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 Super Special 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 PlayStation 2 version. The main illustrations for this game were done by Hiroaki. This is the game with the biggest roster of all series, making it the first dream match game with the most complete roster of characters based to date within the KOF series as a whole, with 66 characters, between normal characters and alternate version of characters).

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, for Humble Bundle, in January 9, 2016 and for GOG in June 1, 2018. 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 (released by the magazine Arcadia), 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 The King of Fighters '97, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, The Last Blade 2 and Samurai Shodown V Special (only on PS4). The beta version was available until October 22, 2020, and the official release was on November 11, 2020.

The game was digitally released on PlayStation 4 with rollback netcode on February 8, 2021, digitally. A physical version of the game has been available in April 15, 2021. In January 18, 2022, the Online Lobbies and the Spectator Mode are available in this game. The same resources also are present in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match.

The game also received updates introducing the Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish languages. The first idiom is released in April 20, 2021, and the second, in May 29, 2022. Until then, the English is the only language available in the game.

Gameplay
The gameplay in The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match is the same as The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle (the Neo Geo version), except with the fact of that there are more changes applied to a number of characters compared to The King of Fighters Neowave (which was essentially a rebalanced version of the base versions of 2002). Adding to this are new moves, radically new stages and a new soundtrack.

Furthermore, a large number of the MAX2/HSDMs have been simplified to more standard-yet-extended motions. Unlike in Neowave, which has kept the same MAX2/HSDMs as in the original versions of 2002, some MAX2/HSDMs in 2002 UM specifically have even been completely reworked, or replaced with entirely new ones (with prior ones now being moved to being normal SDMs/MAX Supers).

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, KOF 2001 and KOF 2002 (the first three being canonical chapters of the NESTS Chronicles Saga, while the original KOF 2002 is a Dream Match title).

The game only features one new (and exclusive) character to the series roster, who is:

Official Team Roster

 * Note: Some parenthetical citations are sometimes Japanese team names, sometimes shortened team names.

Mid-Bosses Table

 * Note: Unlike prior games, there are multiple different Mid-Bosses, with all of them requiring different conditions to fight a certain opponent. Each Mid-Boss is fought as a Solo Character, lacking a Team.

Final Bosses Table

 * Note: Similarly to the Mid-Bosses, there are multiple different Final Bosses, with all of them requiring different conditions to fight a certain opponent. They can be unlocked after beating them in Team Play, Single Play or Challenge Mode. In PC and PS4 versions, both are available at the start of the game.

Special Boss

 * Note: Unlike prior KOF games, there is a secret Final Boss, only being able to be fought after satisfying multiple conditions. Much like Nightmare Geese, this Boss is EXTREMELY challenging, and you only have one attempt to do so. Losing the fight instantly gives you a Game Over. In PC and PS4/PS5 versions, he is available at the start of the game.

Single Entry Bosses

 * Note: These Bosses are not fought in Arcade Mode and are only fought in Challenge Mode and Endless Mode. In PC and PS4 versions, both are available at the start of the game.

EX Characters
Note: ''These characters are alternate versions of some Characters, having either modified moves or a completely different movesets. On the Character Select Screen, hold Select on a certain Character.''

Special Edit Teams

 * Note: Unlike the other special teams, the Original Ikari Warriors Team has no special illustration.

NPC Characters

 * Isolde - appears in Nameless' HSDM
 * Kogoro Daimon - appears in Daimon's round start intro; also appears in Daimon's win screen
 * 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 (Both Versions)
 * 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 presented 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.

Music Themes
Some music themes of this game are versions rearranged of some old themes in SNK past games. Below, the list:

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.