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 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, only on the 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 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 will be 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, 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, and KOF 2001 (all canonical chapters of the NESTS Chronicles Saga). The new (and exclusive) character added to the roster 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.
 * Neo Geo World — K' Team & Pretty Girls Fighters Team: An SNK Playmore amusement park in Osaka, Japan. Some references to the company can be seen in this stage, beside 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, SNK Playmore's mascot Neo-Poke-Kun, a zeppelin with the game's logo and a ice cream house. Some people can be seen watching the battle.
 * Japan High School — Japan Team: A street fighting event that takes place outside of a Japanese high school. Boards, sakura trees, balloons, spectators cheering, graffiti and a portal with the series and company name can all be seen in the stage. A poster of the Japan Team also can be seen, along with some flags featuring KOF characters throughout the school. Two characters narrate the fight at a table with the franchise's name, and they stand up when one of the fighters wins.
 * 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 — Fatal Fury Team & '97 Special Team: The village of Riomaggiore, in the Cinque Terre, Italy. A sun umbrella and a table with a bowl of fruits and a cocktail can be seen to the left of the stage, along with a boat to the right of the stage. Sunchairs and some typical Italian houses along the cliffsides can be seen in the background, along with two people building a sandcastle, another two people playing volleyball, and various other spectators.
 * Note: Some characters can be seen watching the fight, most of them hailing from the Fatal Fury series. Slight alterations to the stage are observed throughout the different rounds.
 * Kyokugenryu Gym — Art of Fighting Team: A dojo boat of Kyokugenryu Karate in Taiwan, at sunset, with the National Palace Museum in the background. The battle takes in the center of the dojo, with some Kyokugenryu students watching the fight, a dragon statue to 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, along with references to Ryo and Robert and a dragon-shaped boat in the background. On 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.
 * Ancient Ruins — Ikari Warriors Team & Masters Team: The ruins of Angkor Wat, in Cambodia. The battle takes place in front of the Angkor Thom on a cloudy day. Some characters and people can be observed watching the fight. The surrounding jungle and buildings of the complex can also seen in the background.
 * Note: In the final round, Neo-Poke-Kun, a SNK mascot, appears in the right as a stone statue.
 * Chinese Restaurant — Psycho Soldier Team: A restaurant in China. In the background of the stage a gong can be seen, along with some characters tasting Chinese delicacies and decorated tables. An audience of spectators can also be seen cheering on the battle.
 * Front of the Concert Hall — Women Fighters Team & Agents Team: The cross between the Seventh Avenue and the 57th Street, next to the SNK Playmore's headquarters and in front to the Carnegie Hall, in New York, USA. Buildings, highligthing the Trump Tower in the background, traffic lights, plaques, flags in the hall, 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.
 * Dongdaegu Station — Korea Justice Team & Asian Triple Alliance Team: A train station in Daegu, South Korea. The battle takes place in the waiting line, in the outside of the station. Various spectators can be seen cheering in the background, along with a train, the South Korea flag, trees and women with pompoms, beside other people holding a poster with the words KOREA on display. The game's name in a light post can also be seen and in a waiting point, next to Korean letters and the words WELCOME TO KOREA.
 * Battle Arena — New Faces Team, Orochi Team, Yagami Team & Goenitz: An amphitheater in Greece. Various characters can be seen, along with people cheering, inscriptions in Greek and a statue of a Grecian female with a crown and scepter in the distant background. The fight occurs on a walkway over which a small portion of water flows. The game's logo in the floor can be spotted on the floor.
 * Note: When any character makes a special or strong move, the water in the amphitheater rises.
 * Clone Laboratory — NESTS Team, Clones Team & Nameless: 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.
 * 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.

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 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 (SvC Chaos), King's fighting style in KOF '99, the Counter and Armor modes and Striker System.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * In the PC version (Steam & GOG) and PS4 version, all characters and alternative versions are available out of the box.
 * 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 both use classic 2D King of Fighters-style sprite art-style and 3D arena (SvC Chaos is the exception on the latter part).
 * 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).
 * 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.