The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ 2002 アンリミテッドマッチ) 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.[1][2][3]
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.
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.
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:
Nameless, the 9999th K' clone and the only survivor of "Project Ж". He is known by NESTS by his codename "Ж'" or "Zhe Prime". A constant subject of endurance tests, he lived a miserable life with his only love interest Isolde indirectly providing him emotional relief, and a reason to live on and endure trial after trial. He replaces K9999, a character removed from the series due to an internal disfavor of character design. Unlike the other fighters, he enters alone as a single entry fighter.
Official Team Roster
Note: Some parenthetical citations are sometimes Japanese team names, sometimes shortened team names.
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.
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, they are available at the start of the game.
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.
Finish any of the NESTS Bosses on your first try, using no continues and losing a total of 3 or fewer rounds counting from the beginning.
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, they are available at the start of the game.
Finish him using any character, who has with his infinity special power bar. The defeat unlocks all the game content. He does not appear in Endless mode.
Finish him along the Awakened Orochi Team (Normal Challenge); Finish him using any combo attacks, with any character, during the seconds multiples of 3 (Expert Challenge). Or in Endless mode, finish him as the 59th character.
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.
EX Robert Garcia (Based on his KOF '99 - 2000 Charge Moveset)
EX Sie Kensou (Based on his KOF '99 - 2000 Psychic Powerless Moveset)
EX Takuma Sakazaki (Based on his KOF '99 - 2001 Classic Moveset)
Special Edit Teams
Note: Unlike the other special teams, the Original Ikari Warriors Team has no special illustration.
KOF '02 UM Team
Nameless
K'
Kyo Kusanagi
Former Art of Fighting Team (Original Art of Fighting Team)
Ryo Sakazaki
Robert Garcia
Takuma Sakazaki
Former Psycho Soldier Team (Original Psycho Soldier Team)
Athena Asamiya
Sie Kensou
Chin Genstai
Former Women Fighters Team (Original KOF 2002 Women 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, Italy
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 Dojo, Taiwan
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, Cambodia
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, USA
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 (property of former US President Donald Trump) 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.
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, Greece
New Faces/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 Headquarters
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.
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:
PS2 cover, showing Nameless, K' and Kula. Illustration by Hiroaki
Splash art for the debut of the official Japanese website.
SNK Playmore 'Happy New Years' picture for 2010
SNK Playmore 'Happy New Years' picture for 2009
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.
Videos & Trailers
The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match Combo DVD Triple Da God's Extended Director's Cut Edition
"THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002 UNLIMITED MATCH" Trailer (Xbox LIVE Arcade)
XBLA "THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002 UNLIMITED MATCH"
XBLA "THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002 UNLIMITED MATCH" MAX2 デモ その１
THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2002 UNLIMITED MATCH Trailer
【ENG】First Official Reveal- KOF XV & SAMURAI SHODOWN
