The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match

"The boy who possess flames born from mixed two different flames. He wield his flame to regain his past."

-Intro

The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match is a remake of the original The King of Fighters 2002 made by SNK Playmore. It features new teams, a new visual layout, new game balancing, new Super Special Moves and spliced artwork during super attacks. Several teams have a different theme from their previous appearances, and many teams have brand new compositions written for them. Like in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, this game also includes a Neo Geo adaption of the original version and a gallery of the older illustrations made by Nona, only on the PlayStation 2 version.

The main illustrations for this game were done by Hiroaki. The soundtrack has been completely redone and is composed by Yasufumi Fukuda, Makoto Asai, Teruo Konishi, and a new arranger named Two-Five. The game was released on February 26, 2009 for the PlayStation 2 in Japan and was released as a download for the Xbox Live Arcade network on November 3, 2010. The PC version of the game, initially released for the arcades through the NESiCAxLive platform, has been released on the platform Steam in February 27, 2015, and for Humble Bundle, in January 9, 2016. Like the Xbox 360 version, it doesn't include the Neo Geo version.

Due to balance changes introduced for the 2010 Super Battle Opera tournament, an updated version of the game was released for PlayStation 2 called The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match Tougeki Ver.  on June 24, 2010. The hidden boss characters have been disabled (although, with a save modified from the original game, can still be played) and new balance adjustments for several characters have been made. The game is otherwise the same.

On October 1, 2020, the Remastered PC version received rollback netcode, developed by Code Mystics, which aimed to improve online matches. The same process occurred with Garou: Mark of the Wolves and The Last Blade. The beta version was available until October 22, 2020, and the official release was on November 11, 2020. The rollback netcode is also available in Garou: Mark of the Wolves and The Last Blade 2. The game was digitally released on PlayStation 4 with rollback netcode on February 8, 2021 digitally. A physical version of the game has been available in April 15, 2021.

Gameplay
The gameplay in The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match is the same as The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle (the Neo Geo version), except that the HSDM command has been simplified without needing a series of button presses.

Characters
The roster consists of not only everyone from the original KOF 2002, but also almost every character who were playable at least once in KOF '99, KOF 2000, KOF 2001 and KOF 2002 (the first three being canonical chapters of the NESTS Chronicles Saga, while KOF 2002 is a Dream Match title).

The game only features one new (and exclusive) character added to the roster, who is:

Official Team Roster

 * Note: Some parenthetical citations are sometimes Japanese team names, sometimes shortened team names.

NPC Characters

 * Isolde - appears in Nameless' HSDM
 * Kogoro Daimon - appears in Daimon's round start intro
 * Rock Howard - appears in one of Terry's round win poses
 * Ron - appears in Zero's win pose against Lin
 * Luan, Chat and Sai - appears in Lin's win pose against Zero
 * Eiji Kisaragi - appears in the special intro Billy vs. Iori, and one of Billy win poses
 * Candy Diamond - appears in one of Kula's round win poses and two of her Desperation Moves
 * Diana - appears in one of Kula's round win poses and two of her Desperation Moves
 * Glugan - appears in Zero's intro against all NESTS employees and enemies
 * Misty - appears in Igniz's win pose against all NESTS enemies
 * Antonio - appears in Mary's intro and one of her win poses
 * Asuka and Maria - appears in one of Athena's intros and in one of her HSDMs

Original Characters

 * Yuki (KOF '97) - in Japan High School Stage
 * Saisyu Kusanagi (KOF '95) - in Japan High Shool Stage
 * Chizuru Kagura (KOF '96) - in Japan High School Stage
 * Heavy-D! (KOF '94) - in the Italy Stage, until the 2nd round
 * Lucky Glauber (KOF '94) - in USA Stage
 * Brian Battler (KOF '94) - in USA Stage
 * Baitang (KOF 2000) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (Pretty Girls Fighters Team Version)
 * Syo Kirishima (KOF 2000) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (Pretty Girls Fighters Team Version)
 * Kaoru Watabe (Psycho Soldier Team Cameo) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (Pretty Girls Fighters Team Version)
 * Kang Bae Dal (KOF 2000) - in Korea Stage

Fatal Fury/MOTW series

 * Sokaku Mochizuki (Fatal Fury 3) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (K' Team Version)
 * Big Bear (Fatal Fury 2) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (K' Team Version)
 * Cheng Sinzan (Fatal Fury 2) - in Neo Geo World Stage
 * Tsugumi Sendo (FF: Wild Ambition) - in the Italy Stage
 * Jubei Yamada (Fatal Fury 2) - in the Italy Stage
 * Touji Sakata (FF: Wild Ambition) - in the Italy Stage, from the 3rd round
 * Alfred (RBFF 2) - in the Italy Stage
 * Duck King (Fatal Fury: King of Fighters) - in the Italy Stage, until the 2nd round
 * P-chan (Fatal Fury 2) - in the Italy Stage, until the 2nd round
 * Hokutomaru (Garou: MOTW) - in the Italy Stage, during the last round
 * Marco Rodriguez (Garou: MOTW) - in the Dojo Stage
 * Gato (Garou: MOTW) - in the Dojo Stage, until the 3rd round
 * Hotaru Futaba (Garou: MOTW) - in the Dojo Stage, from the 4th round
 * Richard Meyer (Fatal Fury: King of Fighters) - in Cambodia Stage
 * Bob Wilson (Fatal Fury 3) - in Cambodia Stage
 * Hwa Jai (Fatal Fury : King of Fighters) - in Cambodia Stage
 * Jin Chonshu (Fatal Fury 3) - in China Stage
 * Jin Chonrei (Fatal Fury 3) - in China Stage
 * Tung Fu Rue (Fatal Fury: King of Fighters) - in China Stage
 * Hon-Fu (Fatal Fury 3) - in China Stage
 * White (RBFF: Dominated Mind) - in USA Stage
 * Lilly Kane (Fatal Fury: King of Fighters) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (Pretty Girls Fighters Team Version)
 * Franco Bash (Fatal Fury 3) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (Pretty Girls Fighters Team Version)
 * Kim Dong Hwan (Garou: MOTW) - in Korea Stage, from the 3rd round
 * Kim Jae Hoon (Garou: MOTW) - in Korea Stage
 * Alice Chrysler (RBFF 1) - in Korea Stage
 * Tizoc (Garou: MOTW) - in Greece Stage
 * Wolfgang Krauser (Fatal Fury 2) - in Greece Stage
 * Freeman - (Garou: MOTW) - in Greece Stage
 * Kain R. Heinlein - in Greece Stage

Art of Fighting series

 * Karman Cole (AOF 3) - in the Japan High School Stage
 * Rody Birts (AOF 3) - in the Italy Stage
 * Lee Pai Long (AOF 1) - in the Dojo Stage
 * Ryuhaku Todoh (AOF 1) - in the Dojo Stage; he also appears in Kasumi's HSDM
 * Temjin (AOF 2) - in China Stage
 * John Crawley (AOF 1) - in USA Stage
 * Jack Turner (AOF 1) - in USA Stage
 * Freia Lawrence (AOF 3) - in USA Stage
 * Jin Fu-Ha (AOF 3) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (Pretty Girls Fighters Team Version)
 * Wang Koh-San (AOF 3) - in Greece Stage

The Last Blade series

 * Kotetsu Naoe - in Neo Geo World Stage

Metal Slug series

 * Marco Rossi (MS 1) - in Cambodia Stage
 * Eri Kasamoto (MS 2) - in Cambodia Stage

Savage Reign/Kizuna Eucounter series

 * Sho Hayate (Savage Reign) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (Pretty Girls Fighters Team Version)
 * King Leo (Savage Reign) - in the Neo Geo World Stage
 * Joker (Savage Reign) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (K' Team Version)
 * Carol Stanzack (Savage Reign) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (K' Team Version)
 * Kim Sue-il (Kizuna Encounter) - in Korea stage
 * Max Eagle (Savage Reign) - in Greece stage (only in PS2)

Samurai Shodown series

 * Nakoruru (SamSho I) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (K' Team Version)

World Heroes series

 * Jeanne D'Arc (WH 1) - in Greece stage

Aggressors of Dark Kombat

 * Joe Kusanagi & Katsuo - in Japan High School Stage
 * Kisarah Westfield - in Italy Stage, during the last round
 * Leonhalt Domador - in Greece Stage

Other Games

 * Cyber Woo (King of The Monsters) - in the Neo Geo World Stage
 * Rocky (Robo Army) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (K' Team Version)
 * Duke Edwards (Burning Fight) - in the Neo Geo World Stage (K' Team Version)
 * Miss X (SNK Gals' Fighters) - in Japan High School Stage
 * Gai Tendo (Buriki One) - in the Italy Stage, until the 4rd round
 * Roddy & Cathy (Top Hunter) - in China Stage

SNK Mascots

 * G-Mantle - in the Neo Geo World Stage (only in PS2)
 * Neo Poke-Kun - in the Neo Geo World and Cambodia Stages

Stages

 * Note 1: In this game, the stages are associated with the teams and the bosses, which hasn't happened in a game of the series since KOF '96.


 * Note 2: In the PS2 version, the stages are in 3D. In the Xbox 360, PC and PS4 versions, they are in 2D.


 * Note 3: Geese and Nightmare Geese don't have an associated stage.


 * Note 4: In Online Mode (available only in Xbox and PC versions), the stages are chosen at random by the game system.

Beside these, repaginated versions of the stages of NESTS Saga's Bosses and Omega Rugal's stage from the console version of KOF 2002 are available.

Game Reception
The game's 19,000 units sold out in Japan the same week the title premiered. In Issue 114 from Arcadia, the game was featured at ninth in its Top Ten Video Games list. Critical reception to the game was positive due to its large number of playable characters, although mixed opinions were given to its aging graphics. In addition, despite lacking a plot, the large interaction between characters was praised for adding depth to the game.

Trivia

 * In his select screen and win portraits, Krizalid is shown in his first form, but during actual fights he is in his second form.
 * Beside that, K' appears with his sunglasses in his select screen, but during actual fights, the close of his HSDM special move and win portraits, he don't use the accessory.


 * Unlike The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, despite both being current update version of their original releases, 2002 UM is also a complete remake of the original game.


 * Several characters and characteristics are missing from the game, mainly K9999 (who was replaced with the new character Nameless), Krizalid in his first form, Orochi Iori (SvC Chaos), King's fighting style in KOF '99, the Counter and Armor modes and Striker System.
 * The Classic fighting style versions of both Andy (pre-KOF 2001) and Ryo (pre-KOF 2002) are also not included.
 * Leftover codes such as remnants of Orochi Iori is present in the code base, and can be accessed through cheats. However, they contain animation glitches and in some cases can cause the game to crash.
 * Some original game's teams have been re-arranged in this remake game:
 * The Art of Fighting, Women Fighters and Psycho Soldier Teams has some members re-arranged. Both Art of Fighting and Women Fighters Team are based on their  '96 formations (the Psycho Soldier Team formation in this game is based on its EX mobile series formation).
 * As Takuma and Chin are on a same team as Heidern (the Masters Team), Yuri and Bao fills the 3rd member spots on Art of Fighting and Psycho Soldier Teams, respectively.
 * K', Maxima, Whip, Kyo, Benimaru, Daimon, Terry, Andy, Joe, Ryo, Robert, Leona, Ralf, Clark, Athena, Kensou, Mai, Kim, Chang, Choi, Yashiro, Shermie, Chris (both Normal and Awakened Orochi versions), Yamazaki, Mary, Billy, Vanessa, Seth, Ramón, Kula and Ángel are the only fighters who did not switch from their respective team between original and remake release.
 * NESTS Team related information: Regarding of Nameless is both K9999's replacement and a single entry character, Foxy fills K9999 entry as the 2nd NESTS team member. For more informations, see the section "Mid-Bosses" above.


 * The stages, BGMs and UIs are completely different than the original release, including the re-arranged team members above. The only exception is the PS2 Omega Rugal's stage.


 * In the select screen, the characters are seen in their pre battle state, i.e. Krizalid with his coat on, Kula with his normal color hair and K' wearing his sunglasses.
 * However, Yamazaki and Mary are the only two whose pre-battle accessories did not to make it to the select screen.


 * In 2009, SNK Playmore released an arcade version of the game called Road to Revenge. This makes the only game of the series with two arcade versions.


 * In the PC version (Steam & GOG) and PS4 version, all characters and alternative versions are available out of the box.


 * In the GOG version, the name "PLAYMORE" is removed from the opening's logo, remaining only the company's original name.


 * This is both last King of Fighters game and SNK-developed games (if counting the crossovers SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos and Neo Geo Battle Coliseum) to use classic 2D King of Fighters-style sprite art-style and 3D arena (SvC Chaos is the exception on the latter part).


 * In the PS2 version, the matches starts descending to the point of the fight. In the other versions, The fight starts with the intro and positioned on the characters.


 * Unlike its origin game, all characters now use singular win quotes similar to The King of Fighters '98. In the Japanese version, there are quote variants and even special win quotes for specific teams — all of which are absent in the English version. The reason for this was never explained.


 * Unlike the Neo Geo version, when the player can choose which he will fight with, the teams and characters are automatic (in Team Play and Single Play, respectively). The characters are only selectable in Versus Play (1 vs. 1, Team vs. Team and Team vs. CPU).


 * The Mid-Bosses of this game appears in Team Play as a Single Entry. However, this don't occurs with the teams after the Boss.


 * This game, The King of Fighters 2003, The King of Fighters XIV and The King of Fighters XV are the only games in the series where appears one or more variations of the Women Fighters Team.


 * This game and The King of Fighters XV are the only games in the series with an updated version of a character removed due to copyright isssues and controversy.