| Series | Position in the series | Saga/Story Arc | Chapter | Is it canonical? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The King of Fighters | 14th | New Age Saga | 1st | Yes |
| The King of Fighters XIV | Team Stories | Stories | Interviews | Move List | Gallery | Soundtrack | Achievements | Credits | Trivia | DLC |
- "Burn To Fight."
- —Tagline
The King of Fighters XIV (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ
Oda stated in an interview with the website 4Gamer that the main goal for this title is to make it "the easiest to play" of the series. According to him, the two major reasons for making the transition to 3D is to adapt to high-end machines and give 3D experience to SNK so they can compete in the console market again. He thinks it's difficult to properly convey the KOF cast's charm in 3D but expects the models to continue improving from its initial revealing. Oda hopes to cater to fans of KOF '98, KOF 2002 and KOF XIII this game's mechanics and improve the online matchmaking for this entry.[2]
A graphical patch (Ver 1.10) to boost the game's visuals was released on January 11, 2017. On April 5, 2017, the 2.00 update was released along with 4 additional DLC characters and 2 free classic stages. On April 12, 2018, the 3.00 update is released along with another 4 additional DLC characters and 1 new stage. Besides, the Ultimate Edition, with all DLC characters and costumes and 10 new PS4 themes is released in Digital format on January 7, 2021, for Europe, and January 20, 2021, and the Physical format was released on March 11, 2021.
Development[]
After considering the current market and the future, the staff agreed that things would be best if they challenged 3D right now and started building up experience, knowledge and libraries in their company.[3]
- The game engine was internally developed by SNK. They were considering using the Unreal Engine but decided not to because SNK didn't feel confident after overviewing the potential risks and budget at that time. Four years later, SNK finally decided to use Unreal Engine, starting from developing Samurai Shodown (2019), and continuing with The King of Fighters XV;
- They decided against cell-shaded graphics due to wanting to emulate the look of The King of Fighters '94. Originally the game used a more realistic style, but it was eventually tweaked so it would not clash with certain characters' designs. The cel-shaded graphic would be utilized in Samurai Shodown (2019) via the Unreal Engine three years later;
- Hitboxes are added manually in 2D;
- Ogura has no remorse in leaving behind pixel art since it was a method to bring out the best in low-resolution graphics. Now that times have changed, even if doing 2D he'd rather take a different approach than pixel art;
- Making the game run in full 60 FPS proved to be difficult and as a result, the flashier looking graphics and effects were cut. There was the option of having a variable framerate, but the team decided to keep it consistent partially due to concerns about the quality of the online multiplayer;
- They only had 3-4 designers but Oda decided to have 50 characters in the game. To save production time and budget, he allowed for three characters to obscure their faces so they would not require facial animations.
SNK has a lot of development teams especially in the mobile/smartphone side of things, but they only have two studios. One of them is making the KOF series, and they barely had enough staff to make XIV.[4]
Story[]
The King of Fighters has become a major business, generating huge profits and numerous spin-off tournaments worldwide. However, this led to a lowering of the overall quality, and voices began to rise across the globe demanding the formation of one unique, worldwide KOF competition.
A billionaire self-proclaimed “first champion” bought out all the rights for the KOF Tournament. The announcement of a new KOF Tournament created unprecedented enthusiasm around the world. This excitement reached many of the classic participants of the legendary tournament directly in the form of an official invitation...
Gameplay[]
Gameplay of Kyo vs. Iori in 1.10 version (Graphical Update)
Unlike previous main entries, which employed hand-drawn sprite animation, The King of Fighters XIV uses 3D models more akin to the KOF: Maximum Impact series. However the fighting area remains on a strictly two-dimensional plane and keeps the same basic mechanics as its predecessors.
New Max mode systems allows players to access the EX special moves; activating this state requires one bar of the power gauge. EX super move can also be executed with just one attack button, instead of two.
Using three bars of the power gauge can allow players to unleash Climax Desperation Moves, the current "Strongest Level DM" in this game that follows somewhat in the prior Neo Max's footsteps. Some characters gain new moves as a Climax DM, while others instead have their prior Neo Max reprised as a Climax DM.
Super Cancels are based on 2003 along with XI's Dream Cancel, except it is available to all members and has new traits available, such canceling a normal DM to an EX or Climax DM, or EX DM into a Climax DM.
Yuri, right after applying her Climax move in Leona.
Repeatedly hit the light punch button to perform an automatic combo attack called Rush mode; this will do lower damage compared to normal combo attacks. However, there some conditions involving Level gauge:
- If the Level gauge is 0, the fourth Rush mode combo goes to a certain special move.
- If one Level gauge is filled, the fourth Rush mode combo goes to a certain Super Art.
- While entering Max Mode, the fourth Rush mode combo goes to an EX version of a certain special/super moves.
CD/Blowback attacks cause opponents to hit the wall with a unique form of wall-slam, which causes them for a period of time to remain vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
Gameplay of Benimaru vs. Iori in the Arcade version.
Online multiplayer mode will feature a Party Battle mode which will allow three players to form a single team together to challenge another three player team. Players will be allowed to choose the same character if they wish while forming teams. The lobby is designed to support up to twelve players so spectators can join to watch the match up with an integrated voice and text chat. A "Crowd SE" option is additionally available for spectators will allow them to root, applaud, and boo their favored competing teams. Players will be allowed to set their online profiles to be private. An online training mode is available as well.
The Story Mode is composed of ten rounds and five cutscenes. Depending of the chosen team, the fourth cutscene can vary. The Japan, China, Official Invitation and Another World Teams earns special cutscenes. Before the first two cutscenes, the player can face a team with a character of 1, 2 or 3 DLC characters, mixed with 1 or 2 original characters.
Controls[]
- Note: These are the default control schemes. You can change them at any time with the Options Menu or by pausing.
Battle Controls[]
| Movement | Console Terminology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Neo Geo | |
| Light Punch | 
|
|
|
| Light Kick | 
|
|
|
| Heavy Punch | 
|
|
|
| Heavy Kick | 
|
|
|
| Emergency Evasion |  or +
|
 or +
|
+
|
| Blow Back | +
|
+
|
+
|
| MAX Mode Activation |  or +
|
 or +
|
+
|
| Both Punches |  or +
|
 or +
|
+
|
| Both Kicks |  or +
|
 or +
|
+
|
| Pause Menu | 
|
|
??? |
Menu Controls[]
- Note: In the Japanese PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5 version, the Buttons used for Confirm and Cancel are reversed.
| Movement | Console Terminology | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 | Neo Geo | |
| Confirm |
|
|
|
| Cancel |
|
|
|
Characters[]
Overview[]
KOF XIV also marks a huge change for the series in that the large majority of the returning cast currently sport new voice actors, including those who have been voiced by the same actors since their debut or for several years. The exceptions include Benimaru, Chang, Choi, Geese, Athena, Kula, Maxima, King, Whip and Oswald (Athena remains with the same voice actress since KOF '98 and Chang, with the same voice actor since KOF '96. The other characters who remain with the same voice actors dub them since their first appearance in the series), characters with recent changes, such as Kim, Ralf and Mai, still retain their new voices (some earned in KOF XII and KOF XIII).
This game is the only in the series with a large quantity of new characters. The new additions to the roster (between originals and of the other franchises) are:
 |
Shun'ei, the new protagonist of the series' fourth saga and leader of the China Team (A.K.A. New Hero Team). He is a teenager whose parents abandoned him in the streets when he was a little boy, until the master Tung Fu Rue rescued him shortly, as soon as the elder felt the boy's strange power and the good in him, taking him as his student. He is Meitenkun's best friend. |
 |
Meitenkun, other member of the China Team, is a heavy sleeper who is very carefree and calm. He rarely exerts himself, often preferring to nap instead. He is Shun'ei's best friend and Tung's student. |
 |
Tung Fu Rue, from Fatal Fury series, and another member of the China Team. He enters to the KOF tournament to help his new and last students, Shun'ei and Meitenkun, to enter in the KOF world. Aside being the former master of both Bogard family (Jeff and his adoptive sons, Terry and Andy) and the criminal Geese Howard, he also has other connections with Saisyu Kusanagi (Kyo Kusanagi's father) and Chin Gentsai (Psycho Soldier Team's elder master) about the tournament. |
 |
Gang-il, Kim Kaphwan's master and Chairman of the World Taekwondo Federation. He is the complete opposite of his student: a man who is a farrier and womanizer. On one of his world trips, he ended up meeting Luong, his actual girlfriend. |
 |
Luong, a mysterious femme fatale woman and lover of Gang-il, who likes to "play" with her opponents and feels excited in the heat of battle. Outside of battle, she shows less of her cold side and rather shows affection towards Gang-il and his star student Kim, much to the latter's dismay given that he's already married with children. |
 |
Xanadu, a legendary criminal and leader of the new team known as Villains, who is currently imprisoned in an underground jail. A superior intellectual, he is considered to be the "King of the Underground" by the other prisoners. He also talks about subjects and concepts that are supposedly very difficult for most people to understand, when in reality, it is far more likely that he is extremely delusional and deranged. |
 |
Sylvie Paula Paula, the leader of the new team known as Official Invitation (an Antonov's invitation), is an underground fighter and was once a experiment of NESTS cartel, considered useless by the organization until she demonstrated her electromagnetic powers. |
 |
Kukri, a mysterious man who hides his face in a hood, is one of the members of Official Invitation Team and member of an underground society. He is also a very rude, foul-mouthed, arrogant, and sadistic fighter that also sports a bit of an openly perverted affection for women. He also has an unknown rivalry with Shun'ei. |
 |
Mian, the last member of the Official Invitation Team, is a Sichuan opera dancer, and uses traditional masks to fight. She is an extremely shy person, and doesn't drop her mask often, except for rare instances where she displays self-confidence. |
 |
Nelson, the leader of other new team, known as South America, is a boxing prodigy that lost an arm after a terrible accident, but has been able to quickly return to the ring thanks to advanced robotic prosthetics. He fights to seize the world championship while hoping his fiancée will someday awaken from her coma. |
 |
Zarina, one of the members of South America Team, is a cheerful Colombian girl raised in Brazil. She enters to the tournament to protect the nesting place of her pet toucan companion "Coco", whose species is facing the threat of extinction. |
 |
Bandeiras Hattori, the last member of the South America Team, is the founder of the "Brazilian Ninja Arts" Dojo. He enters to the tournament hoping to attract new students to his dojo, which has none yet. |
 |
King of Dinosaurs, member of the new Mexico Team, is the heel persona (in pro wrestling, a wrestler who acts as a villain or a bad guy) of Tizoc, from Garou: Mark of the Wolves. He adopts this identity to avoid tarnishing the honorable image of his face persona and the disgrace from being defeated. |
 |
Hein, a butler and member of Howard Connection recruited by Geese Howard to participate to KOF tournament, is a mysterious man. Although modest, mild-mannered, and never seeming to break his polite tone, he does have a sadistic side. |
 |
Nakoruru, from the Samurai Shodown series, is a girl and a Ainu priestess from Feudal Japan (end of 18th century). She senses a terrible malice coming from a crack in spacetime. To prevent the disaster of its potential release and to find its source, she traveled to the modern times (21th century) and enters the tournament. |
 |
Mui Mui, from the Dragon Gal pachinko series, a hearty and hungry girl who is the last successor of her Dragon Clan martial arts and a master of Kung Fu. She travels on a never-ending quest to find gems with mysterious powers. She was transported by this world by Nakoruru, along with Love Heart. |
 |
Love Heart, from the Sky Love pachinko series, is the captain of the Peace Air Pirates. She was transported from her world by a dimension disturbance. She is approached by Nakoruru, who requests her help to investigate the phenomenon. |
 |
Alice Garnet Nakata, from Garou Densetsu: The Legend of Wild Wolf (a pachinko game), is the new member of the Women Fighters Team, replacing Yuri Sakazaki. She is a huge fan of Terry Bogard, and enters the tournament to prove her newfound strength to him. |
 |
Antonov, the sub-boss of the game, is the host and KOF tournament current rights holder. Proclaiming himself as the "first champion", he eagerly sends out invites across the world, challenging teams to take his title. |
 |
Verse, the final boss of the game, is an entity that was introduced in the storyline when Ash Crimson erased himself and Saiki from spacetime in the previous tournament. It's a being created from eternal negative energy and thrives from the darkness of people's wishes. Within its being, it traps numerous fighters' souls from many ages. |
 |
Rock Howard, from Garou: Mark of the Wolves, is one of the eight DLC characters released for the game. He is the biological and illegitimate son of the crime boss Geese Howard, who grew up under the wings of Terry Bogard and his friends. |
 |
Najd, one of the eight DLC characters released for the game, is a Saudi girl. Dressed in an Abaya, she uses the cover of night and becomes a vigilante to protect her fellow citizens. In contrast to her mysterious appearance, she is a college student during the day. |
- Note 1: Some teams remain with their classic formations. The list of teams available in the game is as follows:
 |
The legendary martial arts master Tung Fu Rue enters the tournament to help his last students, Shun'ei and Meitenkun, to better understand their powers. The three form a new version of the China Team. |
 |
Kyo Kusanagi continues to unite with his personal friends and teammates, Benimaru Nikaido and Goro Daimon, reforming the Japan Team. |
 |
Iori Yagami continues to summon his victims in The King of Fighters '96 and Orochi Hakkesshu's servants, Mature and Vice, forming the Yagami Team once more. |
 |
Yuri Sakazaki returns to the Art of Fighting Team after 6 years to help her older brother, Ryo Sakazaki, who is currently the new master of the family's dojo, and Robert Garcia, the family's friend. Takuma Sakazaki, Ryo and Yuri's father and Robert's master, retires and takes care of the family's steakhouse. |
 |
Desiring to bring his rebellious students back to his side, Kim Kaphwan joins, against his will, with his master Gang-il and his girlfriend Luong, forming again the team that bears his first name. |
 |
Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge join with Xanadu in order to return to their former criminal life, forming the Villains Team, led by the legendary criminal. As a result, Chang returns to the series after 13 years and Choi, after 15 years. |
 |
Antonov, the sponsor of the tournament, invites three underground fighters to match him in the finals, the NESTS reject Sylvie Paula Paula, the mysterious Kukri, and the Sichuan opera dancer Mian, forming the Official Invitation Team. |
 |
A new team formed during the South American qualifiers is composed by the Brazilian boxer Nelson, the Colombian-Brazilian young girl Zarina, and the Brazilian ninja Bandeiras Hattori. It is the South America Team. |
 |
The mercenary and luchador Ramón and the former NESTS agent Ángel returns to the series (he after 11 years and she, after 15 years [7 if counting her last participation]), forming, along with King of Dinosaurs, the Mexico Team, led by the freelancer agent. |
 |
The crime lord Geese Howard also returns to the series (in his second canonical participation), and, along with his bodyguard, Billy Kane, and his newcomer butler, Hein, form the South Town Team. The team is led by the criminal businessman. |
 |
The Ikari Warriors Team continues with its second classic formation (Leona Heidern, Ralf Jones and Clark Still), remade in KOF XIII. |
 |
In order to stop Verse, Nakoruru, the traveler Mui Mui, and the Peace Air Pirates leader Love Heart form the Another World Team, led by the Ainu priestess. |
 |
The K' Team continues with the line-up formed in KOF XI. |
 |
King and Mai Shiranui remain in the Women Fighters Team, and receive a new teammate: Alice Garnet Nakata. |
  |
The Fatal Fury and Psycho Soldier teams continue with its classic formation from the first KOF games. |
- Note 2: All DLC characters enter alone in the tournament, despite their appearances are not canonical. However, some DLC characters released in this game appear in canonical teams in the following game of the series, The King of Fighters XV. In the order of appearance, they are: Blue Mary, Vanessa, Heidern, and Whip. Besides that, Rock Howard and Ryuji Yamazaki, another DLC characters released in this entry, appear in DLC teams in the 15th mainline game of the series.
- Note 3: Some characters, although they have debuted canonically or officially in this game, have already appeared in other games in the series or in spin-offs. Therefore:
- Nakoruru appears as an exclusive character in the Game Boy Advance version of The King of Fighters '95;
- Tung appears as an exclusive character in the PlayStation 2 version of The King of Fighters XI;
- Rock appears in all three games of KOF Maximum Impact series.
Initial Team Roster[]
Japan Team (A.K.A. Kyo Team)[]
Yagami Team[]
Fatal Fury Team (A.K.A. Garou Densetsu Team)[]
Art of Fighting Team (A.K.A. Kyokugenryu Team)[]
Kim Team[]
Villains Team[]
Official Invitation Team[]
South America Team[]
Mexico Team[]
South Town Team (A.K.A. Geese Team)[]
China Team (A.K.A. New Hero Team or Shun'ei Team)[]
Psycho Soldier Team (A.K.A. Athena Team)[]
Ikari Warriors Team (A.K.A. Ikari Team)[]
Another World Team[]
K' Team[]
Women Fighters Team[]
Sub-Boss[]
Final Boss[]
NPC Characters[]
- Clemence Bellamy (KOF News reporter)
- Yakov (Antonov's assistant)
DLC Characters[]
- Note: As in The King of Fighters XIII, the DLC characters (including Rock Howard, from Garou: Mark of the Wolves, and the newcomer Najd) have no impact on the story of the game.
Season 1[]
Season 2[]
Special Edit Teams[]
- Note: By playing with these formations in Story Mode, the player unlocks special illustrations. All of them were drawn by Eisuke Ogura.
Tung's Disciples Team[]
|
Terry Bogard |
Geese Howard |
Shun'ei |
NESTS Girls Team[]
|
Sylvie Paula Paula |
Kula Diamond |
Ángel |
"Lucky Sevens" Team[]
|
Mui Mui |
Love Heart |
Alice Nakata |
Ninja Team[]
|
Andy Bogard |
Mai Shiranui |
Bandeiras Hattori |
Masters Team[]
|
Chin Gentsai |
Tung Fu Rue |
Gang-il |
Dragon Team[]
|
Ryo Sakazaki |
Mui Mui |
Sie Kensou |
Tiger Team[]
|
Rámon |
Robert Garcia |
Joe Higashi |
The Mysterious Newcomers[]
|
Hein |
Luong |
Kukri |
Birds(?) Team[]
|
Nakoruru |
Zarina |
King of Dinosaurs |
Beautiful Longhair Team[]
|
Athena Asamiya |
Kula Diamond |
Nakoruru |
DLC Costumes[]
|
Kyo Kusanagi Classic Version |
Iori Yagami Classic Version |
Sylvie Paula Paula Little Red Riding Hood |
|
Ángel Diabla |
Shun'ei Kung Fu Suit | |
|
Meitenkun Pajamas |
Athena Asamiya KOF '98/UM Costume |
Nakoruru Kamui Kotan School Girls' Uniform |
|
Kula Diamond Sundress |
Story Cameos[]
Characters who appear as cameos in Team Stories and Endings.
The King of Fighters series[]
- Ash Crimson
- Elisabeth Blanctorche
- Chizuru Kagura
- Shingo Yabuki
- Saisyu Kusanagi
- Momoko
- Bao
- Whip (later added as DLC)
- Heidern (later added as DLC)
- Vanessa (later added as DLC)
- Gaidel
- Orochi
Fatal Fury/Wolves series[]
- Richard Meyer
- Bob Wilson
- Jin Chonrei
- Cheng Sinzan
- Blue Mary (later added as DLC)
- B. Jenet
- Li Xiangfei
- Hotaru Futaba
- Ripper and Hopper
- Marco Rodrigues
- Jeff Bogard
Art of Fighting series[]
Metal Slug series[]
Stages[]
- Note 1: In this game, the stages are again associated with the teams and the bosses, which hasn't happened in a canonical game of the series since KOF '96 (and in a mainline game of the series since KOF 2002 UM).
- Note 2: When the player fights in DLC stages or in the Training Stage (exclusively available in Versus and Tranning Modes), the music of the stage is associated to the first character chosen to fight. In the Story Mode and Versus Mode against CPU, it's the first character in the right team; in Versus Mode with two players and we fight in the Training Stage, it's the first character of the left team.
- Note 3: In Story Mode, the Japan and Official Invitation Teams are the only teams to be faced after the first cutscene, and the DLC characters are always faced before the second and the third cutscenes, respectively.
Team Stages[]
| Stage | Stage Name | Team/Character | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Neo Esaka, Osaka, Japan | Japan Team & Oswald | Set on a raised platform overlooking the Esaka Station area of Osaka, Japan. Numerous sponsorship boards line the arena along with low fences to keep the fight contained to the platform. In the background, a billboard with portraits of the active fighters can be seen. | N/A |
|
Industrial Area | Yagami Team | An industrial rooftop covered with pipes with a large refinery in the background. The stage takes place at night, with dark clouds and a crescent moon visible in the sky. Similar to the Rivals Team stage in The King of Fighters '95. | N/A |
|
Navajoland, USA | Fatal Fury Team & Blue Mary | The fight takes place amidst the gas station pumps of a truck stop diner in the middle of the desert of Arizona (the dinner visible on the right side of the stage). Spectators are casually gathered around to witness the battle and semi-trucks can be seen parked on the left side of the stage. Also features, in the background, the Monument Valley. Similar to the South Town stage in The King of Fighters '96, Terry and Rick's shared stage in Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers and to Big Bear's stage in Fatal Fury 2 and Fatal Fury Special. | N/A |
|
Maple Garden | Art of Fighting Team | A patio-like area next to a maple tree forest, with a small Japanese temple on the right side, a small waterfall at the left side and two wooden braziers in the center. There is a view over a calm bay in the background, and the stage takes place at night, with the sky filled with black clouds and a small full moon in the distant background. Similar to the Korea stage in The King of Fighters '94. | N/A |
|
Hotel Marine Paradise | Kim Team | A submerged restaurant and a hotel reception with large pillars. The battle takes place in a roped-off area in the center of the restaurant. In the background people can be seen sitting and observing the aquatic life swim by the large glass panes that separate them from the water outside. Marine life, such as whales and sharks, can be seen passing outside. Similar to the Aquarium stage in The King of Fighters 2000. | N/A |
|
Underground Prison | Villains Team | A dungeon-like area with ruined, crumbling stone walls strewn about and prisoners observing the fight. There are two suspended cages, an empty cage on the left edge of the screen and another cages with a prisoners inside near the center and in the left. | Some NPCs used in this stage can be seen in The King of Fighters XV, in the Concert Hall stage. |
|
Masquerade | Official Invitation Team | A high-class opera house. The battle takes place on the stage and the wealthy elite mill around at ground level and in the upper balconies, all wearing face masks to keep with the masquerade theme. Banners with sponsorship logos can be seen surrounding the stage and Pegasus statues are situated at opposite ends of the stage. | N/A |
|
Iguazu Falls, Brazil | South America Team | The Iguazu Falls, in Brazil, near the Triple Frontier. The stage is set on a balcony in the midst of several rainforest plants such as palm trees. In the distant background a large waterfall can be seen cascading down the sheer cliffs. The balcony is covered in glowing blue hexagonal tiles and there are several domed structures erected on the cliff-side. The closest dome has a banner with yellow text that reads "KING OF FIGHTERS in Latin America". | N/A |
|
Guanajuato Dynamite Ring, Mexico | Mexico Team & Vanessa | A large wrestling ring situated in the town square of Guanajuato, Mexico. The ring ropes are colored red, white, and blue and the turnbuckles have print on them with phrases such as "KOF IN MEXICO" and "LUCHA LIBRE". Spectators are seen at the ground level watching the brawl. Día de los Muertos ("Day of the Dead") decorations adorn the town square and a King of Dinosaurs banner is draped over one of the buildings. In the background, can be seen the Cathedral of León. | N/A |
|
Geese Tower, South Town | South Town Team | The Geese Howard's inner sanctum at the top of his skyscraper, overlooking the city of South Town. An elaborate centerpiece of Buddhist statues adorns the middle of the room and thick, red, Asian-inspired columns flank it to the left and right. A pair of vases and a large ceremonial drum are placed in the area in front of the centerpiece. The floor is composed of finely polished wood and rainfall can be seen outside. An American flag banner is hanging from the awning, alluding to Geese's affinity for blending American and Asian cultures. | N/A |
|
The Great Wall of China | China Team | A wide stone platform on the Great Wall, with the wall itself in the background curving across to the right. The platform has a pagoda-like gold sculpture on the right side, whilst the left side has an archway with some sort of decorative tassel hanging in the center. | N/A |
|
The Bund, Shanghai, China | Psycho Soldier Team | The Bingjiang Da Dao riverside, near the Huangpu River, in Shanghai, in a celebration to the Chinese New Year. This stage takes place at night with a full moon, and the city's downtown district is visible across the river in the background. The river features a multi-decked boat with a large dragon-shaped prow. | N/A |
|
Heidern Fleet, Mediterranean Sea | Ikari Warriors Team, Whip & Heidern | A large aircraft carrier with bunting depicting army flags strung in the air. Jet fighters are positioned in the foreground, whilst the carrier's control tower is in the background. Similar to John Crawley's stage in the first Art of Fighting. | On the wall of the accommodation, a large 94 can be seen. This is a clear reference to the first game of the series. This number also can be seen in The King of Fighters XV, during the Rivals Team ending. |
|
Dream World | Another World Team | Some kind of amusement park. The fighting area is surrounded by a castle like stone wall, with numerous red and gold banners hanging from the wall; the banner in the top-center reads 'THE KING OF FIGHTERS'. There are several costumed figures, including two stilt-walkers, standing in the foreground watching the fight, with the central figure wearing a large cartoonish bodysuit of a patchwork animal in a witch's hat holding a staff. There are three dioramas of fairground rides just behind the costumed figures; the one on the left is of a 'teacup' ride, the one on the right is of a roller coaster, and the one in the center is of a carousel. The carousel has a large sign on the bottom reading 'THE KING OF FIGHTERS SPECIAL PARADE'. | N/A |
|
Derelict Church | K' Team | An abandoned church where one wall has crumbled away. The pews can be seen up the center while statues and stained glass windows adorn the side opposite the crumbled wall. | N/A |
|
Old Castle | Women Fighters Team | The gardens of a large castle, with the castle itself taking up most of the background. The stage takes place at sunset, and there are two small fountains, one on each edges of the stage, with the fountain on the left being in the foreground and the fountain on the right being further away. Similar to the Women Fighters Team's stages in The King of Fighters '94 and The King of Fighters '94 Re-Bout. | N/A |
Boss Stages & Special Stage[]
| Stage | Stage Name | Team/Character | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Antonov Super Arena, Russia | Antonov | Similar to the arena where the concluding battles of The King of Fighters '96 take place. An outdoor stage area surrounded by packed grandstands and cameras both on the ground and raised above the fight via boom arms. In the background a platform can be seen, presumably where the winning team will receive their commendation. | N/A |
|
Destroyed Arena, Russia | Verse | A destroyed variant of Antonov Super Arena where the final boss battle takes place Can be seen a cloudy sky and Clemence Bellamy's cameraman. | N/A |
|
Training Stage | Random | A sparse arena used for training. The back wall is covered in white tiles whilst the floor is covered in grey tiles. There are several thick black lines painted across the tiles, including vertically across the center, the left edge and the right edge, as well as horizontally across the floor; the combatants stand upon this horizontal line whilst fighting. The vertical line across the center features a small gold shield positioned halfway up the wall, with the letters 'KOF' engraved across it. The update 1.10 (graphical update) adds a customizable digital billboard beneath the KOF shield, much like the one in the Neo Esaka stage. | In the 19th chapter of the Manga adaption of this game, A New Beginning, it's revealed to be located in the Antonov Super Arena, provided for the fighters to train for the next matches. This stage was likely inspired by the training stages seen in many other fighting games, such as the ones seen in many of Capcom's games. |
DLC Stages[]
Season 1[]
| Stage | Stage Name | Team/Character | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Transcontinental Railroad, USA | Rock | Terry Bogard's stage from Fatal Fury 2 and Fatal Fury Special. The differences between the versions of the stage are: the logo in the wagon floor and outdoors over all the stage, besides crates, barrels and bags. | When Terry fights in this stage, the song "Kuri Kinton Flavor" plays, no matter in which order and team he was chosen to fight. |
|
City Circuit, Monaco | Yamazaki | The Monaco stage from The King of Fighters '97. The differences between the versions of the stage are: the crowd, the sponsors, flags, an animated panel with Antonov's photo and can be seen a yacht and two trucks passing, one with covers of SNK's first editions of games in the carriage. | A large truck can be seen driving past in the background. The image that's displayed on the side of the truck changes depending on who wins the round: if Terry, Joe or Andy wins, it has an image from Fatal Fury: King of Fighters; if Ryo, Robert or Yuri wins, then it has an image from Art of Fighting; if Nakoruru wins, then it shows an image from the original 1993 Samurai Shodown. |
Season 2[]
| Stage | Stage Name | Team/Character | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Najd | The terrace of the Masmak Fort, overlooking the skyscrapers of Riyadh, the Saudi capital city. The Kingdom and the Al Faisaliyah Centers, along with the Al Majdoul Tower can be seen in the background. The AMBC's cameraman can also be seen, along with a zeppelin broadcasting the fight, some spectators from the City Circuit and Navajoland stages. There are also flags with the championship logo and the sponsors.
N/A |
Music[]
Main Theme[]
- Follow Me by Steven McNair
Ending Theme[]
- Burning On by Steven McNair
VS. Themes (Fateful Battle)[]
In this game, there are special songs that play during specific matchups. These themes can be either original or from past games.
| Music Theme | Character Matchup | Game/Series' Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Burst | Shun'ei vs. Kukri | Original Theme |
| New Order -KOF XIV ver.- | Kyo vs. Iori | The King of Fighters XI (Kusanagi-Yagami [Kyo & Iori] Team Theme) |
| Soy Sauce for Geese -KOF XIV ver.- | Terry vs. Geese | Fatal Fury Special (Geese's Theme) |
| Pasta -KOF XIV ver.- | Andy vs. Tung | Fatal Fury 2/Special (Andy's Theme) |
| A Kiss for Geese, Cyber Edit -KOF XIV ver. | Ryo vs. Geese | Art of Fighting 2 (Young Geese's Theme) |
| Micha Iya! (Don't Look!) -KOF XIV ver.- | Ryo vs. King | Art of Fighting (King's Theme) |
| Seoul Road -KOF XIV ver.- | Kim vs. Chang & Choi | The King of Fighters '96 (Korea Justice Team Theme) |
| London March -KOF XIV ver.- | Billy vs. Hein | Fatal Fury 2/Special (Billy's Theme) |
| tachi bou ke (Sung Version) | Athena vs. Kensou | Original Theme |
| Ikari -KOF XIV ver.- | Ralf vs. Clark | Ikari Warriors (Main Theme) |
| KD-0079 -KOF XIV ver.- | K' vs. Ralf | The King of Fighters '99 (Hero Team Theme) |
| Ice Place -KOF XIV ver.- | Kula vs. Ángel | The King of Fighters 2000 (Kula's Theme) |
DLC Characters Themes[]
With exception of Rock and Najd, the DLC Character themes are extracted from past games (the most played in the first appearance in the series). Below, the list:
| Music Theme | DLC Character | Game/Series' Source |
|---|---|---|
| W.W.III -KOF XIV ver.- | Whip | The King of Fighters '99 (Ikari Warriors Team Theme) |
| C62 -KOF XIV ver.- | Ryuji Yamazaki | Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory (Yamazaki's Theme) |
| Secret Circumstances -KOF XIV ver.- | Vanessa | The King of Fighters XI (Agents Team Theme) |
| Emergence | Rock Howard | Original Theme |
| Joker -KOF XIV ver.- | Oswald | The King of Fighters XI ("Hero" Team Theme) |
| Desert Requiem -KOF XIV ver.- | Heidern | The King of Fighters '95 (Ikari Warriors Team Theme) |
| Successor | Najd | Original Theme |
| Kiss Me -KOF XV ver.- | Blue Mary | Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory (Mary's Theme) |
Comic & Manga Adaptations[]
On January 31, 2017, SNK announced a manhua which would cover the game's main story. The first chapter was released on February 1, 2017.[5] The series ended with only 8 chapters released.
A new manga series titled The King of Fighters: A New Beginning illustrated by Kyoutarou Azuma is released on January 1, 2018. The series was published bi-weekly on Pocket Shonen Magazine online and was collected monthly on the Shonen Sirius magazine. The manga had its last chapter published on August 24, 2021.
Critical Reception[]
Overview[]
The King of Fighters XIV received generally positive reviews in video game media:
- On Metacritic it holds an average score of 79 out of 100;
- Gaming Age's Chris Dunlap gave it a perfect score, saying it is the best of The King of Fighters games. He recommended it to fans of the fighting game genre because of its appealing features such as the Rush System which makes fights easier for newcomers and the possibilities for rematches against the artificial intelligence.
Many reviewers commented on the fighting system;
- GameSpot praised its appeal to newcomers, while EGM praised the game's core mechanics and the use of the Rush System to appeal to a wider audience.
- Despite the difficulties of mastering characters' moves without the Rush system, Game Informer felt the game's online mode was well executed despite some slowdowns during the game's launch;
- While also enjoying the multiple mechanics, Hobby Consolas considered the online gaming modes among the most fun in the genre;
- Metro liked it for appealing to skilled fighting game fans while still being a good starting point for players unhappy with Street Fighter V;
- GameRevolution said the gameplay remains true to earlier KOF games, most notably The King of Fighters XIII, and was pleased that it retained the challenge needed to execute special moves. IGN praised the large number of modes, characters and unlockable material, GamesRadar and Destructoid appreciated the multiple game mechanics which made the game unique within the franchise.
Reviewers also commented on the narrative and its cast:
- GamesRadar thought the story mode too simple;
- Destructoid felt it not reach the appeal of its predecessor due to its lack of narrative;
- Despite issues with the graphics, Gaming Age found the characters interesting, noting each has a unique fighting style and theme songs that are played when facing rivals.
- Like Gaming Age, PCMRace found the arcade mode fitting for the series due to how rivals interact before their matches and enjoyed the art behind endings unlocked through a main team;
- IGN saw the story as appealing but not noteworthy until the clash between rivals which the reviewer felt were few.
The game's 3D characters received negative comments for their poor designs compared to other games of the same generation:
- Hobby Consolas judged the designs in general to be up to the series' high standards, but described Andy Bogard's model as overly stylized and lacking in grace.
- Destructoid lamented that the 3D models did not do justice to the excellent character designs, which suffered from bland coloring and lack of detail.
- Juan Garcia of IGN's Spanish site praised the redesigns of Robert Garcia and Kyo Kusanagi, which he found visually striking in contrast with the other characters, something which Destructoid agreed favoring the redesign of veteran character Maxima and newcomer Kukri. 'Juan also said the game looks poor despite running at 60 fps, but enjoyed the large number of characters and the detailed backgrounds.
- EGMNOW shared similar comments about the graphics and the surprisingly large number of characters, stating that despite problems with the visuals, there is a large amount of content to entertain players. GameRevolution enjoyed the interactions between the characters when engaging in a rival fight, citing Kyo and Iori Yagami's interactions, but was disappointed there was not as much of it as in previous titles, like Joe Higashi competing with King.
The Steam version of The King of Fighters XIV received mixed reviews:
- GameSpew appreciated that SNK had updated the dated graphics of the PlayStation 4 version, making it more competent in comparison with other fighting-game franchises such as Street Fighter and Tekken;
- Despite giving it a positive review, PCMrace said the port could have benefited from a cross-platform play with PlayStation 4 players and that the cast still needed to be more balanced in terms of move sets.
Reception Table[]
Aggregation scores[]
| Aggregator | Info |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 79 (PlayStation 4) |
Review scores[]
| Publication | Info |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 8/10 |
| EGM | 8.5/10 |
| Famitsu | 31/40 |
| Game Informer | 7.3 |
| GameRevolution | 8/10 |
| GameSpot | 80 |
| GamesRadar+ | 90 |
| IGN | 8/10 (American) 8.2/10 (Spanish) |
| Gaming Age | A+ |
| Metro GameCentral | 8/10 |
| GameSpew | 9/10 (Steam) |
| Hobby Consolas | 89/100 |
Gallery[]
Promotional Art, by Hiroaki
The King of Fighters XIV: Retailer exclusive art of K', by Hiroaki
The King of Fighters XIV: Retailer exclusive art of Kula, by Hiroaki
Poster, by Ogura
Trailers[]
[]
Promotional teasers of the game, showing some characters.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 2nd Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV ~Pre-PSX Promo Trailer~
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 4th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 5th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 6th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 7th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 8th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 9th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 10th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 11th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV 12th Teaser Trailer
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV - Characters Trailer US
Game Trailers[]
Promotional trailers of the game.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV - Gameplay Trailer EN ver.2
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV - Story Trailer EN
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV E3 2016 Trailer
Will You Make It to the Top in THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV?
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV – Ver.1.10 Trailer
KOF XIV STEAM EDITION –Trailer ENGLISH
【ENG】KOF XIV ULTIMATE EDITION - Trailer
Team Gameplay Trailers[]
Showcase of the game's teams and bosses.
Teams[]
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 1 “JAPAN”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 2 “YAGAMI”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 3 “FATAL FURY”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 4 “ART OF FIGHTING”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 5 “KIM”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 6 “VILLAINS”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 7 “OFFICIAL INVITATION”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 8 “SOUTH AMERICA”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 9 “MEXICO”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 10 “SOUTH TOWN”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 11 “CHINA”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 12 “PSYCHO SOLDIER”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 13 “IKARI”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 14 “ANOTHER WORLD”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 15 “K´”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 16 “WOMEN FIGHTERS”
Bosses[]
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 17 “ANTONOV”
KOF XIV - Team Gameplay Trailer 18 “VERSE”
DLC Characters Trailers[]
Showcase of game's DLC characters.
Season 1[]
KOF XIV - DLC CHARACTER “WHIP”
KOF XIV - DLC CHARACTER “RYUJI YAMAZAKI”
KOF XIV - DLC CHARACTER “VANESSA”
KOF XIV - DLC CHARACTER “ROCK HOWARD”
Season 2[]
KOF XIV - DLC CHARACTER “OSWALD”
KOF XIV - DLC CHARACTER “HEIDERN”
KOF XIV - DLC CHARACTER “NAJD”
KOF XIV - DLC CHARACTER “BLUE MARY”
DLC Characters Fighting Demonstration Trailers[]
This videos appears only during the DLC Season 1.
KOF XIV - Gameplay Video WHIP vs. RALF
KOF XIV - Gameplay Video RYUJI YAMAZAKI vs. JOU HIGASHI
KOF XIV - Gameplay Video VANESSA vs. RAMON
KOF XIV - Gameplay Video ROCK HOWARD vs. TERRY BOGARD
KOF XIV - Gameplay Video WHIP vs. KUKRI
DLC Season Trailers[]
Promotional teaser of DLC seasons' characters of the game.
KOF XIV - 4 DLC CHARACTERS 1
KOF XIV - 4 DLC CHARACTERS 2
DLC Contents Trailers[]
Promotional trailers of DLC content for the game.
Promotional Trailer[]
KOF XIV – NEW DLC Trailer
Content Trailers[]
KOF XIV - Ver.2.00 Trailer Ver.2.00 NEW MUSIC TRACKS
KOF XIV - Ver.2.00 Trailer NEW STAGES
KOF XIV - 10 DLC COSTUMES
DLC Costumes Trailers[]
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “CLASSIC KYO”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “NIGHTMARE GEESE”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “ATHENA KOF '98 ver.”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “NAKORURU Kamuikotan Girls' School Uniform”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “SHUN'EI Kung-Fu Suit”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “CLASSIC IORI”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “KULA Sundress”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “SYLVIE Little Red Riding Hood”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “MEITENKUN Pajamas”
KOF XIV - DLC COSTUME “ANGEL Diabla”
KOF STATION CHANNEL[]
Main promotion program of the game. Yasuyuki Oda, Nobuyuki Kuroki, Tomoaki Maeno (Kyo's voice) and Ai Kakuma (Yuri's voice) are some of the guests.
THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV KOF Station
KOF STATION CHANNEL XIV 2 EN
KOF STATION CHANNEL XIV 3 EN
KOF STATION CHANNEL XIV 3 Side Story
KOF XIV DREAM MATCH Videos[]
KOF XIV DREAM MATCH Program movie EN
KOF XIV DREAM MATCH-0
External links[]
- Official Japanese website
- Official English website, Atlus Official website, Deep Silver Official website
- PlayStation Experience 2015 trailer
- Official Facebook
- NESiCA Page
- 4Gamer Interview
- Steam Special page
- The King of Fighters XIV Steam Edition
- The King of Fighters XIV Galaxy Edition (GOG)
- The King of Fighters XIV Ultimate Edition (PS4)
References[]
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