Okay time for a KOF confession!

[digimonemporer]

This question has been on my mind for sometime. Ad since there are threads that single out some of the KOF games like MIRA and XI...I have one question...

Besides MIRA which is 3d and the very best KOF game period...

Which 2d KOF, is the best KOF?

A lot of people say it's 98. I do too believe 98 is really good. But 2002 keeps staring me in the face...especially since I found out that King is in the game...but I'm sure it's only the PS2 vers. I'd rather play arcade ver. KOF games if I can help it. But if KOF02 is decent on PS2 then it's all good from there.

I know there are a lot of SNK heads out there, I am one to...just don't know too much of the technical stuff in terms of frames and characters specifics.

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!

[Episode_667]

I have a soft spot for 2001, but then again I'm insane. My legitimate answers are 98 or XI.

The roster of 2002 pisses me off, as they brought back characters from the Orochi saga who were *already* in the '98 Dream Match, instead of keeping NESTS saga characters like Lin and Foxy, or even bringing back the '96 Boss team, who *weren't* in '98. Stupid Eolith. The HSDMs are fun, though.

[hanz0]

I think you got it right

KOF MIRA is pretty good

KOF 98 i recomend the neogeo versions:wink:
KOF 2002 i also recommend the neogeo versions cause for some freaking reason the ps2 version has weird input problems it just feels weird and unresponsive for some reason:confused:

KOF XI is the newest and its pretty good game:rofl:

the others are not really viewed as tourney worthy but you might want to give them a shot for casuals

heres a quick run:

KOF 94 - is ok although i dont really like it.

KOF95 - he mood this game just makes me want to battle right now:lovin:

KOF96 - has awesome music and story and mood

KOF97 - Orochi conclusion is awesome

KOF98 - Awesome game and classic:lovin:

KOF99 - once again this is entertaining and features some great tunes also
even though some people dont like strikers, the nest story is soso:sweat:

KOF2000 - i think this is the version where they used strikers the best, the backgrounds are so so and the music is ok too. the story what can i say is so so

KOF2001 - this game is ok gameplay wise striker combos can get crazy the presentation and ending to the nest saga.

KOF2002 - once again dreamatch heaven:lovin:

KOF2003 - Begining to the ash saga, i like this kof a lot and the presentation was better than 2001

Neowave/KOF2004 - this game is pure filler garbage i tell you garbage:sad:

KOFXI - newest and awesome game overall:wink:

[digimonemporer]

Does NeoGeo KOF02 have King, Geese, and the other hidden characters?

[Infested Jester]

Imo

2d - Xi
3d - Mira

[rukawa_kaede]

98 and 2002

both are good

the only problem with 2002 has to be the ugliest graphics and low quality music and rugal again as the only boss.

also the roster doesn't compare to that of 98 since in 98 a lot of characters have two versions

no endings, at least 98 has some quality art

I hope SNK fix all this for the remake

[bill_rizer]

Does NeoGeo KOF02 have King, Geese, and the other hidden characters?

No.

Dont play that mugen crap 2002 either.

Get XI or 98UM both on ps2, those are really the best two available to you, and best in the series.

Oh 98UM is not out yet but soon, next yeat I think.

[4649]

personally i have a soft spot for 95', first one i got into. the PSone arranged soundtrack just made everything seem epic, one of the best fighting game bgm's ever if you can find it. terrible loading times though. :/
it's looking like SNK's currently focusing on:
KOF 98'UM which is out in January i think? and hits japan arcades in spring ( a Tougeki SBO possibility as well )
KOF XII - should probably focus on XI until we know more about this game ( possibly in January more info will leak with UM's release )
KOF MIA2 / MIA Plus - might be an arcade only bug fix / balance fix, don't know yet. then there's the long mentioned MI3 for next gen, which should be really good, but god knows when that's due, i give that a year wait.

[digimonemporer]

Well it looks like I'll be a playing the following:

- MIRA
- 98
- 2002
- XI

Will most def look into 98: UM and MIRA+...since I really don't like XI that much not too sure about playing XII!

I thick it's time one of these KOF games in the future introduce a CC system for all characters! Cause doing CC's with SNK in CVS2 (via A-Groove) is hella fun!

And yes, I'm aware of the power that is Duo Lon in XI. But the CC for Iori in MIRA is fucking stupid.

[Syxx573]

kof2002 ugh...

webster learn to play xi its fun but kinda broke in some ways

[digimonemporer]

kof2002 ugh...

webster learn to play xi its fun but kinda broke in some ways

We should play some later on, when/if we hang out!

[Dark Geese]

Most agree 98 is the best KOF overall.

[CyberAkuma]

Yeah...can't wait for UM...it's going to be so beastly having the best in old school KOF being re-made and re-invisioned in such a stylish fashion.

[Ouroborus]

kofxi

[Zal]

Kof '98 Ftw!

[cheap_shot]

KOF '99! Then KOF XI.

[digimonemporer]

There was a Fatal Fury or KOF or Samsho game for N64 game, that was pretty decent...I forgot what it was...

does anyone remember?

[Are_you_okay?!]

They had Samsho for 64, and from what most people say they were decent translations.

[4Play]

I got a soft spot for KOF '99. No wonder since it was my first real KOF. KINGGGGGGGG!
I liked KOF 2000 as well. And KOF 06 is hella fun. More people should of played that.

[EvilSamurai]

KOF XI. The only flaw is that the arcade version didn't have Mai.

[polarity]

There was never a SamSho for the N64. SamSho 64 is for the Hyper Neo Geo 64 arcade hardware.

[Khiempossible]

XI is stupid, learn 2K and 98.

[pbj_mixxa]

I'm partial to KOF98, 02, and NeoWave.

[JackTenrac!]

No.

Dont play that mugen crap 2002 either.

- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2003! 2004 Special Edition! Best KoFs ever. :rofl:

- As a KoFer, I won't knock XI even though the mid boss is actually a guy, but still: to get rid of Mai Shiranui was a mistake. Still, she's hella nerfed from her last appearance.

- Yes, 98 is King of KoF. The balance is quite good. Not many top tiers, and half the line up is close to each in that breakdown. 03 and '00 should be next on your list. If you're jonesing for old school, pick up 95 or 96 sometime. UM == can't wait any longer! Com'on, Toshi!

...err KoF.

[Gorehound]

KOF97 (the storyline, backgrounds, and controls were the best)
KOF98
KOFXI (even though Gato is just plain Bullshit)

For some reason I really liked 2001, possibly because Lin was one of the best characters I played in that game :bgrin:

I remember someone said a while back that Lin was better in 2000, BLASPHEMY!!!!

[Syxx573]

samurai shodown 64 1 and 2 and fatal fury wild ambition were on neo geo 64, not nintendo 64

wild ambition was also on ps1 however

[~Persona Z~]

98 and 2002 is the closest to balance as you can get.

One of the other might be more balanced but not by much. Both of them still have their flaws like say, 98's ABC damage takes off way too much damage, 2002's MAX Mode being most of the time useless, etc.

This is from a gaming point of view. If it's for presentation, roster, music, etc, 2002 is total crap compared to 98.

Runner ups that have potential could be 99, 2000 and XI. 99 had a pretty solid system (even though I did not like the changes). 2000 without strikers would make a pretty solid and balanced game. As for XI, eh, can't really say much other than it's just not as broken as the other games. Gato, Kula, Oswald have the upper edge to winning but they are by no means broken (hmm, I'm a bit itchy on Oswald though) like say, Duolon in 2003 where if you don't have Duolon in your team, you lose by default.

As for games I didn't mention as runner ups:

94-96 lack balance period. I don't blame SNK though. Back then almost every fighting game was broken as shit. 97 is similiar to 98, just worse and more broken. You can think of it as 98 beta. 2001 system was broken. Too many abusable bugs. Only a few characters were always selected because the rest of the roster pretty much has no chance. As for 2003, that game has only one character, Duolon. Duolon isn't exactly strong, but the reason he is is because the rest of the cast got the nerf stick. It's like comparing Dragon Ball Z to Yu Yu Hakasho. Obviously DBZ characters will pwn YYH characters since they have way more options, like say, blow up planets.

[orochizoolander]

98 had the perfect roster SNK hit the nail on the head with this one.

In a distant second though i hold a special place for 01 just cuz i loved the story though i'm the minority on that but as far as gameplay goes it's definitely 02:tup:

[Youzansen]

Asking all the kof heads about buffering in the game and is the same as street fighters?

[Dark Geese]

Asking all the kof heads about buffering in the game and is the same as street fighters?


No its not..it didnt start getting SF friendly until 2003, NeoWave, KOFXI....

Though it also depends on what version you play..like 2002 Arcade is like 10x easier on controls than any home port..

[Dandy J]

XI is stupid, learn 2K and 98.
are you me

98 - most solid, all around best kof

2000 - most 'fun' kof

[rukawa_kaede]

best kof for me

97, it just had I little bit of everything

[Harem]

Fuck 2002.

Dogshit > 2002.

98 >>>

[Rhio2k]

2003 and XI didn't feel right. 98, 97, and U98 are where it's at.

[woof]

are you me

98 - most solid, all around best kof

2000 - most 'fun' kof
are you me

[Youzansen]

Does all the older kof games have BC activate chain combos?

[hanz0]

nope i think just 2002 used that i could be wrong, i know that in some other kofs you can go max mode to do Super Desperation Moves but that is all:sweat:

[Dark Geese]

Moral of the story- Custom combos in ANY game have a history of being broken...

[Ubersaurus]

Well it looks like I'll be a playing the following:

- MIRA
- 98
- 2002
- XI

Will most def look into 98: UM and MIRA+...since I really don't like XI that much not too sure about playing XII!

I thick it's time one of these KOF games in the future introduce a CC system for all characters! Cause doing CC's with SNK in CVS2 (via A-Groove) is hella fun!

And yes, I'm aware of the power that is Duo Lon in XI. But the CC for Iori in MIRA is fucking stupid.

Duo Lon was the powerhouse in 2003. He got dumbed down in XI, last i heard.

But as for the best, 98 and 2k2 are probably it. They're the only older KOF games that still get considerable playtime in japanese arcades.

XI is pretty sweet, too. But pretty much all the other KOF games are flawed in some way-they either suck ass, are terribly unbalanced, or have been superceded by another game.

[Syxx573]

duo lon had a damn infinite in 2003

[Hatred Edge]

Ahhh.. KOF 99. The first KOF I ever owned. The KOF that introduced me to K'. I liked '99 for that and that alone.

KOF 2001: The boy Robert. Hands-down one of my favorite characters in KOF period. I hated the fact that SNK made him a charge character, gave him a gay costume, and ruined his '01 stance.:arazz: I liked the story and the bosses too. I like beign able to select how many strikers you had on your team cuz my team always had 4 people:K'/Kyo/Robert/Terry. :lovin:

KOF MIRA: Solid all around. Fix the crap from 2006/MI2. Cast is solid, story is pure BS though. And more 3D KOF on the way. Looking good so far after MI1/2.

I feel stupid for never having played '98. But UM is coming so I'll opt for that I guess. I hope it's as good as people say it is. However I'm more concerned with what team to make.... K' is out but Robert is in. And I don't even know if Kyo has his Aragami or Dokugami chains.

[Cronopio]

KoF'98 is clearly my favourite King of Fighters, and I'd say that my overall favourite fighting game. It's the only game in the saga I play seriously.

It's just so... solid, balanced, varied, deep... It shows that it was all the good ideas and experience of the best old SNK condensed in a huge, awesome game.

KOF2k2 would be a close second, and I still have a soft spot for it even when I don't play it as much as I used to anymore. It's indeed a great game, and it was my main game for a good time (I got into KOF seriously quite late) but 98's characters, system and overall feel eventually relegated it from my favourite list.

One of the things I like the most about '98 is that every character, even the low tiers like Lucky, or dudes like Rugal and Brian have good stuff one can use to give headaches to better characters. It's also a game that manages to be very balanced without feeling homogeneous or forced. One of the main complaints I have against 2k2 is that, for the sake of balance, SNKP butchered some characters for no good reason.

As for the other KOFs, I didn't like the striker games (I feel that the new gameplay diluted the uniqueness KOF had achieved -SNK always innovating when they don't have to-) and I have yet to play XI, but I didn't like '03 for the same reason that made me dislike the striker games. So I choose '98 as the clear best and 2k2 as the second best KOF.

[Cascade]

Personally, I favor kof mi series over any other kof series, but kof XI would be my second.

[Cascade]

Moral of the story- Custom combos in ANY game have a history of being broken...

Can't disagree with this guy. Basically, you would be taking the easy way out, but oh well.

[Lantis]

Besides MIRA which is 3d and the very best KOF game period...

SYSTEM ERROR! :wasted:

[Dandy J]

mi anything is a piece of dog shit

[Vynce]

I have to go with XI as well. 98 had the best roster, imo, until XI came out. I'm a bit biased, though, since I think the dream cancel is one of the most exciting things to have appeared in a 2D fighter in a long, long time. To add to that, there's no shortage of awesome characters. Eiji's even in there. I really liked 2003, also.

[V4MPIRO]

I jost got the king of fighters nests for chiristma, and I love '99 evolution so far.
Iori and terri have some sick combos.

[digimonemporer]

mi anything is a piece of dog shit

U must be smoking that good shit, to be sayin somethin that crazy!

[Dandy J]

i was hoping to bait a bunch of flames + negs but i never got any :(

[Yasanagi]

I never really got into MI in the first place. For me, I'll stick with a good balanced 2D KOF like 98 (and thank goodness that the 98 UM is coming up).

[mok]

what about kof 2006 how is that ?

[digimonemporer]

i was hoping to bait a bunch of flames + negs but i never got any :(

I believe that ladies and gentelmen, was the most honest post ever! :rofl:

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Back on topic, KOF 2006 is MI2 in Japan, and it does fucking suck...when u compare it to MIRA (which is also available for Jap. ps2 now)!

MIRA is very solid with a very balanced roster. Good handful of stages and the best AI you could possibly recieve in a KOF game, period!

A must buy for KOF fans, fuck the haters!