The King of Fighters (series)



The King of Fighters (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ, Za Kingu obu Faitāzu), officially abbreviated KoF, is the premiere series of fighting games by SNK Playmore, formerly SNK. The series was originally developed for SNK's Neo-Geo MVS arcade hardware, which served as the main platform for the series until 2004, when SNK retired the MVS in favor of the Atomiswave arcade board (which has been recently discarded in favor of an even more advanced arcade system, the Taito Type X2). Ports of the arcade games and original King of Fighters games have been developed for the Neo Geo CD, Neo Geo Pocket, Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nokia N-Gage, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, and Xbox 360. Older games in the series have been re-released as part of compilations or given their own special remakes for the Playstation 2. The most recent game in the main series, The King of Fighters XII, was released on April 10, 2009.

Overview


The first game in the series, The King of Fighters '94 was released by SNK in 1994. The game was originally designed to be a dream match of characters from the company's various arcade titles, particularly Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier. The success of the game lead to SNK to release yearly installments of the series and numbered the games for the year they were released. However, this naming system posed problems similar to those with sports games named by year: once the new yearly edition debuts, consumers often perceive the previous year's edition as outdated and less desirable to own. In order to combat this, SNK frequently rotates which characters take part in the current year's edition, encouraging fans of omitted characters to buy and play older editions. Additionally, SNK could not always release its console version of the arcade game in the same year for which it was titled. By 2004, SNK abandoned yearly releases of the series and numbered future games in a more traditional manner; the first main series game released as such was The King of Fighters XI.

In 2004, SNK produced the first 3D installment of the series, KOF: Maximum Impact. The game and its two sequels use an alternate story for characters and settings from previous games of the series, leaning more towards the South Town-based series like FF and AoF. The producer of the Maximum Impact series, Falcoon, stated that the Maximum Impact games are in a different canon from the original series of games.



The King of Fighters tournament, the namesake of this series, actually originated in Fatal Fury, a classic SNK fighting game that predated the KOF series. Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting also revisited the tournament before SNK released KOF '94.

The King of Fighters games have had a number of villains as their individual end bosses. The first of these was Rugal Bernstein in '94 who had a tendency to submerge his defeated foes in liquid metal, turning them into grisly trophies commemorating his victories. During the Orochi saga, Orochi is introduced as an ominous force from ancient times bent on revenge on those who imprisoned it and was aided by his four heralds. In later games, a mysterious organization called NESTS attempts to kidnap and succeeds in cloning Kyo Kusanagi in hopes of using his power to take over the world. The leader of NESTS, who called himself Igniz, hoped to amass enough power to become a god. Other villains in later games include Mukai and "Those from the past" that he affiliates himself with, including Magaki, as well as the Mephistopheles group (Maximum Impact series).

In order to preserve their characters' images, SNK ceased to age their characters since The King of Fighters '95 and they have remained the same ages since then. This means that characters introduced in The King of Fighters '94 have only aged one year in the series. To stay true to this theme, newer characters following this year also keep the same age they have when introduced. Some concessions to age and the passing of time exist, though, such as Terry's switch to his Garou outfit, or Kyo no longer being in high school since 1998.

Games

 * The King of Fighters '94
 * The King of Fighters '95
 * The King of Fighters '96
 * The King of Fighters '97
 * The King of Fighters '98
 * The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match
 * The King of Fighters '99
 * The King of Fighters 2000
 * The King of Fighters 2001
 * The King of Fighters 2002
 * The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match
 * The King of Fighters 2003
 * The King of Fighters XI
 * The King of Fighters XII
 * KOF: Maximum Impact
 * KOF: Maximum Impact 2
 * KOF Maximum Impact Regulation "A"
 * The King of Fighters: Kyo
 * The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood
 * The King of Fighters EX2
 * The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise
 * The King of Fighters Neowave
 * KOF Sky Stage
 * The King of Fighters Online
 * The King of Fighters World

Comics

 * The King of Fighters: Zillion - by Andy Seto
 * The King of Fighters RX - by Lucky
 * The King of Fighters 03: Xenon Zero - by Wing Yan and King Tung
 * The King of Fighters '94 (manga) - by Tatsuya Shinkyoji
 * The King of Fighters '94 Gaiden - by Ryo Takamisaki
 * The King of Fighters: Kyo - by Masato Natsumoto
 * The King of Fighters '96 G - by Ryo Takamisaki

Drama CDs

 * The King of Fighters '94 (Dengeki)
 * The King of Fighters '96 (drama)
 * The King of Fighters '97 - Collision Chapter
 * The King of Fighters '97 - Destiny Chapter
 * The King of Fighters '98 (drama)
 * The King of Fighters '99 (drama)
 * The King of Fighters 2000 (drama)
 * The King of Fighters - The Best Selected Characters
 * The Sun and The Moon ~ Prologue
 * KOF: Mid Summer Struggle

Film and Animation
See King of Fighters (movie) for details about the live-action film.

During August 2005, a short anime series based upon KOF entitled The King of Fighters: Another Day was announced. It debuted at the year's Tokyo Game Show about a month later. Production I.G produced the title as an original net animation. There are a total of four episodes, each about 10 minutes in length (but considerably less, when accounting for the end credits). It has since been released as a bonus DVD, packaged with The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2 (King of Fighters 2006 in the USA).

Card Game
In December 2006, Sabertooth Games released a King of Fighters 2006 collectible card game set along with Samurai Shodown V for it's Universal Fighting System (UFS) game. Other games like Street Fighter and Soul Calibur III are also included into the series. Character started packs were released for Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, and eventually Rock Howard.

Another trading card game was printed by the company Weib Shwarz on June 28, 2009. It's part of a campaign that allows collectors to exchange premium points for CDs and other collectibles.

Pachinko Games
Three pachinko slot games were developed for the series. One follows the Orochi saga (The King of Fighters) and the other follows the NESTS saga (The King of Fighters 2). The newest one (Maximum Impact) focuses on the series's 3D titles. These machines remain exclusive to Japan.

Mobile Games

 * The King of Fighters (mobile)
 * The King of Fighters M2
 * The King of Fighters Volleyball
 * KOF Gals Mahjong
 * The King of Reversi
 * The King of Millionare
 * The King of Fighters Mahjong
 * KOF Kentei Mezase Cult Quiz Ou!
 * Moeyo! KOF Daiundokai

Introduced in The King of Fighters '94
Brought from other games:
 * Kyo Kusanagi
 * Benimaru Nikaido
 * Goro Daimon
 * Chin Gentsai
 * Heidern
 * Chang Koehan
 * Choi Bounge
 * Heavy D!
 * Lucky Glauber
 * Brian Battler
 * Saisyu Kusanagi - Rebout version only
 * Rugal Bernstein


 * Terry Bogard
 * Andy Bogard
 * Joe Higashi
 * Ryo Sakazaki
 * Robert Garcia
 * Takuma Sakazaki
 * Athena Asamiya
 * Sie Kensou
 * Ralf Jones
 * Clark Still
 * King
 * Mai Shiranui
 * Yuri Sakazaki
 * Kim Kaphwan

Introduced in The King of Fighters '95

 * Iori Yagami
 * Omega Rugal

Brought from other games:
 * Eiji Kisaragi
 * Billy Kane
 * Nakoruru - Gameboy only

Introduced in The King of Fighters '96

 * Leona Heidern
 * Mature
 * Vice
 * Chizuru Kagura
 * Goenitz
 * Wild Iori - Gameboy only
 * Wild Leona - Gameboy only
 * Maki Kagura - Gameboy only

Brought from other games:
 * Kasumi Todoh
 * Geese Howard
 * Wolfgang Krauser
 * Mr. Big
 * Mr. Karate - Gameboy only

Introduced in The King of Fighters '97

 * Yashiro Nanakase
 * Shermie
 * Chris
 * Shingo Yabuki
 * Orochi Chris
 * Orochi Shermie
 * Orochi Yashiro
 * Orochi

Brought from other games:
 * Blue Mary
 * Ryuji Yamazaki

Introduced in The King of Fighters: Kyo

 * Souji Kusanagi
 * Kyoji Sendo
 * Junko Sendo
 * Syota Sendo

Introduced in The King of Fighters '99

 * K'
 * Maxima
 * Kyo-1
 * Kyo-2
 * Whip
 * Bao
 * Jhun Hoon
 * Krizalid
 * Vanessa - Dreamcast only
 * Seth - Dreamcast only
 * Syo Kirishima - Dreamcast only

Brought from other games:
 * Li Xiangfei
 * Alfred Airhawk - Dreamcast only
 * Gai Tendo - Dreamcast only

Introduced in The King of Fighters EX

 * Moe Habana

Introduced in The King of Fighters 2000
Brought from other games:
 * Ramon
 * Lin
 * Hinako Shijou
 * Kula Diamond
 * Zero (Clone)
 * Foxy
 * Candy Diamond
 * Diana
 * Baitang
 * Another K'
 * Another Iori
 * Another Benimaru
 * Another Robert
 * Cosplayer Kyoko
 * Kang Bae Dal
 * Smart Chang
 * Cool Choi
 * Unknown


 * Athena
 * Rocky
 * Fiolina Germi
 * Duke Edwards
 * Neo & Geo
 * King Lion
 * Kaede
 * Kaoru Watabe
 * G-Mantle
 * Kim Sue Il
 * Kim Dong Hwan
 * Kim Jae Hoon

Introduced in The King of Fighters EX2

 * Miu Kurosaki
 * Jun Kagami
 * Reiji Oogami
 * Sinobu Amou

Introduced in The King of Fighters 2001

 * K9999
 * Angel
 * May Lee
 * Zero
 * Ron
 * Glaugan
 * Igniz

Introduced in The King of Fighters 2002

 * Kusanagi
 * Nameless - Unlimited Match only

Introduced in The King of Fighters Maximum Impact

 * Alba Meira
 * Soiree Meira
 * Lien Neville
 * Chae Lim
 * Mignon Beart
 * Duke

Brought from other games:
 * Rock Howard

Introduced in The King of Fighters 2003

 * Ash Crimson
 * Duo Lon
 * Shen Woo
 * Malin
 * Adelheid Bernstein
 * Mukai

Brought from other games:
 * Tizoc
 * Gato

Introduced in KOF Maximum Impact 2

 * Luise Meyrink
 * Ninon Beart
 * Nagase
 * Hyena
 * Jivatma
 * Armor Ralf
 * Kyo Kusanagi Classic
 * Xiao Lon - Regulation A only

Brought from other games:
 * Lilly Kane
 * Richard Meyer
 * Hanzo Hattori
 * Mr. Karate II
 * Wild Wolf
 * Bonne Jenet
 * Makoto Mizoguchi - Regulation A only

Introduced in The King of Fighters XI

 * EX Kyo Kusanagi
 * Oswald
 * Elisabeth Blanctorche
 * Momoko
 * Shion
 * Magaki

Brought from other games:
 * Duck King
 * Sho Hayate
 * Jyazu
 * Silber
 * Hotaru Futaba - Playstation 2 only
 * Tung Fu Rue - Playstation 2 only

Introduced in The King of Fighters XII
Brought from other games:
 * Raiden

NPC Characters

 * Yuki (KoF)
 * Rose Bernstein
 * Botan
 * Jan
 * Gaidel
 * Gustav Munchausen
 * Misty
 * Nests
 * Cool Guy
 * Luan, Chat and Sai
 * Lillien Knights
 * Sally and Elizabeth
 * Aya and Hermione
 * Asuka and Maria
 * Fate
 * Judeim
 * Dr. Makishima
 * Shizuka Kusanagi
 * Aoi Kusanagi
 * Jokyojo
 * Kogoro Daimon
 * Ling
 * Sandra and Clara Heidern
 * Keisuke Sendo