a craving for fighting game goodness. I gave this game a chance, and despite no available storyline and constant online issues, I find SNK Playmore's effort to be worthwhile. While I am still disappointed by the exclusion of a true single player experience, I find it hard to disregard the graphics... it looks pretty awesome no matter what people say, especially on HD. Online gives me a headache now and then, but I am still hopeful for a chance to experience it lag free sometime, otherwise I can always play it with friends. Overall, I can only recommend this to fans and fighting game affectionados with nothing better to play. It's KOF, but it has to grow up all over again.

Score - 5/10

*additional score references

Graphics - 9/10
Sound - 7/10
Gameplay - 6/10
Replay Value - 3/10

Spotlight: The King Of Fighters Saga Part III

The Spotlight reaches its conclusion as the next battle arrives. As heads are about to clash once again, find out where the new conflict stems from... and why the fate of the world lies in the balance once more.


2003 - After the somewhat mixed opinions many had in regards to the NESTS saga, gamers had a chance to satiate their old school needs with the filler installment that was KOF 2002. However decent and competitive that title was, fans were expecting the saga to continue, and just when it seemed like they'd never produce a game again, SNK climbed out of the gutter and decided it was time to make a comeback.


Returning as the newly christened SNK Playmore, the company made a complete change in the direction KOF was going. With that, The King Of Fighters 2003 was launched in December 2003, to the delight of fans around the world. In contrast to its predecessors, the latest sequel in the epic fighting game franchise did what no other installment in the series has done thus far... GO FULL TAG TEAM. Yes, you heard right - gone are the days of simple three man battles and striker systems. Instead, crossover and combo flurry was now a reality in KOF, and it was known as the Tactical Shift System. Players could still choose three men to make up their team, but each fight now consisted of a single round only, with characters switching at the fly on a player's whim (and when the meter was charged), changing the dynamics of KOF altogether.



The tag concept, first popularized by other well known fighting games such as the Marvel Vs Capcom series and Tekken Tag Tournament, was an interesting gimmick in the sense that players could mix and match different characters and unleash devastating combos in the process. Fighters could jump in, assist, and take over for a teammate on a jinx, and that always came in handy when the tide of the match was turned against their favor. Super cancels, first popularized in Capcom's Street Fighter games and introduced in KOF '99, were more devastating in KOF 2K3. Linking a regular move to a super was easily done and provided more ways to punish your opponent. Player's could also "super tag" by using one stock meter to stun opponents and leave them prey to their teammates wrath. Also introduced was the "Tactical Leader System", where "Leaders" were also chosen per team to gunlock that character's special super move, which took up 3 stocks of the power meter, yet dealt a powerful blow that could crush a opponent's confidence entirely.



However obscure the storyline was for the past KOF titles, 2K3 chose to go back to basics, and reintroduced the Orochi plotline by beginning the first chapter of what would be now known as the "Ash Crimson Saga". The new story arc takes its name from the eponymous new character, Ash Crimson - a self-serving individual from France who can wield green flames similar to the past protagonists, Kyo Kusanagi and K'. Unlike those two, Ash is full-fledged bad guy, willing to manipulate others to meet his ultimate goals. To this end, he forms a team with two other newbies - Duo Lon and Shen Woo, and together they enter the KOF 2K3 tournament as the New Hero Team. Duo Lon enters to attend to personal business for his ninja clan, while Shen simply wants nothing to do but fight and be the best at what he does. Ash's intentions, however, are anything but noble, as he sets his sights on stealing the powers of the Three Sacred Treasures that sealed the Orochi years ago - these namely being Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and Chizuru Kagura.



The identity of the tournament's sponsor wasn't made known until the player met certain conditions in the game. As it turns out, there were two very different paths one could take where they would face a different boss by the game's end if they didn't beat the middle boss, Kusanagi, through certain conditions. One path, considered the "bad ending" of the game, pitted players against Adelheid and Rose, the children of the late KOF boss, Rugal Bernstein.



In the case of the "true ending", players had to go through a sub-boss first, and it was none other than Chizuru Kagura. Paired with her mirror image sister, Maki, the priestess proved to be a more powerful combatant this time around. After the battle, it is finally learned that a mysterious group known only as "Those From The Past" were the ones responsible for organizing the tournament. Their purpose was as sinister as their own appearance: they wanted to ressurect the dark powers of the Orochi and harness it for their own needs.



To "test the player", the group allowed their most powerful champion, Mukai, to do battle. Using powers of petrification, the rock lord was more than a mere pushover, and even in defeat, he managed to break the Orochi seal and escape, leaving everyone wondering what the true motives of this insidious group really was.



Meanwhile, Ash Crimson made his move, and quickly took advantage of the confusion to steal Chizuru's powers. Iori Yagami was then warned that he would be next, and a furious Kyo swore to hunt down Ash by whatever means necessary.



'Successful reimagination' is an understatement to describe KOF 2K3's mark in the series. Personally, I consider it one of my favorite installments, and it's not because of the tag team aspect alone. No, the real reason is because most of my favorites got complete makeovers. Kyo has a new costume, K' got a new sprite stance, while Athena gets her long hair back... but it was none other than the lone wolf himself, Terry Bogard, who got my undivided attention. He sported a complete change via his "Garou: Mark Of The Wolves" look, with shorter hair, a bomber jacket, and new shoutouts for his moves.



This Terry was wiser, slicker, and more cunning than his younger cap wearing counterpart, and he had the coolness factor to show for it. His basic moves list remained intact, but everyone had to relearn how to combo with him all over again. It was a totally different style, and a welcomed change for players looking for new challenges to overcome. His brother Andy was also absent from the tournament, so taking his place was another MOTW veteran, the Mexican masked wrestler Tizoc! This idea did not sit well with mainstay Joe Higashi at first, but the new Fatal Fury team learned to compensate and adjust to the changes to work as a powerful team that was a force to be reckoned with.



It took two years before the next installment came, and a slew of non-canonical titles tided players over until an official sequel hit consoles again. By fall 2005, The King Of Fighters XI finally entered the arcade scene, with many noticeable differences over the last game. One obvious change was the game's title being numerically numbered, since the game was no longer qualified as a consistent release on a yearly basis. Additionally, the graphics had a minor upgrade, running on SEGA's Atomiswave hardware engine. It gave backgrounds a distinct 3D feel to them, and the visuals looked mighty impressive in this installment. Nonetheless, sprites remained the same and everything was still simple 2D fighting. The tag team rules from 2003 were carried over, with some minor improvements to the Tactical Shift System. Players could now "Quick Shift" characters in during a teammate's combo to unleash more damage, or utilize "Saving Shift" to get them out of a jinx. The biggest addition, however, was the "Dream Cancel", wherein a players could execute more devastating moves on their opponent... like linking a super with another teammate's super!



The story itself picks up where 2003 left off. Ash Crimson made away with Chizuru's powers, and it was up to Kyo and Iori to get it back. Filling in for Chizuru was Kyo's self-proclaimed student, Shingo Yabuki, and together they participated in a new tournament, once again sponsored by the mysterious group "Those From The Past". Ash himself participated for his own reasons, recruiting Shen Woo to his team once more and a new face named Oswald, who participates in the tournament to find the whereabouts of a mysterious new drug. Other old faces return and new guys show up to make up the other teams, but it was Kyo's team that eventually makes it to the finals. Prior to the final battle, they face up with a mysterious woman known only as Shion, who is vastly skilled in martial arts and wields a long spear. Her loss prompts the real threat and sponsor of the tournament to enter - a man known only as Magaki. After disposing of his assistant Shion, the final battle begins, and Magaki exhibits powers similar to that of the Orochi itself, whom he wants to awaken. However even with his dark powers, he underestimates Kyo's team and is subsequently defeated. Attempting to make an escape via an interdimensional hole, the cocky Magaki is killed when Shion's spear suddenly appears and hits him in the chest.



With that, the threat is seemingly over, but not before Ash Crimson steps in to take advantage of the situation. Having a 'Riot Of The Blood' induced state everytime he confronts something related to the Orochi, Iori Yagami goes into a rampage and starts attacking his teammates. Kyo is knocked down while Shingo prepares for the killing blow, but it is Ash's appearance that saves them both from certain doom. Hardly intimidated by the situation, Ash effortlessly makes quick work of Iori and steals his powers, making the score 2/3 and leaving Kyo the last target on his list. With the tournament over, he leaves the scene and everyone else wondering what his true motives really are...



Much like 2K3, KOF XI was another stunning entry into the series that I just had to play. Unfortunately, it wasn't released right away for the local arcades, so I had to wait a looong time until the home version actually hit the Playstation 2. Suffice to say, it didn't disappoint my expectations, and it was another wild party chalk full of characters, extras, and storylines a true KOF fan should never miss out on. My only concern was the loading times... it takes a lot longer to fight than previous entries thanks to the updated visuals, but once the battle starts and you let off some steam, you'll know damn well that the upgrade was worth it. Unfortunately, this game proved to be the last major KOF entry anyone would see for quite some time. It looked like the end of an era for some... but SNK Playmore had other plans. They weren't done with the series just yet, and they had big changes in store for it.



At last, we come to the end of Spotlight. Finally, after almost four years of waiting, the big day has arrived and The King Of Fighters is reborn with the newest entry to the series - The King Of Fighters XII. Sporting new visuals and back to basics gameplay, it is indeed being marketed to a new generation of KOF fans and seasoned veterans as well... but was it worth the wait? I got it and I'm about to find out. Check back soon... A review's coming up.XD

Spotlight: The King Of Fighters Saga Part II

The Spotlight continues... and this time, KOF goes Sci-Fi.

1999 - lots of expectations and concerns ran rampant over the future of The King Of Fighters, SNK's premiere brawler franchise. The past five installments proved without a shadow of a doubt that there was a market for the series, and after the conclusion of the four year Orochi Saga, many were left wondering how things would turn out in the next installment. After the filler year release of KOF '98, a true sequel was finally released in July 22, 1999, giving fans another year of monumental battles... and questions.


Yes, 10 years ago today, The King Of Fighters '99 hit arcades and took the entire world by storm. It served as the first episode of what would be known as the "NESTS Saga", and introduced a new primary protagonist for the series in the process - K', a mysterious individual who could wield flames and had no recollection of his own past. Two years have passed since the last official tournament, KOF '97, and Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami have mysteriously vanished without a single trace. Everyone went back to their simple and normal lives... until a new tournament invitation was extended to fighters around the world. It was at this point that Benimaru Nikaido and Shingo Yabuki, two close friends and teammates of Kyo, decided to participate and investigate the whereabouts of their friend. However, in order to do so, they had to join forces with K' and his partner, Maxima, to form a team to participate in the tournament.


The roster increase also proved beneficial aside from new characters introduced and fan favorites returning. Instead of a three man team rule, it was now increased to four, with a new assist feature added to the game known as the "Striker System". The extra fighter's presence gave additional ways to execute distractions and counters that were beneficial in breaking combos and turning the tide against opponents who were gaining the upper hand. Other system additions, such as "Counter Mode" and "Armor Mode", increased the player's offensive and defensive capabilities respectively.


It is later revealed that the flames K' held are the direct result of an experiment conducted by the shadowy organization called NESTS, using the DNA of Kyo, who was captured by the syndicate after the events of KOF '97. Clones of Mr. Kusanagi were also created, to serve as soldiers for the organization's plans of world conquest.



Meanwhile, the REAL Kyo did manage to escape, sporting a new look and an undominatable will to find those responsible for his abduction and making them pay. It was not long before Iori showed up, intent on resuming the feud he started with his rival long ago. However, all of these concerns had to wait, as the true enemy finally showed his face, and his name was Krizalid - the supposed organizer of the tournament. The battle proved to be a tedious experience, but in the end K' emerged victorious, finding out that Krizalid was a clone of his and nothing more than a puppet in the grander scheme of things. His death left more questions in the minds of those who participated, as well as a driving urge to rid the world of NESTS' influence once and for all.


In a sense, I have a love/ hate relationship with '99. Character wise, I enjoyed playing the new faces, old faves like Kyo, Terry, and Iori, and of course, K'. Story wise, the game sounded like a Sci-Fi episode mixed in with the martial arts mayhem we've come to know through the years. I remember grabbing this game for the original Playstation, and I found the experience to be quite mind boggling thanks to the slow loading and hard pressed controls. It was only the legacy of the series, the awesome soundtrack, and not to mention the fighting, that kept me going, and I only found justice playing this installment with The King Of Fighters '99 Evolution - a rerelease for the Sega Dreamcast. It featured characters that never made the original game, serving as extra strikers you could use and unlock. The controls were better, and 3D background visuals complimented the upgrade and makeover the game had.


The NESTS story continued in King Of Fighters 2000. At the conclusion of the last game, K' found out he had a sister - a girl named Whip, who was serving alongside the members of the Ikari Team. By the end of '99, Whip joins K's team, seeking to dispose of NEST once and for all. However, other fighters around the world are called forth once again for another tournament, this time organized by the enigmatic Zero, another agent of the NESTS organization. Through subterfuge and deception, Zero was able to take control of the world's defenses and destroy a large portion of the fictional city called South Town (which was the home of Fatal Fury hero Terry Bogard). It was only a matter of time until the heroes confronted and defeated the megalomaniac, who sought to enslave humanity to his will and dethrone NESTS in the process. His masters didn't take the news too well, so they sent agents to dispose of Zero, with the Anti-K' agent Kula Diamond leading the charge. Zero was defeated, but NESTS remained, much to the chagrin of those who despised the syndicate. Overall, despite the lackluster story and short boss battle, the game was a relative success, thanks in part to the Striker System from the last game, which was carried over and improved in this sequel.

At this point, the original SNK was near bankruptcy, and the future of the KOF franchise was looking mighty bleak for players hoping for a new installment of the epic fighting franchise. When all seemed lost for KOF, salvation came in the form of Breezzasoft, a company made up of former SNK employees who took over the reigns and decided to finish the NESTS Saga once and for all.


Produced by Korean based game company Eolith, The King Of Fighters 2001 was finally released in November 2001, to the surprise and bewilderment of those who thought the franchise would never see the light of day again. Like every year before it, more characters were present, and the NESTS team finally had the guts to show their faces. New characters were added once again, and K' was given a rival, K9999, who was eerily similar in appearance and powers to Tetsuo from the classic anime film Akira. The game play system also went through another makeover. the Striker system and Four man team were still intact, but players could now mix and match whether they wanted four combatants and no striker, three combatants and one striker, and so on. This method, however, came at the expense of the power stock gauge. The more fighters and less strikers you have, the less stocks you have. Players had a reason to experiment with this, as favorites like Kyo and Iori got a combo boost, more moves, and a super special DM (Desperation Move) they could unleash by using two stocks of the power gauge. These additions came in handy, especially when confronting the game's final bosses - Original Zero (yes, the last game's Zero was a clone apparently) and NESTS' leader himself, Igniz. Painstakingly overcoming both of these tough guys closed the curtain on the Sci-Fi turmoil, and finally resulted in the death of the NESTS organization once and for all.



Well, are you confused about how things went from mystically epic to science fictionally unappropriate? I sure was, and I still question why the direction of KOF went this way. Still, if you overlook the story, not everything was bad. When it comes down to it, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FIGHTING... Nothing else. Every character from Athena Asamiya to Mai Shiranui got a makeover and additional moves to boast around with, so that should be grounds to celebrate and reason enough to enjoy these games.


The King Of Fighters 2002 decided to listen and treat fans to "old school", bringing back the classic three man team gameplay and adding just a wee bit of extras, such as the secret super Desperation Moves that can only be executed upon near death. Like '98 before it, 2002 was another filler year, and only proved that players like myself hungered from more KOF goodness. Eventually, the NESTS saga was compiled and released in numerous platforms, and even the dream match titles, '98 and '02, got complete makeovers and rereleases in the vein of '99 evolution.


In the next and final installment of Spotlight, KOF goes extreme. Big changes were made and a new chapter begins... again.

Spotlight: The King Of Fighters Saga Part I

The arrival of the newest King Of Fighters game, KOF XII, is upon us. Before that, I'd like to look back and reflect on the series' history and what made it so damn appealing to the public eye.

I grew up worshiping Street Fighter II. Back in the days of the SNES and Genesis, it was THE fighting game to have. Sure, American kids can lay claim to the violence and grotesque gorefest that was Mortal Kombat, but it hardly compares to the excitement and pure adrenaline one feels while playing CAPCOM'S signature brawler. This definitely ignited the fighter in me, and as I explored more titles along the years, my cravings eventually exposed me to other games that I can call epic franchises. One of these happens to come from SNK, another videogame developing company and a big competitor of CAPCOM back in the 2D days. They are better known as the brains behind arcade classics such as Fatal Fury and Samurai Showdown, but arguably their most well known franchise would have to be The King Of Fighters series, also abbreviated as "K.O.F".



The KOF series is technically a spin-off of the Fatal Fury and Art Of Fighting games, yet it includes characters from other well known SNK games, such as Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier. Much like Street Fighter, it was a one-on-one close combat game wherein special moves and supers are performed through a series of commands in order to play the game effectively.


Starting with The King Of Fighters '94 - the game served as an "All Star" assemble fighting game, wherein players would be given the option of selecting teams based from different countries around the world to compete in a series of matches. While established fan favorites like Terry Bogard and Ryo Sakazaki were involved, the lead was an original fighter made for the game - Kyo Kusanagi. He was a young fire-wielding martial artist who sought to defeat the tournament's sponsor - a man named Rugal Bernstein, whose plans involved world domination and the lot. While it wasn't as widely known as SFII, KOF became an eventual hit, and its success spawned more sequels, each bearing a significant makeover over the last.


The next game, The King Of Fighters '95, took things to the next level by allowing players to edit their three man teams with anybody in the selectable roster. This also happened to be the first game of the series that I played, and since then, I got hooked with every installment. This game also introduced new characters, featuring the first appearance of Kyo's eternal rival, Iori Yagami. Their destinies would be intertwined from this point forward, and what began as a simple tournament now turned into a fight against the forces of darkness. Dubbed "The Orochi Saga", Rugal's return and eventual defeat in '95 only marked the beginning of a long storyline that persisted for the next few installments. Eventually, The King Of Fighters '96 was released, and even more combatants entered the tournament, seeking fortune, glory, or a measure of revenge against some rival who they hated the most. Sponsoring the competition was a nobleman named Goenitz, who sought to revive the legendary demon, Orochi. His plans were thwarted by Kyo, Iori, and the mysterious priestess Chizuru Kagura, but his will was executed by others in the next game.


The King Of Fighters '97, probably my favorite entry in the series, changed everything and turned KOF into a combo rallying sensation. More gameplay changes were made, and more moves and specials were included to give the game more dynamic appeal. It also concluded the Orochi Saga, where Kyo and his allies finally confronted the demon itself and sealed it away. However, the story was left open ended for a sequel, and things wouldn't fully be resolved until KOF '99 breezed through arcades two years later.


What about The King Of Fighters '98, you say? Well, that game was more of a filler, and it served as a Dream Match to have everybody playing it more involved with the fighting and less of the story. It was still a major success, and some people also consider this the best among the bunch. All of these games were eventually compiled and released in a titanic package: The King Of Fighters - The Orochi Saga. It's readily available for the PS2 and PSP, so gamers itching for fighting game goodness can grab it right away.


1994-1998 was just the start of things. On the next installment of Spotlight, I'll be tackling what many hoped to be "the next generation of KOF" and see how that panned out...