The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle



The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle is the ninth game in the King of Fighters series, and is the second and last King of Fighters game produced by Eolith. Much like The King of Fighters '98, this game is more of a "dream match" for characters from all previous King of Fighters games, including killed-off characters. The series's canon storyline would resume in The King of Fighters 2003 - adapting, however, a character introduced in this game, Kusanagi.

It was released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade system on October 10th, 2002, followed by the home AES version on December 19th of the same year. It was later released for the Dreamcast on June 19th, 2003, this time adding two characters absent from the original version, King (who'd been present on all previous games) and Shingo Yabuki (also a mainstay in the series since his debut). On the 25th of March of 2004 the PlayStation 2 version was released, including not only all characters from the previous versions, but also Wild Iori, Goenitz and Geese Howard, whom not only had been present in the series before, but also had their move lists updated from their recent appearance in SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos.

A remake of this title, The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match, was released in Japan on February 26, 2009.

Gameplay
The game brings back the team play composed by three characters each that was a tradition in previous games. The game has also several important changes in the gameplay, like the "Free Cancel System" or "Max Mode System", the "Quick Emergency Evasion" and "Quick MAX Mode Activation", aside from the countless changes in each character's special moves and their properties.

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
 * Takuma Sakazaki

Ikari Warriors Team

 * Leona Heidern
 * Ralf Jones
 * Clark Still

Psycho Soldiers Team

 * Athena Asamiya
 * Sie Kensou
 * Chin Gentsai

Women Fighters Team

 * Mai Shiranui
 * Yuri Sakazaki
 * May Lee

Korea Team

 * Kim Kaphwan
 * Chang Koehan
 * Choi Bounge

KOF '96 Team

 * Iori Yagami
 * Mature
 * Vice

KOF '97 Team

 * Blue Mary
 * Billy Kane
 * Ryuji Yamazaki

KOF '98 Team

 * Yashiro Nanakase
 * Shermie
 * Chris

KOF '99 Team

 * K'
 * Maxima
 * Whip

KOF 2000 Team

 * Vanessa
 * Ramon
 * Seth

KOF 2001 Team

 * Kula Diamond
 * Angel
 * K9999 (does not appear in Unlimited Match, replaced by Nameless)

Bosses

 * Omega Rugal
 * Kusanagi (Without fighting Kula and using continues)
 * Shingo Yabuki (Without fighting Kula and Angel and using continues)
 * King (Without using continues)

Orochi Team

 * Orochi Yashiro
 * Orochi Shermie
 * Orochi Chris

Alternate

 * Kusanagi

Console Exclusives

 * Shingo Yabuki
 * King
 * Geese Howard
 * Goenitz
 * Wild Iori