The King of Fighters '97

King of Fighters '97 is the fourth game in The King of Fighters series. It's also the final chapter of "Orochi Saga". This King of Fighters has the introduction of two special modes: Advance Mode (based on KOF '96) and Extra Mode (based on KOF '94 & '95).

This game was released on Arcade, Neo Geo, PlayStation, Sega Saturn and Neo Geo CD. This game was also released on iOS and Android in November 14, 2013. Fans were asked to vote for their favorite characters to add into the series through three game magazines: Famitsu, Gamest and Neo Geo Freak. The three winners form the '97 Special Team. The magazines also created their own special edit teams to include in the game.

Story
The official story given by SNK is as follows:

"KOF '96 tournament drew to a close with an incident that occurred right after the tournament's end."

The incident itself and the subsequent accident it caused were officially reported as the result of terrorist activity by an unknown group, but the details concerning the identity, motives, and subsequent whereabouts of the terrorists remained a mystery.

In spite of this incident, however, the KOF '96 tournament was an overwhelming commercial success. A few months after, the event triggered a fighting craze and various large corporations, expressing interest in the fad, offered to sponsor subsequent tournaments, leading to a demand for an eagerly awaited KOF '97. The fad reached all over the globe and in no time KOF '97 came into being.

With the decision to hold the tournament, fighters began to gather at various venues for the preliminary matches and approached the tournament with various motives, some came to test their abilities while others entered for wealth and fame. Word of the tournament came through all forms of the media, and fans from far and wide gathered to witness the white-hot preliminary battles. Concomitant to the preliminary matches, came the construction of various KOF stadiums throughout the world. Naturally the anticipation for the KOF '97 tournament exceeded historical precedent and it soon became obvious to everyone that the current tournament, as with the previous one, would reach a remarkable climax.

What team will win the tournament that the eyes of the whole world will look on and wear the KOF crown of victory? And does an incident similar to the unexpected accident of last year's tournament threaten to mar the festivities? All of the world's attention is focused on this year's tournament. KOF '97 is here!"

Japan Team

 * Kyo Kusanagi
 * Benimaru Nikaido
 * Goro Daimon

Fatal Fury Team

 * Terry Bogard
 * Andy Bogard
 * Joe Higashi

Art of Fighting Team

 * Ryo Sakazaki
 * Robert Garcia
 * Yuri Sakazaki

Ikari Warriors Team

 * Leona Heidern
 * Ralf Jones
 * Clark Still

Psycho Soldier Team

 * Athena Asamiya
 * Sie Kensou
 * Chin Gentsai

Women Fighters Team

 * Chizuru Kagura
 * Mai Shiranui
 * King

Korea Justice Team

 * Kim Kaphwan
 * Chang Koehan
 * Choi Bounge

New Faces Team

 * Yashiro Nanakase
 * Shermie
 * Chris

Special Team

 * Ryuji Yamazaki
 * Blue Mary
 * Billy Kane

Singles Entry

 * Iori Yagami
 * Shingo Yabuki

Alternate Character

 * Kyo Kusanagi '94 version

Mid-Boss Characters

 * Wild Iori
 * Wild Leona

Sub-Boss Team (3 Orochi Kings Team)

 * Orochi Yashiro
 * Orochi Shermie
 * Orochi Chris

Final Boss

 * Orochi

3 Sacred Weapons Team

 * Kyo Kusanagi
 * Iori Yagami
 * Chizuru Kagura

Kyo and Shingo Team

 * Kyo Kusanagi
 * Shingo Yabuki
 * Any character (except Iori or Benimaru)

SNK Heroes Team

 * Kyo Kusanagi
 * Terry Bogard
 * Ryo Sakazaki

Secondary Hero Team

 * Benimaru Nikaido
 * Joe Higashi
 * Kim Kaphwan

Old Womens Team

 * King
 * Mai Shiranui
 * Yuri Sakazaki

Old Team

 * Ralf Jones
 * Clark Still
 * Athena Asamiya

Japanese Version Only

Neo Geo Freak Team

 * Kyo Kusanagi
 * Billy Kane
 * Mai Shiranui

Gamest Team

 * Terry Bogard
 * Blue Mary
 * Joe Higashi

Famitsu Team

 * Chang Koehan
 * Choi Bounge
 * Ryuji Yamazaki

Stages
Note 1: This game is the first of the series in which all stages (except Mid-Bosses, Sub-Bosses and Boss) aren't associated with any team.

Note 2: The featured stages also is available in KOF '98: Ultimate Match, with some changes.
 * Bali: A ring in the village of Tuban, Indonesia. The fight takes in a sunset. Can be seen a crowd in the left, two sun umbrellas, videographers, people in typical costumes and doing a ritualistic dance, besides a vegetation, a band with the tournament sponsor's names and fire pyres near a gate, in the right. The series logo is in the center of the ring.
 * China: The city of Kowloon, in Hong Kong. The battle takes in a ring in the middle of Chinese New Year celebration. Can be seen videographers, some cameos, a store with the series name, flags, seveRal Kanjis, people dressed as dragon, a LED panel with the word INFORMATION and a poster with the brand Satella, the biggest sponsor of the tournament.
 * Japan: The Koshien Stadium, in the city of Nishinomiya. The fight takes in a plataform of steel. Can be seen a crowd, buildings, pillars with the words KOF '97: FESTIVAL and a light ball.
 * Korea: The city of Seoul. The fight occurs in a ring made exclusively for the tournament. Can be seen a crowd, in the right and the center, a car and a plaque of Satella, videographers, press room, cheerleaders, flags of South Korea and of the tournament, Korean drummers, women in typical dance costumes with fans and the game's special logo in the left, besides the Gyeongbokgung Palace in the background.
 * USA: The amusement park Adventure Land. The fight occurs in a ring full of confetti near to a river. Can be seen some park toys and attractions, some with the game's name, people dressed as pets holding a poster with the word GENZ, videographers, a little band of country, air baloons and a steamboat.
 * Monaco: The Circuit de Monaco, in the Rascasse Curve. The fight takes next to the city of Monte Carlo. Can be seen a crowd in the left and on the stairs of the curve, a palm tree, videographers, tires, flags, plaques with the tournament's sponsors, a Satella's veihcle, light posts and, in the background, a yatch and the buildings of the city. This stage is also available in KOF XIV, as a DLC stage.
 * Bousou: The bloody version of all stages. Associated with Wild Iori and Wild Leona.
 * The Altar of Orochi's Heavenly Kings: A fortress with big pillars, a hole in the center and moutains in the background. The stage varies according to the active character in the fight: for Orochi Chris, he it's covered by purple flames; for Orochi Shermie, can be seen lightnings breaking the hole and the pillars; and for Orochi Yashiro, the moutains, the hole and the remaining pillars is full of lava. Associated with the Orochi Team. Note: in KOF '98: Ultimate Match, the stage follows the order described earlier, no matter who's fighting.
 * The Altar of Orochi: The same fortress, but without the mountains and light beams coming out of the pillars, besides light effects. Associated with Orochi.