The King of Fighters (KOF) is a series of fighting games created by SNK. It is a crossover game that includes characters from different video game series made by the company, as well as characters made specifically for the KOF series. The series began with the release of The King of Fighters '94 in 1994. This game was first made for SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade machines and had new versions released every year until The King of Fighters 2003, its tenth entry. After that, SNK stopped making new KOF games every year and instead used Roman numerals for the titles, while also stopping the use of Neo Geo hardware. The first major game after this change was The King of Fighters XI (2005), which used the Atomiswave arcade board. The most recent arcade version of the game is the Taito Type X, first used for The King of Fighters XII (2009) and later for The King of Fighters XV (2022).

The story of the games centers on a tournament where fighters from different SNK games compete. SNK also created original characters to be main characters, such as Kyo Kusanagi, a new fighter who is part of a family destined to save the world from a demon called Yamata no Orochi. Other characters include fighters from games like Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting. Later stories focused on other characters, such as K', who can control fire after experiments by the NESTS organization, Ash Crimson, who wants to find the Three Sacred Treasures, and Shun'ei, a young fighter whose powers open the world to other dimensions.

Several spin-off games, such as the R series for the Neo Geo Pocket and Maximum Impact for the PlayStation 2, were also made. Versions of the arcade games have been released for many video game consoles. There have been games where SNK characters played with characters from other companies, like Capcom. Some characters have also appeared in other games, such as Mai Shiranui in Dead or Alive and Street Fighter 6, Geese Howard in Tekken 7, Kula Diamond in Dead or Alive 6, and Terry Bogard in Fighting EX Layer, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Street Fighter 6.

The games have generally received positive reviews, with their team-based gameplay and balanced fighting systems often praised.

Games

• SNK released the first game in the series, The King of Fighters '94, on August 25, 1994. It included characters from SNK’s earlier fighting games Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting, as well as new characters from other SNK series like Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier. The game’s popularity led SNK to release a new game each year, naming them after the year they were made.
• The King of Fighters '95 added new characters and started the first story in the series called "The Orochi Saga." It was also the first game that let players create their own teams of three characters from the game.
• The King of Fighters '96 continued "The Orochi Saga." Depending on which characters were chosen for a team, players would see different endings.
• "The Orochi Saga" ended with The King of Fighters '97.
• The King of Fighters '98 did not have a story. Instead, it was called a "Dream Match" game, allowing players to choose characters from earlier games, even those who were supposed to be dead. SNK later updated the Dreamcast version, renaming it The King of Fighters: Dream Match 1999 with new animated scenes and 3D backgrounds.
• The King of Fighters '99 introduced a new story called "The NESTS Chronicles." It added a feature where one team member could help others in battle for a short time, called a "Striker." The Dreamcast version was named The King of Fighters: Evolution, with improved graphics and new Strikers.
• The King of Fighters 2000 was the second part of "The NESTS Saga" and the last game made by SNK before it went out of business. It included new characters and Strikers from earlier games and other SNK series like Metal Slug and The Last Blade.
• The King of Fighters 2001 ended the "NESTS Saga." After SNK went bankrupt, a Korean company named Eolith helped develop the game.
• The King of Fighters 2002 brought back old characters from earlier games and had no story, like KOF '98. Eolith also developed this game.
• A new story called "Tales of Ash" began in The King of Fighters 2003, the last game for the Neo Geo system. Players could switch characters during battles, but teams were limited to three members. SNK returned to develop the series after this. By 2004, SNK stopped making yearly games and used a different numbering system for future titles.
• The first main series game after this change was The King of Fighters XI, released in 2005.
• In 2009, The King of Fighters XII was released. It used high-quality 2D graphics and had no story, similar to KOF '98 and 2002.
• The "Tales of Ash" story ended with The King of Fighters XIII, released in 2010. It included all characters from KOF XII and added new ones.
• The King of Fighters XIV, which used 3D graphics and had a new story, was released for the PlayStation 4 on August 23, 2016.
• In December 2018, SNK announced work on The King of Fighters XV, which was released on February 17, 2022.

• A remake of KOF '94 called The King of Fighters '94 Re-Bout was released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2. It included better graphics, online play, and new characters like Saisyu Kusanagi.
• An updated version of KOF '98 called The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match was released in Japanese arcades in 2008 and later on consoles with more characters and improved graphics.
• A remake of KOF 2002 named The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2009. SNK also made a game called The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise, which connected to the Japanese Dreamcast version of KOF '99. A visual novel game titled The King of Fighters: Kyo followed Kyo’s daily life before the KOF '97 tournament.
• For the Neo Geo Pocket, a version of KOF '97 called King of Fighters R-1 was released in 1998. A sequel, King of Fighters R-2, based on KOF '98, came out in 1999 for the Neo Geo Pocket Color.
• In 2004, SNK made the first 3D game in the series, The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact. This game and its sequels changed some story details from earlier games. A second update called Regulation A2 was planned but never made. A game called The King of Fighters Neowave was released in 2005–2006, based on KOF 2002 with new graphics but no story.
• Two games for the Game Boy Advance, The King of Fighters EX: Neo-Blood and The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood, used characters and settings from KOF '99 and 2000. They included exclusive content like new stages and characters but were criticized for poor quality.
• A role-playing game called The King of Fighters: Kyo was made for the PlayStation, based on a manga. A version for the N-Gage system added Bluetooth multiplayer.
• By the late 2000s, three pachislot games were made for the series, focusing on different storylines. Other mobile phone games included fighting games and mini-games like volleyball and quizzes.

Several characters from the series appear in other games. NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is a 2-on-2 fighting game for arcades, and SNK Gals' Fighters is a fighting game for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Both games include characters from other SNK series. A rhythm game called The Rhythm of Fighters was released for mobile phones in 2015. Capcom also made crossover games with SNK, including SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (1999) and SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos (2003). Capcom made its own games, like Capcom vs. SNK (2000).

Gameplay elements

The basic gameplay of The King of Fighters (KOF) is similar to earlier games by SNK, such as Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and Samurai Shodown. The game uses four buttons for attacks: light punch, light kick, strong punch, and strong kick. These buttons are used in combinations to perform special moves, such as dodging or launching powerful attacks. Like Fatal Fury 2, players use specific button presses to execute moves. Each character has basic, unique, and special moves that require pressing certain buttons and moving the joystick in specific ways. New versions of the game, such as The King of Fighters '97, introduced changes to how players gain power. Instead of charging a Power Gauge manually, it fills when players hit the opponent or use special moves. Players can store up to three Power Gauges. One gauge can be used to perform a Super Special Move or enter "MAX" mode, which increases a player's strength and defense. Using a Super Special Move in MAX mode creates an even stronger attack.

The KOF series changed fighting games by replacing the traditional round-based format with a 3-on-3 team battle system. Instead of choosing one character, players pick from eight teams, each with three members. Before a match, players decide the order their team members will fight. When a match starts, the first member of each team fights. If a character is defeated, the next member from the same team replaces them, and the opponent’s character regains some health. If a player is losing, they can call a teammate from the sidelines to help with an attack. The match ends when all three members of one team are defeated.

In The King of Fighters '99, 2000, and 2001, each team received an extra character to assist with attacks. 2002 returned to the classic 3-on-3 format, but 2003 and XI introduced a "Leader" character who could perform stronger moves during battles. Later games went back to the traditional 3-on-3 format but still included new rules and ways to play.

Plot and characters

The King of Fighters tournament began as part of SNK's earlier fighting game series, Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting, starting with the events of Art of Fighting 2. The first game in the series, KOF '94, follows a black market arms dealer named Rugal Bernstein. He organizes a fighting tournament to attract strong fighters, then kills them and turns them into stone statues to add to his collection. The game includes characters from previous games, such as Terry Bogard and Ryo Sakazaki, and introduces a new hero: Kyo Kusanagi, a young Japanese martial artist who becomes the main character in early KOF games. SNK designed Kyo to have a personality different from earlier characters to stand out in the crossover.

In KOF '95, Rugal, who survived the first tournament, hosts another one to seek revenge. This game introduces Kyo's rival, Iori Yagami. It is the first to mention the Orochi clan, which becomes a central story element in the next two games. KOF '96 and KOF '97 are hosted by a woman named Chizuru Kagura, who tries to gather allies, including Kyo and Iori, to fight the Orochi clan. The Orochi storyline ends in KOF '97. KOF '98 is a "Special Edition" with no new story.

KOF '99 starts a new story involving a secret corporation called NESTS, which aims to create genetically modified fighters. The game introduces K', a NESTS escapee who was genetically altered using Kyo's DNA. KOF 2000 and KOF 2001 continue the NESTS story, revealing more about the organization. Like KOF '98, KOF 2002 is a "Special Edition" with no plot. K' was created as a different hero compared to Kyo. While Kyo is confident, K' is a dark hero who reluctantly fights NESTS.

KOF 2003 begins a new story focusing on Ash Crimson, a young man who wants to gain the powers of the Three Divine Vessels for his own reasons. Like K', Ash is portrayed as a villain during his story. The tournaments in KOF 2003 and KOF XI are hosted by "Those From the Past," a group of warriors who try to break the Orochi seal to gain its power for their hidden leader. KOF XII has no story, but KOF XIII follows another tournament hosted by them, where Ash confronts their leader, who is his ancestor.

KOF XIV starts a new story featuring Shun'ei, a kind-hearted character. SNK explains that while Shun'ei is not a new main character, he plays an important role in the series' history.

Development

The King of Fighters was first planned as a side-scrolling action game. However, SNK changed it into a fighting game. The title came from the first Fatal Fury game: Fatal Fury: King of Fighters. The game was created by Masanori Kuwasashi. He enjoyed watching shows like Tensai Bakabon, Ashita no Joe, Tiger Mask, and Devilman, as well as playing arcade and Super Famicom games. Before working on video games, he designed packaging for electronic products. He later left that job to work in the video game industry. SNK hired many new employees in the 1980s and early 1990s. Kuwasashi, Tanabe, and Shimizu, under Nishiyama’s leadership, formed the core of a game development team. The first version of the game was similar to River City Ransom, a side-scrolling action game where players fought in teams. This idea was later abandoned. Instead, the team decided to make a fighting game. The game had a team battle concept but not enough characters. Characters from Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Ikari Warriors, and Psycho Soldier were added to the roster. The idea of having three players on a team was kept from the side-scrolling version. The title "The King of Fighters" was reused from the subtitle of the first Fatal Fury game. Toyohisa Tanabe, the series’ director, said that characters from Art of Fighting and Fatal Fury were added for older players. New characters were created to attract younger audiences. Characters like Benimaru Nikaido and Chang Koehan were added to make the cast more diverse. This idea was inspired by Ryo Sakazaki from Art of Fighting appearing in Fatal Fury Special, which introduced the concept of combining characters from different games. During the development of The King of Fighters '94, Masanori Kuwasashi worried about creating a young main character who could compete with SNK’s veteran fighters. After talking to producer Takashi Nishiyama, he decided it would help sales. This led to the creation of Kyo Kusanagi, based on the Yamata no Orochi legend, which became the story’s foundation.

The first two games used the Neo Geo MVS arcade system. The King of Fighters '96 had 68 KB of video memory and 64 KB of RAM, making it the first game to exceed the MVS system’s technical limits. SNK staff noted that creating new characters with the same popularity as existing ones was difficult. This also happened during testing of new games. In the mid-1990s, The King of Fighters was SNK’s most popular game, while other titles like Art of Fighting 3 and Fatal Fury 3 were not well received. Though Fatal Fury later saw a revival with Real Bout Fatal Fury and Garou: Mark of the Wolves, these games were released when SNK was going bankrupt, so the company focused on The King of Fighters. An artist named Shinkiro created the first artwork for the game. Newcomer Hiroaki Hashimoto felt pressure to draw appealing characters for his debut, even though he was inexperienced.

For the first time, former producer Takashi Nishiyama was not on the team for The King of Fighters 2000, which caused some concern. Despite early worries, SNK was happy with the game’s outcome and called it an appealing arcade game. A Mexican company called Evoga had a major influence on the games because of their popularity in Latin America. In 2000, SNK went bankrupt. Eolith negotiated a license to keep making The King of Fighters games because of their popularity in Korea and worldwide. BrezzaSoft helped Eolith with the game’s production. To avoid disappointing fans, Eolith kept many familiar elements from earlier games but added new features. One major change was the optional use of Strikers, where players could use one to three characters to help the main character. The team aimed to improve the gameplay system from earlier games. A popularity poll showed that Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami were the most popular characters, so they were included. Scenarios in the game included references to Evoga’s work. While working on the game, the team played The King of Fighters '98 to see if they could include a character. A member from Evoga won, so Angel was added to the game. Starting in 2003, SNK, now called SNK Playmore, took over development again. SNK Playmore stopped using the AES system in 2003 and partnered with Sammy to use the Atomiswave arcade board, which improved audio and graphics for new games.

The gameplay from the NESTS story arc received negative feedback, so The King of Fighters 2002 returned to the original team system. The King of Fighters 2003 introduced a new system that allowed swapping team members to make gameplay easier. The last yearly release was The King of Fighters 2003. In December 2004, Falcoon, the series’ main illustrator, mentioned that the next game would be different from The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact or a planned The King of Fighters 2004. Development began after SNK finished making Neo Geo Battle Coliseum.

KOF 2003 was followed by XI, XII, and XIII, which had major changes to appeal to fans. Though KOF XIII was well received, SNK put the franchise on hold for several years. The decision to create The King of Fighters XIV came when SNK Playmore’s CEO, Eikichi Kawasaki, wanted the company to return to making fighting games instead of focusing on Pachinko-Slot Machines and Mobile Apps. Production started in April 2014 after more staff from Esaka joined the team. Yasuyuki Oda was the game’s director. This was his first work on the franchise, leading a younger team. During his time at SNK, games like Virtua Fighter inspired him to create 3D games. When he returned, there was no debate about moving the series to 3D, though adapting some characters was challenging. Many SNK staff consider KOF '98 and KOF 2002 the best games in the series. They used these

Related media

In 1995, Tatsuya Shingyoji created a manga version of The King of Fighters '94. This manga was published in Monthly Shōnen Ace, a magazine by Kadokawa Shoten, and released in four book volumes between February 10, 1995, and December 1996. A separate manga, The King of Fighters: Kyo, focused on the rivalry between characters Kyo and Iori from The King of Fighters '96. Masato Natsumoto wrote this story, and it was published in two book volumes by Kodansha in 1997. Ryo Takamisaki also made another adaptation of KOF '96, published by Shinseisha in three book volumes from June 1996 to February 1998. Akihiko Ureshino wrote several novels based on the games, with different artists working on each book.

A manhua adaptation titled The King of Fighters: Zillion was created by Andy Seto. Hong Kong artists Wing Yang and King Tung produced additional manhua stories for the games, starting with The King of Fighters 2001 through 2003 and the Maximum Impact series. They later released a sequel, The King of Fighters 03: Xenon Zero, to finish the 2003 tournament story. ComicsOne licensed this series, releasing five volumes with 128 pages each from May 25, 2005, to June 26, 2008. Another manhua series, King of Fighters RX Project '00, had three volumes and was officially supported by SNK-Playmore Hong Kong. The NESTS saga version, illustrated by Ricky, focused on the 2000 tournament and the battle against NESTS.

The King of Fighters: A New Beginning is a shōnen manga written by Kyōtarō Azuma. It is based on The King of Fighters XIV and was published in Magazine Pocket by Kodansha from January 2018 to August 2020. Seven Seas Entertainment released the manga in North America, with the first volume appearing in March 2020. A light novel titled Iori Yagami's Isekai Mu'sou, written by Nobuhiko Tenkawa and illustrated by Eisuke Ogura, was released in July 2019. It follows events from KOF '97 and tells the story of Iori being transported to another world.

A short series called The King of Fighters: Another Day was released in 2005. Production I.G created it as an original net animation with four episodes, each about 10 minutes long. It was later included as a bonus DVD with KOF: Maximum Impact 2. An English-language live-action movie titled The King of Fighters was released directly to DVD in the United States in 2010. New anime and live-action projects were announced in 2016.

The CG anime series The King of Fighters: Destiny began streaming on Steam and YouTube in 2017. The first season retells the story of the original games, following Kyo Kusanagi as he leads the Japan Team in the tournament and faces Rugal, who uses the power of the mythical creature Orochi. This series has been viewed more than 800 million times.

SNK released a series of CD soundtracks titled SNK Character Sounds Collection or SNK Sound Character Collection. As of 2008, there are 11 volumes, each focusing on a single character. The CDs include different versions of character themes and quotes, with most covers illustrated by Masato Natsumoto. The Band of Fighters is a character image band featuring Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Terry Bogard, Nakoruru, and Athena Asamiya.

Dengeki Bunko and Pony Canyon released radio drama CDs based on the series. Some are direct adaptations of video games from KOF '94 to KOF '00. Another CD, Iori Yagami Original Drama: The Setting Sun and Moon ~ Prologue, focuses on Iori Yagami. It originally aired on Game Dra Night and Neo Chupi before being released by Pony Canyon on July 7, 1999. The guidebook The King of Fighters Perfect Reader includes a bonus CD drama, KOF: Mid Summer Struggle, with two stories: one serious and one comedic, both centered on KOF '03. These scenarios were created by Akihiko Ureshino and BoHyou. SNK also gave away a four-CD soundtrack featuring songs from past KOF games with the pre-order of KOF XIII at any GameStop in the United States.

In December 2006, Sabertooth Games released a King of Fighters 2006 set along with Samurai Shodown V for its Universal Fighting System (UFS) collectible card game. Starter packs for Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui were also released. Other merchandise includes figures and statues, mostly of Mai. Scale figures based on Kyo and Iori’s original designs and their XIV appearances, including a Nendoroid figure of Kyo, have also been released.

Reception

The fighting system in The King of Fighters (KOF) '99 was praised by many, but some critics had mixed opinions about the Striker system introduced in that game. In an article titled "The History of SNK" by GameSpot, KOF '99: Evolution was called one of the best fighting games on the Dreamcast, along with Garou: Mark of the Wolves. However, the game did not sell well because it was released during the PlayStation 2's launch and near the end of the Dreamcast's popularity. The boss character Rugal Bernstein, among others, was considered one of the hardest characters to defeat in fighting games, which led to some criticism.

The formation of the Three Sacred Treasures Team in The King of Fighters '96 was very popular with fans. This team was appealing because it connected to the Orochi saga, a story involving a powerful creature from Japanese mythology. Developers of KOF noted that characters Kyo and Iori were especially popular in South Korea, leading to their inclusion in The King of Fighters 2001, the first game not developed by the original company. After its release, SNK reported that about 4 million KOF fans existed in South Korea. In the book Gaming Cultures and Place in Asia-Pacific, Kyo was described as one of the most popular video game characters in Hong Kong from the mid-1990s, along with Iori and Mai. Kyo's story ended in The King of Fighters '97, but he remained more popular than later characters like Ash Crimson in Western regions. This led to Ignition Entertainment using Kyo in promotions for KOF XII. Similarly, Anime UK News preferred Kyo and Iori over the next main character, Shun'ei. GameType noted that most characters kept their classic outfits, with few exceptions like Terry Bogard, Kyo Kusanagi, and Robert Garcia. While exploring the story, they hoped the return to the Orochi narrative, based on the handling of Chizuru Kagura in 2003, would be more appealing than the NESTS arc from earlier games. Eurogamer XI called KOF XIV an "excellent 2D game," comparing it to Capcom's Street Fighter III.

The Mexican company Evoga had a major influence on the game due to the franchise's popularity in Latin America. They often tested the games before release. With KOF XIV, SNK noted the series remained popular in South America and China, leading to the creation of teams featuring characters from those regions. The franchise's popularity in these areas is partly due to economic factors, such as the lower cost and easier availability of machines featuring King of Fighters games compared to competing titles.

The Daily Star noted that the games' popularity comes from both gameplay and character development, such as the rivalry between Kyo and Iori. The franchise's story arcs were also seen as unique compared to other fighting games. Kakuchopurei.com agreed that the series offered a balanced cast of characters, making it easier for newcomers to enjoy, and shared the view that SNK handled storylines well. Some versions of the game in North America had censorship, such as removing Whip's gun and blood effects. Singer Del the Funky Homosapien created a song titled "The King of Fighters" that includes references to characters and special moves. Ash Crimson, a character in the series, was poorly received in Western regions. In an interview, Alex Lucard of Diehard GameFan noted that North American SNK fans disliked Ash's inclusion in KOF XII without a storyline, while popular characters were overlooked. After a fan poll, Ignition Entertainment reduced the number of potential cover art options for KOF XII to two, featuring Kyo and Iori instead of Ash.

Ben Herman, president of SNK Playmore USA, mentioned that while some fans criticized the English voices in the game, Maximum Impact sold over 100,000 units by May 2006, becoming a commercial success. Despite early issues with the online mode and other features in The King of Fighters XIV, Yasuyuki Oda noted that fan feedback became positive after these problems were fixed.