The King Of Fighters 2002 / ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ 2002 / チャレンジ トゥ アルティメットバトル / Za Kingu Obu Faitāzu 2002

The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle[a] (KOF 2002, or KOF '02) is a fighting game produced by Eolith and Playmore for the Neo Geo in 2002. It is the ninth game in The King of Fighters series and the second one to be produced by Eolith and developed by Playmore (formerly Brezzasoft). The game was ported to the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, and the Xbox, where in the PS2 and Xbox versions were released in North America in a two-in-one bundle with the following game in the series, The King of Fighters 2003. The Dreamcast port was released only in Japan, it was also the last game in the series to be officially released for the Japanese Dreamcast.

SNK Playmore produced a remake titled The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match for the PlayStation 2, which was released on February 26, 2009, in Japan only, the last series for the Japanese PlayStation 2, and the game later received its first worldwide release on Xbox Live Arcade on November 3, 2010.[1][2] A port of the Xbox Live Arcade release was later released on Steam on February 27, 2015.

Gameplay

The King of Fighters 2002 discards the 4-on-4 "Striker Match" format used in the previous three games in the series and returns to the 3-on-3 Battle format originally used in the series up until KOF '98.

The game also revamps the Power Gauge system into a format similar to the one used in The King of Fighters '97. Like the previous games in the series, the Power Gauge is filled as the player attacks the opponent or performs Special Moves during a battle. The number of Power Gauges the player can stock up is increased by one with each member of the team. For example, the first member of the team can stock up to three Power Gauges, while the third member can stock up to five. A single Power Gauge stock can be used to either perform a Counterattack and Evasion technique while guarding an opponent's attack, use a Super Special Move, or initiate the MAX Activation state. The same case also applies to the 1-on-1 format, where the Power Gauge the player can stock up is also increased by one with each round loss. For example, on the first round, the player can stock up to three Power Gauges, while losing two rounds allows the player to stock up to five.

During MAX Activation, the player's offensive and defensive strength is increased for a short period and can cancel any attack into another player. In this state, a Super Special Move can be used without consuming a Power Gauge stock. There are also MAX Super Special Moves, which are Super moves that can only be performed during MAX Activation with one Power Gauge stock, and MAX2 moves that require two stocks while low on health.

Characters
Main article: List of The King of Fighters characters
Just like The King of Fighters '98, the game has no storyline since the NESTS story arc has already concluded in the previous game, The King of Fighters 2001. Instead, a "Dream Match" is included featuring characters from all the previous games in the series. In addition to the recurring teams from the series, including the original Japan Team, the game also features a series of teams representing each of the previous game series from The King of Fighters '96 to The King of Fighters 2001. Omega Rugal returns as the final boss as well. However, not all the characters from the previous games are featured, and series' regulars such as King and Shingo Yabuki are absent from the Neo Geo version for the first time since their first appearance. The Dreamcast version of the game, nevertheless, features King and Shingo, while three additional characters from SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom, namely Geese Howard, Goenitz, and Orochi Iori, are included in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions.

Japan Team

Kyo Kusanagi
Benimaru Nikaido
Goro Daimon
Fatal Fury Team

Terry Bogard
Andy Bogard
Joe Higashi
Art of Fighting Team

Ryo Sakazaki
Robert Garcia
Takuma Sakazaki
Ikari Team

Leona Heidern
Ralf Jones
Clark Still
Psycho Soldier Team

Athena Asamiya
Sie Kensou
Chin Gentsai
Women Fighters Team

Mai Shiranui
Yuri Sakazaki
May Lee
Korea Team

Kim Kaphwan
Chang Koehan
Choi Bounge
Yagami Team

Iori Yagami
Mature
Vice
Outlaw Team ('97 Special Team)

Ryuji Yamazaki
Blue Mary
Billy Kane
Orochi Team / Awakened Orochi Team

Yashiro Nanakase / Orochi Yashiro
Shermie / Orochi Shermie
Chris / Orochi Chris
K' Team

K′
Maxima
Whip
Agent Team

Vanessa
Seth
Ramón
NESTS Team

Kula Diamond
K9999
Ángel
Boss

Omega Rugal
Alternate

Kusanagi
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Developer(s) Eolith
SNK Playmore (PS2/Xbox)
DotEmu (PC)
Publisher(s)
Playmore
Director(s) Lee Seon Ho
Producer(s) Chil Suk Choi
Designer(s) Ruyun
Programmer(s) M. Yusuke
S. Fujinuki
T. Hayashi
Artist(s) Chikara Yamasaki
Hiroaki Hashimoto
Masae M.
Composer(s) Masahiko Hataya
Yasuo Yamate
Series The King of Fighters
Platform(s)
Arcade
Release
2002
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s)
Single-playerMultiplayer
Arcade system Neo Geo MVS

#The King Of Fighters 2002 #eolith #arcade