The King Of Fighters 2003 / ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ 2003 / Za Kingu Obu Faitāzu 2003 / ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ X

The King of Fighters 2003[b] (KOF 2003, or KOF '03), also known by fans as The King of Fighters X[c] is a fighting game produced by SNK Playmore for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms in 2003. It is the tenth game in The King of Fighters series and the last one released for the Neo Geo, which served as the primary platform for the series since The King of Fighters '94. It was ported to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox (in North America and Japan only and it was not compatible with the Xbox 360), and was released in North America as a two-in-one bundle with the preceding game in the series, The King of Fighters 2002.

The game uses a 3-on-3 Tag Battle format in which players can change characters in the middle of a fight. Each team has one leader with access to a Leader Super Special Move. The narrative of the game involves a new tournament set by "R" with two parallel bosses serving as final bosses. The game is notable for starting the story arc of newcomer Ash Crimson who remains as a mystery. Falcoon worked as the main illustrator. Critical reception to this game has been mixed due to the major change of the regular gameplay associated with the series.

Gameplay

The 3-on-3 Team Battle format is used once again, just like in past editions. It also uses a Multi-Shift format that allows players to change characters in the middle of a fight. When the "Change OK" sign is displayed above the Power Gauge, the player can do a Quick Shift and change characters immediately, or perform a Switch-Off Attack against the opponent that will consume one Power Gauge stock.

The game also features a Tactical Leader System, in which one of the members of the team is designated as the Leader. The chosen Leader has access to an exclusive move known as the "Leader Super Special Move" (in addition to the regular "Super Special Moves"). However, this usually requires two Power Gauge stocks to be able to perform it.

As in the last game in the series, the players' Power Gauge can hold up to 3 stocks at the beginning of a match. Unlike the previous game, however, the player starts with a full gauge of three stocks right away. When one team loses one of its members, the maximum capacity of Power Gauge stocks is increased by one, giving the losing team a handicap against the opposing team. In addition, unlike the previous KOF games, each hit only earns the player 100 points.

Plot
The game revolves around The King of Fighters, an elite fighting tournament. The tournament at the center of the game is sponsored by an unknown patron, whose identity becomes a matter of public interest in the country. The narrative is divided when the player faces a single fighter named Kusanagi, a clone of the returning warrior Kyo Kusanagi. From one path, following Kusanagi's defeat, the player faces a young man named Adelheid who is accompanied by his sister Rose. Once Adelheid is defeated, Rose threatens the winner with locking him in the area. In other alternative road, it is revealed that Kusanagi was created by Chizuru Kagura as an attempt to test the winner. Chizuru and her undead sister Maki challenge the player to a boss fight. Following the Kagura sisters' defeat, a woman named Botan reveals herself as the true mastermind behind the 2003 tournament, having brainwashed Chizuru. Botan's partner, Mukai, becomes the final boss and despite being defeated, claims success for his superior, having weakened the seal of the ancient demon Orochi.

Characters
Ash Team (Hero Team)

Ash Crimson (New Character)
Duo Lon (New Character)
Shen Woo (New Character)
Fatal Fury Team

Terry Bogard
Joe Higashi
Tizoc (New Character)
Art of Fighting Team

Ryo Sakazaki
Robert Garcia
Yuri Sakazaki
Korea Team

Kim Kaphwan
Chang Koehan
Jhun Hoon
Ikari Team

Leona Heidern
Ralf Jones
Clark Still
Outlaw Team

Gato (New Character)
Billy Kane
Ryuji Yamazaki
Women Fighters Team

King
Mai Shiranui
Blue Mary

Benimaru Team (New Japan Team)

Benimaru Nikaido
Shingo Yabuki
Goro Daimon
High School Girls Team (New Psycho Soldier Team)

Athena Asamiya
Hinako Shijou
Malin (New Character)
K′ Team

K′
Maxima
Whip
Three Sacred Treasures Team

Kyo Kusanagi (Single Entry)
Iori Yagami (Single Entry)
Chizuru Kagura (hidden in Arcade and Neo-Geo AES version; True Ending Sub-Boss with Maki Kagura)
Bosses

Kusanagi (Mid Boss; hidden in Arcade version)
Maki Kagura (NPC in Arcade version; True Ending Sub-Boss with Chizuru Kagura)
Adelheid Bernstein (New Character; Final Boss)
Mukai (New Character Hidden Final Boss)

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Developer(s) SNK NeoGeo[a]
Publisher(s)
SNK Playmore
Producer(s) Eikichi Kawasaki
Kazuya Hirata
Designer(s) T. Mieno
Artist(s) Tatsuhiko Kanaoka
Composer(s) Masahiko Hataya
Yasumasa Yamada
Yasuo Yamate
Series The King of Fighters
Platform(s)
Arcade
Release
2003
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s)
Single-playerMultiplayer
Arcade system Neo Geo MVS

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