The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match

The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match is a remake of The King of Fighters 2002 made by SNK Playmore. It features new teams, a new visual layout, new game balancing, new desperation 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, but only on PS2 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, has been released on the platform Steam in February 27, 2015, and for Humble Bundle, in January 9, 2016. Like the Xbox Live version, it does not 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.

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

K' Team

 * K'
 * Maxima
 * Whip

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 / "Charge" '99 - 2000
 * Yuri Sakazaki

Ikari Warriors Team

 * Leona Heidern / Wild Leona
 * Ralf Jones
 * Clark Still

Psycho Soldier Team

 * Athena Asamiya
 * Sie Kensou / "Without Psychic Powers" '99
 * Bao

Women Fighters Team

 * King
 * Mai Shiranui
 * Kasumi Todoh

Pretty Girls Team

 * Li Xiangfei
 * Hinako Shijou
 * May Lee Jinju

Korea Justice Team

 * Kim Kaphwan
 * Chang Koehan
 * Choi Bounge

Asian Triple Alliance Team

 * Jhun Hoon
 * Lin
 * Shingo Yabuki

New Faces Team / Orochi Team

 * Yashiro Nanakase / Orochi Yashiro
 * Shermie / Orochi Shermie
 * Chris / Orochi Chris

'97 Special Team

 * Ryuji Yamazaki
 * Blue Mary
 * Billy Kane

Yagami Team

 * Iori Yagami
 * Mature
 * Vice

Agents Team

 * Vanessa
 * Seth
 * Ramon

Masters Team

 * Heidern
 * Takuma Sakazaki / "Classic" '99 - 2001
 * Chin Gentsai

NESTS Team

 * Kula Diamond
 * Foxy
 * Angel

Clones Team

 * Kusanagi
 * Kyo-1
 * Kyo-2

Single Entry

 * Nameless

Final Bosses

 * Krizalid
 * Clone Zero
 * Zero
 * Igniz

Special Boss

 * Omega Rugal

Single Entry Bosses

 * Goenitz
 * Geese Howard / Nightmare Geese

KOF '02 UM Team

 * Nameless
 * K'
 * Kyo Kusanagi

Former Art of Fighting Team

 * Ryo Sakazaki
 * Robert Garcia
 * Takuma Sakazaki

Former Psycho Soldiers Team

 * Athena Asamiya
 * Sie Kensou
 * Chin Genstai

Former Women Fighters Team

 * Mai Shiranui
 * Yuri Sakazaki
 * May Lee Jinju

Fatal Fury's Women Team

 * Mai Shiranui
 * Blue Mary
 * Li Xiangfei

Art of Fighting's Women Team

 * King
 * Yuri Sakazaki
 * Kasumi Todoh

Justice Team

 * Kim Kaphwan
 * May Lee Jinju
 * Athena Asamiya

'94/'95 Ikari Warriors Team

 * Heidern
 * Ralf Jones
 * Clark Still

Kids Team

 * Bao
 * Chris
 * Kula Diamond

Giants Team

 * Chang Koehan
 * Maxima
 * Goro Daimon

Japanese National Sports Team

 * Hinako Shijou
 * Goro Daimon
 * Kasumi Todoh

Older Brothers Team

 * Terry Bogard
 * Ryo Sakazaki
 * Billy Kane

Sunglasses Team

 * Clark Still
 * K'
 * Choi Bounge

Glamorous Team

 * Mai Shiranui
 * Shermie
 * Angel

Mature Ladies Team

 * Mature
 * Vice
 * Vanessa

Fathers Team

 * Kim Kaphwan
 * Takuma Sakazaki
 * Goro Daimon

Hurricane Team

 * Joe Higashi
 * Choi Bounge
 * Goenitz

Fatal Fury Villains Team

 * Billy Kane
 * Ryuji Yamazaki
 * Geese Howard

Orochi Boss Team

 * Goenitz
 * Omega Rugal
 * Geese Howard

NESTS Boss Team

 * Any team consisting of only Krizalid, Zero, Original Zero, or Igniz.

Stages
Note 1: In PS2 version, the stages are in 3D. In the Xbox 360 and PC versions, they are in 2D.

Note 2: Geese and Nightmare Geese don't have an associated stage.

Besides these, repaginated versions of the stages of NESTS Saga's bosses and console exclusive Omega Rugal's stage (also seen in normal console version of KOF 2002) are be available.
 * Neo Geo World: An amusement park founded by SNK Playmore in Osaka, Japan. Some references to the company can be seen in this stage, besides a castle, a ferris wheel, a russian roullete, statues and a waterfall in the background. The battle takes place next to a fruit stand with the NEO GEO logo, a carousel, a trash can with a cute creature and a ice cream house. Some people can be seen watching the battle. Associated with the K' and Pretty Girls Teams. Note: only in PS2 version, can be seen a zeppelin with the game's logo in the stage, besides a circus juggler in the background.
 * Japan High School: A street outside a high school, like a street fight event. Can be seen boards, sakuras trees, flags, baloons, people cheering all over the stage, grafittis and a portal with the series and company's name. A poster of Japan Team also can be seen, along with some flags of KOF's artwork characters throughout the school. Two characters narrate the fight in a table with the franchise's name, and they get up when one of the fighters wins. Associated with the Japan Team. Note: the characters in the flags are: King and Clark in KOF '97, Ryo and Iori in KOF XI, Mature and Terry in the original KOF 2002, Chang in KOF 2001, Athena in KOF '98 and Robert in KOF '96.
 * The Mediterranean Sea: A beach in Italy, with a sun umbrella and a table with a bowl of fruits and a cocktail in the left, a boat in the right and sunchairs and some typical houses in the background, besides two people building a sandcastle, other two playing volleyball, an adult with your son and a woman sunbathing. Some characters can be seen watching the fight, most of Fatal Fury series. Can be seen some changes in the 1st, 3rd and the final rounds. Associated with the Fatal Fury and '97 Special Teams.
 * Kyokugenryu Gym: A dojo boat of Kyokugenryu Karate in Taiwan, in a sunset. Can be seen a dragon statue in the left (the same statue found in the Art of Fighting Team in KOF '94), birds flying, a mural with drawings of a dragon and a tiger, references to Ryo and Robert, in the right, and a dragon-shaped boat in the background. In the floor, there is a logo which can be seen also in the ground of the Japanese temple stages from KOF '95 and KOF '98. The battle takes in the center of the dojo. The students watch the fight, and some characters can be seen. Associated with the Art of Fighting Team.
 * Ancient Ruins: The ruins of Angkor Wat, in Cambodia. The battle takes in front of the Angkor Thom, in a cloudy day. Some characters and people can be seen watching the fight, besides some trees, in the background, and sacred statues, all over the stage. In the final round, a marcian appears in the right. Associated with Ikari Warriors and Masters Teams.
 * Chinese Restaurant: A restaurant in China, with a gong, some characters tasting Chinese delicacies, decorated tables and an audience watching the fight at the background of the stage. Can be seen some people dressed as dragons and typical costumes, in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Associated with the Psycho Soldier Team.
 * Front of the Concert Hall: A big avenue, next to the SNK Playmore's headquarters and a theater in California, USA. The battles takes in front of a crowd and near to a car. Some characters can be seen watching the fight, besides buildings, traffic lights, plaques, flags, a hot dog cart and a rock band playing in the background. Can be seen the game's logo in the drum and a taxi passing. Associated with the Women Fighters and Agents Teams.
 * Dongdaegu Station: A train station in Daegu, South Korea. The battle takes in the waiting line, in the outside of the station. Can be seen some people cheering and holding bands, a train, the South Korea flag, trees and women with pompom, besides other people holding a poster written KOREA, in the right. Also can be seen the game's name in a light post and in a waiting point, next to Korean letters and the words WELCOME TO KOREA. Associated with the Korea Justice and Asian Triple Alliance Teams.
 * Battle Arena: An amphitheatre in Greece. Can be seen some characters, people cheering, inscriptions in Greek and a female figure in the background, with a crown and a scepter, besides a walkway over a small portion of water. Also can be spotted the game's logo in the floor. Associated with the New Faces, Orochi and Yagami Teams and with Goenitz. Note: When any character makes a special or strong move, the water in the amphitheatre rises a little.
 * Clone Laboratory: The NESTS lab's clones of Kyo. Can be seen the clones in glass domes, a ladder in the left, a control panel in the right, and an ascending elevator in the background. A power turbine can also be seen near a control panel. Associated with the NESTS and Clones Team and with Nameless. Note: when the player faces Nameless or the one of the Clones Team in Team Play, or choose one of them first in Versus Play, a red light blinks, a dome is broken in the background and the other, in the left, is cracked.

Trivia

 * The game's 19,000 units sold out in Japan the same week the title premiered.
 * In his select and win portraits, Krizalid is shown in his first form, but during actual fights he is in his second form.
 * 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, King's fighting style in KOF '99, the Counter and Armor modes and Striker System.
 * In 2009, SNK released an arcade version of the game called Road to Revenge.