The King of Fighters: Dream Match 1999 (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ ドリームマッチ 1999) is a remake and port of The King of Fighters '98 which was released for the Dreamcast on June 24, 1999 in Japan, and on September 30, 1999 in North America. Because the Sega Saturn was declining in Japan and was no longer distributed in North America and Europe, SEGA made an agreement with SNK to produce a version of the game on its Dreamcast console. It was not released in Europe.
This version runs at 60 frames per second and contains a rearranged soundtrack and backgrounds remodeled in 3D, as well as additional features such as conceptual galleries and sound test modes, and it also supports connection with the Neo Geo Pocket Color's game The King of Fighters R-2 in order to unlock bonus content.
There are several other minor changes as well, including:
A new opening;
A new selection screen, with a golden background displaying a world map;
A new victory screen;
New colors for the menus and interface;
A larger picture of the incoming stage before a fight begins;
The stages are basically 3D dioramas of the 2D ones from the original versions, with some elements remade entirely with new 3D models from scratch. They would be again remade in 3D in the PS2 version of The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, although with different models.
While certain stages have variations, these do not occur in between rounds, meaning the stage will remain the same for the entire match's duration;
Every time a fighter is hit, their portrait next to their life bar shakes;
A white screen is seen when a fighter is defeated;
A black loading screen is seen before each fight.
The game mechanics are the same as in the original version.
