The King of Fighters 2003 (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ 2003) is the tenth game in The King of Fighters series. It is the last game of the series to be based on the Neo-Geo MVS hardware, and the first game in the series that was developed and published under the SNK Playmore custody. It is also the first chapter of the "Tales of Ash Saga", the third story arc of the series, and the last game of the series with the year's release in the title.
As indicated by the game's name, it takes place two years after the last canonical The King of Fighters game, The King of Fighters 2001. According to the game's storyline, a new King of Fighters tournament is organized by an unknown host. The several new rules are instituted, including a whole new team system, based in Tag-Battle Team, which allows the player to change his choosen character at the time of the fight. Only in console mode, there is a fighting option without this mode (The Team Play).
At the end of the tournament, depending on how players defeat the mid-game boss, Kusanagi, the players will either face Adelheid Bernstein or learn that the tournament organizer is Chizuru Kagura and that a group known as "His Distant Land" is working in a secretive plot. After defeating the mysterious stone fighter known as Mukai, Ash Crimson appears before Chizuru, attacks her in her weakened state and steals her powers. Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami come to Chizuru's aid as Ash tells Iori that he's his next target.
Development[]
The game was first revealed in Tokyo Game Show 2003, originally planned to be developed on the Atomiswave hardware before settling on the Neo-Geo MVS hardware. In North America the game was released alongside The King of Fighters 2002 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The game was solely released for Switch on February 21, 2019. The title was developed as the first chapter of a new story arc, Ash was designed as an "attractive evil character", in contrast to previous King of Fighters heroes. Due to Ash's late appearance in The King of Fighters 2003, the staff joked that teammate Shen Woo seemed more like the series' main character than Ash did. The two boss characters, Adelheid and Mukai, had no problems during their designs with the former being the last added to expand the narrative of the series. While Kusanagi was first introduced in The King of Fighters 2002 without a plot focused on him, KOF 2003 gave him the idea of being a clone of Kyo Kusanagi created by Chizuru Kagura while also intending to include his school uniform highly popular within Kyo's fans.
The series inspired a manhua with the same name. In China the series was divided into two halves: The King of Fighters 2003 composed of five issues, and The King of Fighters 03: Xenon Zero (拳皇 XENON ZERO) composed of eight issues. The two series were combined for the North American release under the name of The King of Fighters 2003. In July of 2004, distributor of Asian comics ComicsOne licensed the series with its first volume tying the release of a new video game and kept publishing it after their transition to Dr. Master.
Gameplay[]
Gameplay of Shingo vs. Ralf in the console version.
The King of Fighters 2003 returns again with its 3 vs. 3 team battles. For the first time ever in the series, the matches are taken place in a single 3-on-3 round, unlike the 3-5 round matches, as seen in previous installments. This due to the new Tag Shift mechanic, where fighters can switch out with other members during a match, similar to Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle and the Marvel vs. Capcom series. By pressing either BC or CD, players can switch place with any standby team members, with BC switching out with the second member and CD switching out with the third member. Because of this, CD Attacks do not appear in this game.
It should also be noted that KOF 2003 also feature the traditional 3-on-3 team matches as well as singles fights in the console ports.
Terry using his Leader Desperation Move "Power Stream" against Tizoc.
Another mechanic introduced in this game is the Leader System, where one member of the player's team becomes a "Leader". The leader will always be the first character which the player chooses when picking his team, and during the match.
The leader will be highlighted by a blue life bar, unlike the members, whose life bars are orange. The leader gains access to a 2 stock supers, known as Leader Desperation Move.
Characters[]
The new characters added to the roster (between originals and of other franchises) are:
Ash Crimson, a mysterious young man and leader of the new "Hero Team" (with quotation marks), is the new protagonist of the series. He enters in the KOF tournament with unknown intentions.
Duo Lon, one of the members of the "Hero Team", is an ninja assassin who is part of the Hizoku clan, and is son of Ron, the traitor of the clan. He decides to hunt him.
Shen Woo, the last member of the "Hero Team", is a street boxer raised in Shanghai. Like Duo Lon, he enters the tournament at the invitation of Ash.
Tizoc (A.K.A. The Griffon Mask), from Garou: Mark of The Wolves, is the new member of the Fatal Fury Team. He enters to the KOF tournament in order to gain his passion for the ring and to hopefully find the mystery man who defeated him.
Gato, another character from MOTW. He enters the KOF tournament at the request of Geese Howard and to prevent his probable sister, Hotaru Futaba, from being harmed.
Malin, member of the High School Girls Team, is an enigmatic Japanese girl from an unknown organization that specializes in gathering intelligence.
Kusanagi, the mid-boss of the game, is other creation of Chizuru. He also appears in the twoversions of KOF 2002 (non-canonical games) as an experiment of NESTS cartel.
Maki Kagura, one of the sub-bosses of the game, is the dead elder twin sister ofChizuru Kagura. She appears in the tournament as an illusion created by the Mirror of Yata, the clan's artifact.
Adelheid Bernstein, one of the final bosses of the game, is Rugal Bernstein's son and one of the tournament's hosts, who lives with his sister Rose Bernstein in the Sky Noah, one of the old homes of his father.
Mukai, the true final boss of the game, is one of the members of an organization known as Those from the Past. He is ordered to not directly intervene with this tournament, only making an appearance to test the winning team to see if they will survive "the new age".
Note 1: With the end of Striker System, the return of the formation of trios and the implementation of the Tag Battle system, the new team formations are the following:
A new "Hero Team" enters in the tournament, and it is formed by the mysterious young man Ash Crimson, the Hizoku clan ninja and Ron's son Duo Lon and the Chinese street fighter Shen Woo. They enter after Ash's invitation, whose intentions are unknown for the tournament and his teammates.
The Commander Heidern leaves the Ikari Warriors Team, passing the leadership back to the Colonel Ralf Jones. Leona Heidern, his adoptive daughter, continues to be the frontline soldier of the team.
Note: Unlike prior games, there are multiple different Final Bosses. Depending on how the fight against Kusanagi went, you'll face off against two different Bosses.
Note 1: In the console versions, depending on the chosen fighting mode (Normal or Arcade), the stages may vary. In normal mode, all stages vary in time and space.
Note 2: In this game, the stages are randomly chosen by the game's system.
The temple complex of Tōdai-ji, in the city of Nara. In the Arcade Version, the fight takes place next to the Ango and Ungyo statues of the complex, in the Namdaimon Gate. The main temple can be seen in the background, along with various Shinto gods and lanterns in the gate, people cheering, sakura trees and a fountain. In the Console Version, the fight occurs next to the South Central Gate.
In the first variation, the fight takes place next to a tree. Spectators can be seen cheering, along with a bridge, a big lantern in the gate of the temple and traditional Japanese buildings. In the second variation, the fight takes place around sunset and occurs next to the other buildings; in the third variation, the fight takes place near the gate at night and the stage is empty.
In the Arcade Version, the fight takes place near the Orloj, in the city of Prague. In the first variation, spectators can be seen amongst the buildings. In the second variation, the stage is empty and it's already night. In the Console Version, the fighters battle on a flatbed truck that runs through the streets of the city (the Orloj can be seen for a brief moment of the fight). The flatbed truck passes through a tunnel next to a park.
The first variation takes place during the day; in the second variation, the battle takes place during sunset; in the third variation the fight takes place at night.
In the Arcade Version, the fight takes place on the rooftop of a building in the city of Hong Kong. The NEO GEO and SNK Playmore logos can be seen in the background. There are two variations of color in this stage: in the first, the hue is blue; in the second, the hue changes to green. In the Console Version, it take place on the same rooftop, but there are 3D modifications to some of the signs in the background.
In the first variation has a neon logo, an old man and cats; the second variation has the game's logo and a helicopter; while the third variation has children and a woman watching the fight, with helicopters flying overhead.
In the Arcade Version, the fight takes place at a Korean seaside. People can be seen cheering on the fighters, against the backdrop of a boat with tires, fishermen and a zeppelin. The only change is that the stage turns green. In the Console Version, the fight takes in a beach instead.
In the first variation, which takes place in the morning, people, a cabin, a zeppelin, boats and a moutain can be seen. In the second variation, the fight takes place at a slightly different angle and during daytime. In the third variation, the fight occurs on a pier during sunset. Boats, people and the same zeppelin from the arcade version can be seen.
The Mayan city of Chichen Itza, in Yucatán. In the Arcade Version, the fight takes place near the Kukulcan Temple. Amongst the ruins, crows, trees and a light fog can be seen. The only change is that the stage turns a greenish hue. In the Console Version, the fight takes at another area of the Mayan city.
In the first variation, next to the Temple of the Warriors, some local people, stones and mariachi singers can be seen; in the 2nd variation, in the Columns in the Temple of a Thousand Warriors, with tribal dancers, under the sunset and with the Kukulcan Temple in the background; in the 3rd variation, it's night and the monuments previously mentioned can be seen.
In the Arcade Version, the battle takes place at the Glenbrook Railway. The fight itself takes place directly next to the train and the tracks. Plaques, people, balloons, a cow and a house can be seen in the background. In the Console Version, the fight occurs on a moving train departing from a station. People can be seen cheering inside of the station with the city of Auckland passing by in the background. The train then proceeds through the New Zealand countryside where balloons and sheep can be seen in the background.
In the first variation of the normal console mode, it's daytime and the rail line goes to the left. In the second variation, the SNK Playmore and game logos can be seen on a truck, inside the station and outdoors, and it takes place during the sunset while the train travels to the right side of the screen. The third variation takes place at night with the train proceeding in the opposite direction.
The city of Giza. In the Arcade Version, the fight takes place next to the ruins of the city and the Great Sphinx and the Pyramids can be seen in the background. Spectators and a camel can be seen in the background as well. The first variation takes place at sunset, while the second takes place at night. In the Console Version, the fight takes place on a boat that passes along the River Nile. The famous monuments of the city and various spectators can be seen in the background.
In the 1st variation of the console version, the fight takes place during daytime and the boat sails to the right. In the 2nd variation, the sun is setting and the boat sails to the left side of the screen. In the 3rd variation, it's nighttime with the boat sailing in the opposing direction.
Sky Noah
An airship floating high above ground, featuring the Bernstein family lounging and doing their business. Multiple terminals and high-tech consoles are strewn across the stage. Rose can be seen playing the piano and at her feet rests the black panther of her father, Rugal. In the Console Version, the structures release vapors.
This stage also can be seen in KOF XIII, with some changes.
Lava Cave
A lava cave. Mirrors and a lava river are seen in the background. Associated with Chizuru & Maki.
This stage also can be seen in KOF XIII, with some changes.
Mukai's Cave
Another cave. in the background is a statue of a snake with a green glowing eye, sparks and chains. In the Console Version, the snake moves. Associated with Mukai.
None.
Critical Reception[]
Overview[]
The game got a 7.1 score by Japanese magazine Famitsu. The site DefunctGames gave it a B+ praising the new gameplay style gave the series a major change. One of the new characters introducted in this game, Tizoc, was noted by the blog Kotaku for appealing South American fans based on him being wrestler. The portuguese site Eurogamer was a negative believing, saying that previous SNK fighting game like The King of Fighters 2002 offered a better cast and that the new gameplay of this entry system would confuse newcomers.
Nevertheless, the reviewer commented that the new Garou: Mark of the Wolves fighters introduced in 2003 would also appeal to players similar to Kotaku. American magazine HardcoreGaming101 believed the new gameplay features, cast and artwork were interesting, but adds that the sequel, The King of Fighters XI, easily fixed most of its issues.
