The King of Fighters XIII

The King of Fighters XIII is the latest installment in The King of Fighters series that concludes the Ash saga which started in The King of Fighters 2003. The theme for this title is "KOF-ism" or getting back to the heart of the series. The main objective of the game's new features is to appeal to the audience that prefers quick combos.

The game was released in arcades on July 14, 2010. The console versions of the game came out on December 1, 2011 in Japan, November 22, 2011 in North America and November 25, 2011 in Europe. The North American version is published by Atlus, by SNK Playmore in Japan, and by Rising Star Games in Europe. The game, featuring all the DLC and additional features of the console versions, was released on the Steam platform on September 13, 2013 as The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition.

Mobile versions of the game were released on July 7, 2011 and a downloadable application for social networks was released on October 17, 2011. Additionally, an iOS version of the game, titled The King of Fighters-i-, feauring a reduced character roster, was released on July 7, 2011; an update of this version that includes six more characters was released on September 8, 2011. This same version was later ported to the Android platform on March 22, 2012, as The King of Fighters Android. An updated version featuring 12 new characters and other modes was released on iOS-based devices on May 3, 2012, called The King of Fighters-i 2012. This same version was released on Android on September 3, 2013 as The King of Fighters-A 2012.

A new version of the game, including the characters introduced on the console ports as well as new revisions, was released in Japanese arcades on April 26, 2012, under the name The King of Fighters XIII Climax.

Eisuke Ogura returns to do the character illustrations.

Gameplay

 * Special Moves have a "normal" or "stronger" version. The stronger versions are called EX Special Moves (which are reminiscent of enhanced move mechanics via games like Street Fighter III and Melty Blood), and EX Super Special Moves/EX Desperation Move respectively (which take the place of and act similar to Super Desperation Moves in most KOF titles). EX attacks can perform tasks such as adding an extra frame of invincibility, boosting the normal attack speed, adding more hits, and other factors to a character's techniques. The use of EX techniques results in a drain of the power gauge, which is one stock. EX Desperation Moves cost two stocks instead.
 * Some EX Moves can play nod to other attacks a character has previously had; for example, K's EX Crow Bites resembles his Heaven's Drive DM from 2003-XI and Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, and EX Iori's EX Oniyaki resembles his Orochi version's Oni Honoo in the vs. Capcom series.
 * A feature called the "Drive Cancel" allows players to unlimitedly cancel their character's moves to their whim. The ability to do so relies on the "Hyper Drive Gauge" that's above the power gauge, gradually draining it as the players cancel their moves.
 * "Hyper Drive Mode" (abbv. as "HD Mode") is a tricky feature that can only be done once the Hyper Drive Gauge is at maximum. It's possible for players to perform an unlimited amount of Drive Cancels at the precise moment the gauge is filled. Although the effect is short and temporary, the feature allows otherwise unlinkable techniques to be used in one combo. Drive Cancels and Hyper Drive Mode are both callbacks to the systems introduced in The King of Fighters 2002, such as the Free Cancel and the MAX Activation, respectively. The Drive Cancel done outside HD Mode is similar to the Free Cancel done in KOF Neowave (a rebalanced version of 2002 pre-dating Unlimited Match), via the Super Cancel mode (where MAX Activation does not exist).
 * When a player is in Hyper Drive Mode and has two power stocks available, or in normal state and with three power stocks, they can perform a powerful technique called a "Neo Max Desperation Move", similar to the Leader Desperation Moves of KOF 2003-XI, but more like the Hidden Super/Max 2 Desperation Moves of 2002, Neowave and 2002 UM. Players can also link/cancel a Neo Max technique during a combo off of a special or even both a normal and EX Desperation Move, which is dubbed a "Max Cancel". Unlike HSDM's, they can be done at any health level.
 * Not only does everyone gain a new Neo Max, but almost all characters now gain new or regain old attacks left out in KOF XII.
 * Throw attacks are now back to being back or forward + Hard Punch or Hard Kick like in past games, but more like KOF 2003 and XI (in that all characters only have one throw, and button used determines if they switch sides or not)
 * The Story Mode returns with a scoring system. When fighting against a CPU opponent, players are challenged to complete a random objective during stages, called Target Actions. Completing these can award bonus points at the scoring screen. Meeting certain actions can also reward players the next round by filling up their power gauge or Hyper Drive Guage. Objectives include goals such as completing a certain amount of hits within one combo, successfully hitting the CPU with a desperation technique (including EX and Neo Max Desperation Moves or specials), or being asked to perform a certain attack within 10 seconds.
 * A complete story consists of eight stages, six being spent against teams and two being saved for the final matches.
 * During a fight against a CPU opponent, players can be awarded a big boost of extra points if they end a match with a Regular, EX or Neo Max Desperation Move. It also triggers a special splash screen for their victory blow.
 * The "zoom" effect seen in The King of Fighters XII has been removed, and general gameplay speed has been improved greatly.
 * Pre-fight exchanges similar to those in SVC Chaos are also present in the game. These unique conversations also exist in mirror matches (when two players play with the same character) and they only appear in Single Player mode.
 * Aside from the regular team music from the game, players can also listen to the characters' themes from previous KOF games, such as "Queen" from KOF XI for Elisabeth and "KDD-0075" from KOF XI for K'.
 * King and Yuri can have their tops ripped off (as in Art of Fighting, Art of Fighting 2, The King of Fighters '94 and The King of Fighters '95) when K.O.'d by special, EX and Desperation Moves.

Characters
The entire roster from The King of Fighters XII (including the two console exclusive characters) return in The King of Fighters XIII, arranged in the usual teams of three.

Both Mukai and Botan return. Rose Bernstein returns and is the sponsor of this year's tournament also. All the remaining members from Those from the Past have their faces revealed and are being led by Saiki.

When the game designer was asked about his personal thoughts for this new cast in an interview, he remarked that he isn't always looking forward to adding popular characters from other series. As before with KOF XII, the overall goal for the cast is to create contrasts and variations between each character for an interesting balance between teams. Whenever possible, he believes the characters in The King of Fighters should be reenacting a classic fist-to-fist battle rather than one that relies too much on additional weaponry. Lately, the desire to stay true to this theme in an interesting manner has decided who gets to appear in KOF.

Elisabeth Team

 * Elisabeth Blanctorche
 * Shen Woo
 * Duo Lon

Japan Team

 * Kyo Kusanagi
 * Benimaru Nikaido
 * Goro Daimon

Yagami Team

 * Iori Yagami
 * Mature
 * Vice

Fatal Fury Team

 * Terry Bogard
 * Andy Bogard
 * Joe Higashi

Kim Team

 * Kim Kaphwan
 * Hwa Jai
 * Raiden

Psycho Soldier Team

 * Athena Asamiya
 * Sie Kensou
 * Chin Gentsai

Art of Fighting Team

 * Ryo Sakazaki
 * Robert Garcia
 * Takuma Sakazaki

Ikari Warriors Team

 * Ralf Jones
 * Clark Still
 * Leona Heidern

Women Fighters Team

 * Mai Shiranui
 * Yuri Sakazaki
 * King

K' Team

 * K'
 * Kula Diamond
 * Maxima

Single entry

 * Ash Crimson

Sub-Boss

 * Saiki

Final Boss

 * Evil Ash

Console/Climax Exclusive Characters

 * Billy Kane
 * Saiki (Normal form)

DLC Characters

 * pre-KOF XII/XIII Iori (Iori Yagami Classic)
 * NESTS saga Kyo (Kyo Kusanagi Classic)
 * Mr. Karate

Cosplay
Several alternate colors for the cast are homages to characters in other games or media. The list below charts costume outcomes from the alternate color options.

Stages

 * Seven new stages have been revealed (two being boss stages); changes to old stages from King of Fighters XII and gimmicks are listed below as follows:
 * Japan stage - In front, sumo wrestlers with the Miyajima island in the background.
 * India stage - Yellow colored stage, beautifully animated 3D Elephants and the Taj Mahal in the background.
 * Britain stage - 1994 type Britain stage with the Big Ben in the background. The weather starts off foggy, but sun shines by the fourth round.
 * London stage - 1994 type Britain stage taking place in a clock tower instead of the city streets. This serves as Billy Kane's stage in arcade mode.
 * Brazil stage - Lush-green colored jungle stage that was intended to be in The King of Fighters XII. Hard falls cause objects such as fruits or snakes to fall from the trees.
 * Egypt stage - Now green/yellow colored in what appears to be an indoor palace. Green light reflects off of players when the stage's fires are lit.
 * China stage - Night time setting with glowing amber lamps. A hard fall on the side of the stage causes a dog to jump out and bark.
 * France stage - Sunset setting with the Arc de Triumph and the Eiffel tower in the background.
 * America stage - Area above a city with speakers, monitors, and caution tape scattered around; a red, white, and blue sign reading THE KING OF FIGHTERS sits above the fighting area. A cage drops in the background in some rounds, and various floats can be seen in the sky.
 * Rose Stadium - Orange/brown colored coliseum with a blue rose bed in the middle and some castles in the background.
 * BOSS STAGE: Rose Stadium Ashed - The coliseum and castles have been warped into a destroyed version, and the ground is covered in what seems to be cooled magma. Occupying the back of the stadium where the screen once was is a large portal. Above the stadium, lighting and swirling clouds rage in a reddish sky.
 * BOSS STAGE: Rose Stadium Misted - The entire stage is almost completely white, with vague shadows of the foundation of Rose Stadium visible.