The King of Fighters '94

The King Of Fighters '94 (or just KOF 94) was the first game from the The King of Fighters series, and was released in August, 25, 1994 for the SNK Neo Geo systems (AES, MVS and CD).

This game featured characters from earlier SNK games, such as Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier, but also had new characters as the Japan Team (or Hero Team) and the Usa Team. The major innovation in KOF 94, comparing to the fighting games at that time, was the 3-on-3 team battle system, where each player uses 3-characters team instead of the 1-on-1 from the other fighting games. So the game roster was divided in teams of 3, each team representing one country.

Recently, SNK Playmore released a remake of KOF '94, called The King of Fighters '94: Rebout on the Playstation 2, but the game wasn't released outside of Japan.

In 2008, The game was included as part of SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1.

Gameplay
Since this game is some kind of crossover, the gameplay also have some similarities to some snk fighting games. The gameplay shows elements from Fatal Fury (infinite special moves/DMs when your lifebar is in the end, and the dash by tapping the controller twice ahead or backwards) and Art of Fighting (use A+B+C to charge your special meter, and unleash a DM when your special meter is at MAX). KOF 94 also feature a sidestep system, by pressing A+B the character dodge without moving (the roll dodge was only implemented in The King of Fighters '96. When your lifebar is flashing red, and your special meter is at max, you can unleash a devastating-almost-killer move by doing a super move.

Plot
This year, the man known as Rugal Bernstein (a wealthy drug and weapon dealer, and an expert in both subjects, as well as an influent leading to the black marketing) was unstoppable, no government in the world has ever stopped him, and no opponent has ever left the Blacknoah (Rugal's air carrier). Rugal, bored by the lack of competition, had an ominous idea. He ordered one of his personal secretaries, Mature, to go around the world, and give 24 invitations to certain people around the world. These invitations were enclosed in white envelopes, with red seals marked the "Rugal" sign. He was to retake the old King of Fighters tournament, and take it in his own hands. However, he was going to create some new rules this year. Instead of one-on-one fights, the new competition system was to include battles between teams of three people. Fights will take place between these teams, in a tag-team fashion. If one of the members were to be defeated by one of the other team's members, the next member will come in to fight the winner, and will go on until all three members of one team would be defeated. However, before the tournament was to be commenced, a man stood before Rugal...ready to fight him to the end and finish his stupid ambition. Of course, Rugal was not the one to be intimidated...

Days later, the new King of Fighters tournament began. Eight teams had entered, representing eight different countries. Japan, with the newest breed of Asian heroes. Italy, having no other than the legendary Lonely Wolves. Mexico, showing the power of Kyokugenryo Karate. Brazil, represented by Ikari mercenaries. China, combining both old and new generations. Korea, sporting some weird combination of justice and crime. England, the only all-female team. USA, and the three most important country sportsmen. Thus, the tournament began. Passionate combats and fierce fights were battled across the globe, but with no hatred, only with the fury and will to win. The fights were difficult to all teams, with winners being decided by short instances. At the end, the young Japan Team overcame the Lone Wolves from Italy Team, and became the tournament's winners. This team had two young fighters and one experienced warrior. Kyo Kusanagi, the descendant from the Kusanagi Clan, known for it's crimson flames. Benimaru Nikaido, owner of the power of lightning, and expert in Shooting Karate (a variaton of Muay thai). And Goro Daimon, the judo champion, who makes even earth tremble with his strength.

Mature, Rugal's personal secretary, invited the Japan Team atop a helicopter, which was to transfer them to the Blacknoah: their final battle was about to begin. Rugal saluted the team as they came in the Blacknoah, aside his pet panther and a glass of wine. He laughed and honestly thought they wouldn't come this far. Shocked at this statement, the three fighters were paralyzed at the sight around them: groups and groups of statues of fighters extended everywhere. With another evil laughter, Rugal admits that all those fighters were alive once, and that he had defeated them all, and bathed their bodies in steel so that they would be inmortalized. And the Japan Team was the next in the eerie collection...

Rugal fought the three fighters. Benimaru and Daimon fought well, but they only managed to make Rugal a lot more angrier, obligating him to use his best techniques. He confesses that he never had to reach to such instances, but the circumstances so applied for it. Using his full power, Rugal even took the best techniques of Geese and Krauser, past hosts of the tournament! After defeating Benimaru and Daimon, Kyo was the last one standing. Although Kyo fought with all his might, Rugal turned out to be a ruthless fighter, and began to make Kyo feel the heat of the battle. Almost on his knees, Kyo, with sore eyes, saw a body lying in a corner of the room. With disbelief, he saw that it was no other than his own father, Saisyu Kusanagi. He had turned out to face Rugal prior to the tournament, but had been defeated...perhaps even killed. Kyo couldn't take it anymore. He bursted in rage, and in sheer fury, attacked Rugal like a crimson tornado. Unable to avoid the rage of the Kusanagi, Rugal fell in defeat. With his voice paused by the pain, Rugal silently condemns the Japan Team to a swift death...crazy of revenge, and a poor loser, Rugal took a strange device, and pressed the button. The Blacknoah was now to autodestroy itself! Kyo, Benimaru, and Daimon barely made it out alive, as the Blacknoah, engulfed in flames, sank to the bottom of the ocean. Thus, the King of Fighters tournament ended yet again, and as the same as the past two years, nobody was seen to be able to take hand of the tournament.

Characters
Old Characters (from earlier snk franchises):
 * Terry Bogard - From Fatal Fury series
 * Andy Bogard - From Fatal Fury series
 * Joe Higashi - From Fatal Fury series
 * Mai Shiranui - From Fatal Fury series
 * King - From Art of Fighting series
 * Yuri Sakazaki - From Art of Fighting series
 * Ryo Sakazaki - From Art of Fighting series
 * Takuma Sakazaki - From Art of Fighting series
 * Robert Garcia - From Art of Fighting series
 * Ralf Jones - From Ikari Warriors series
 * Clark Still - From Ikari Warriors series
 * Kim Kaphwan - From Fatal Fury series
 * Athena Asamiya - From Athena and Psycho Soldier
 * Sie Kensou - From Psycho Soldier

New Characters:
 * Choi Bounge
 * Chang Koehan
 * Chin Gentsai
 * Heidern
 * Heavy D!
 * Lucky Glauber
 * Brian Battler
 * Rugal Bernstein
 * Kyo Kusanagi
 * Benimaru Nikaido
 * Goro Daimon

Teams

 * Japan Team (A.K.A Hero Team): Kyo Kusanagi, Benimaru Nikaido and Goro Daimon
 * Italy Team (A.K.A Fatal Fury Team): Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard and Joe Higashi
 * Brazil Team (A.K.A Ikari Team): Heidern, Ralf Jones and Clark Still
 * England Team (A.K.A Women Fighters Team): King, Mai Shiranui and Yuri Sakazaki
 * Mexico Team (A.K.A Art Of Fighting Team): Takuma Sakazaki, Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia
 * Korea Team (A.K.A Kim Team): Kim Kaphwan, Choi Bounge and Chang Koehan
 * China Team (A.K.A Psycho Soldiers Team): Athena Asamiya, Chin Gentsai and Sie Kensou
 * U.S.A Team (A.K.A American Sports Team): Heavy D!, Lucky Glauber and Brian Battler

Development
In an interview with veteran developers of the series -which included C.A.C Yamasaki and Mitsuo Kodama- they claim that their prototype version for KOF was going to be a side-scrolling beat 'em up titled, Survivor. In this version, it would only use core characters from the Art of Fighting and Fatal Fury series, specifically allowing players to play characters like Robert Garcia and Terry Bogard for location testing. However, the idea was quickly abandoned after the debut of Capcom's game with similar gameplay, Final Fight. Since they were attached to the idea of the two series cross-over, they eventually agreed to make their idea into a fighting game. Characters from Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier games were also added in spirit of other gaming genres considered for their final product. The concept of a three-man team was one of the ideas kept from the side-scrolling version.

Flagship director, Toyohisa Tanabe, asserts that the Art of Fighting and Fatal Fury fighters were added specifically for adults. The newer KoF characters were aimed to appeal to younger and newer audiences. He adds that every original character for the series is added based on the developers' strong desire to make one. For example, he agreed to include characters such as Benimaru and Chang to add an off-beat variety to the cast, which he previously deemed to be too serious before.

Although Kyo was developed to be the main protagonist of the franchise, the game's primary focus was to create a dream match between Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting (respectively basing KoF '94 on Fatal Fury Special and Art of Fighting 2). These contradictory ideals eventually lead to the concept that the player decided who the "true" protagonist was for this year. Kyo's role in the series was emphasized in the following year.