The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition
Move List
Gallery
OST
Achievements
DLC
The pinnacle of the series KOF '98 gets fully tuned up!! An Arcade Fighting Game taken to the limit!!
-Tagline
The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ '98 アルティメットマッチファイナルエディション) is the second and final upgrade to The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends. This version contains various tweaks to the characters and game mechanics. It was initially released for the arcades, with PC versions later being released through Steam on December 16, 2014, Humble Bundle on January 9, 2016, and GOG on June 1, 2018. This version also features the arranged versions of the BGMs by default during gameplay. This version was later released for PlayStation 4, on June 21, 2022, four years after the release of the normal edition, which was ported from the PS2 version. The Final Edition also received a special illustration made by Hiroaki, the main illustrator of the three remakes.
During the first day of TOKYO GAME SHOW 2021, it was confirmed that the final edition of the game (released via Steam and GOG) received a major update, which included rollback netcode. This netcode was developed by Code Mystics, and aimed to improve online matches. The same process occurred with The King of Fighters '97, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match, The Last Blade 2 and Samurai Shodown V Special (only on PS4). The first rollback test occurred between October 19th and 29th. A second beta test occurred between November 29th and December 4th, with two features: the Online Lobbies and the Spectator Mode. The update was released officially in December 20, 2021, and also includes the original soundtrack as a downloadable feature. The Online Lobbies and the Spectator Mode also are available in The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match.
The roster consists of not only everyone from the original KOF '98, but also every character who was playable at least once in KOF '94, KOF '95, KOF '96 and KOF '97 (all canonical chapters of the Orochi Saga). Additionally, alternate EX versions of certain characters are available by holding the Start button over their portraits. Some of them appeared in the original game, while others were newly added solely to Ultimate Match.
To differentiate itself more from the original game, EX characters now have both changed member select and order select portraits (not just the Orochi versions of the New Faces Team and Omega Rugal), and have their names highlighted in red.
Note: Unlike the 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, without being a Team.
The default challenger; will appear if the player failed to meet any of the above requirements. He also appears as the mid-boss in the NEO GEO version.
Sub-Boss Teams Table[]
Note: Unlike the prior games, there are multiple different Sub-Bosses, with all of them requiring different conditions to fight a certain opponent. If you reach a certain Team, you are guaranteed to fight a certain Boss.
Defeat the Yagami, Masters or American Sports Teams.
Alternate Character Versions[]
Note: These characters are alternate versions of some characters, having either modified moves or a completely different moveset. On the Character Select Screen, hold Select on a certain character.
Next two members can either be: Orochi Yashiro, Orochi Shermie and/or Orochi Chris
Hard Punch Team[]
Yashiro Nanakase
Ryo Sakazaki
Heavy D!
New & Exclusive Stages[]
In addition to the original stages in a reimagined version in 3D (only in PS2 and PS4 versions [the PS4 version mentioned doesn't have rollback netcode]), SNK Playmore also added the scenarios of the finals of KOF '96 ('96 Bosses Team and Goenitz) and KOF '97 (Awakened Orochi Team and Orochi), along with some new stages.
Note 1: None of the new stages, with the exception of Sub-Boss Stages, Boss Stages, and Bousou Stages, appear in Team Play and Single Play, but appear in other modes. (Versus/Training/Online Modes)
Note 2: In this remake, a new version of the famous cameo of the bicycle can be seen in the Japan Street stage, with a backpacking man in a lab coat and slippers carrying a mascot of SNK, Neo-Poke-Kun.
Note 3: All of the stages have the 2D and 3D versions, which can be changed in the game settings (only in PS2 and PS4 versions).
Only in Versus/Training/Online Modes[]
Stage
Stage's Name
Character Associated
Description
Notes
Chinese Wall
N/A
The Great Wall of China. The fight takes place on a broken section of the wall. In the first round, it's empty and it's morning; in the second and third rounds, people are watching the fight in the background; and in the last rounds, it's sunset.
N/A
Hong Kong
N/A
A commercial center in the Central District, with various vehicles, spectators cheering, and some advertisements in the background. Similar to Lee Pai Long's stage in AOF 2 and the Hong Kong Stage in RBFFS. In the first and second rounds, it's morning, with a few people watching the fight, inside and outside of the train; in the third and fourth rounds, it is afternoon and there is a crowd watching the battle; and in the last round, it takes place at night, and people can be seen inside of the train, next to the characters. The battle takes place next to the train tracks.
N/A
Taiwan
N/A
The entrance of the National Palace Museum, in Taipei. The fight takes place in the middle of the square, next to some statues, and beside some flags. In the first round, people are cheering, and holding a flag with words in Chinese, besides a woman sitting at a table with a sun umbrella under sunny weather; in the second round, the stage is empty and cloudy; from the third round, the stage gets full again, with the same people from the first round, and in the light of the sunset.
N/A
Saudi Arabia
N/A
The fight takes place in front of the Masmak Fort, in Riyadh. This stage features palm trees, women wearing burqas, and various sheikhs. In the first round, the weather is sunny; in the second round, a sunset can be seen, with more sheikhs on the left and the right; from the third round, it's already night, and more sheikhs can be seen in the background, with bonfires on both sides.
N/A
Chinese Village
N/A
The village of Xitang. Some residences can be seen in the background as the fighters battle on top of a cobblestone road. In the first round, people and pandas are cheering during the fight, holding posters with the game's name, and the weather is sunny; in the second round, the stage is empty and the sky is cloudy; from the third round, it's already night and few people are in the stage.
N/A
Chinese Temple
N/A
The Famen Temple, in Xi'an. In the first round, some people can be seen next to the river, and the weather is sunny; in the second round, a sunset can be seen; from the third round, the stage is empty and it's already night; some lights can also be seen coming from the temple.
N/A
Mid-Boss Stages[]
Stage
Stage's Name
Character Associated
Description
Notes
Accident Stage (A.K.A. Bousou)
Orochi Iori & Orochi Leona
The bloody version of Chinese Village and Saudi Arabia, like in the stages of KOF '97.
These stages appear only in Team/Single Play (Story Mode).
Trailers[]
THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 ULTIMATE MATCH FINAL EDITION Trailer
