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Neo Geo AES

The King of Fighters ’97

Neo Geo AES

Neo Geo AES

Despite the events at the end of the previous game, the KOF tournament was a huge commercial success and sparked a worldwide fighting craze. Within a few months of the tournament ending, various large corporations had held smaller KOF tournament qualifiers and constructed special KOF stadiums aro...

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Developer
SNK

Released on
1997

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Neo Geo AES

Requirements
SNK Neo Geo AES

Downloads
Fighting

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Despite the events at the end of the previous game, the KOF tournament was a huge commercial success and sparked a worldwide fighting craze. Within a few months of the tournament ending, various large corporations had held smaller KOF tournament qualifiers and constructed special KOF stadiums around the world, building the excitement up for the next tournament. News of the tournament spread through every form of media and fans and new fighters from across the globe come to watch the preliminary matches.

The King of Fighters '97

Overview & History

Released by SNK in 1997 for the Neo Geo AES and MVS hardware, The King of Fighters '97 marks the explosive narrative and mechanical climax of the legendary "Orochi Saga." Bringing together iconic teams from Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and classic SNK lore, the plot centers on the resurrection of the malevolent deity Orochi, manipulated by the enigmatic New Faces Team (Shermie, Chris, and Yashiro). Serving as a direct continuation of the 1996 tournament hosted by Chizuru Kagura, the game’s cinematic interludes and dramatic team-specific endings resolved years of interconnected storytelling, making it a monumental milestone in arcade fighting history.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

KOF '97 revolutionizes the franchise by introducing the groundbreaking dual-mode system: players must choose between the Advanced mode and the Extra mode before each match. Advanced mode borrows the fast-paced meter-building mechanics from KOF '96, allowing players to stock up to three stock meters, execute rolls, and trigger MAX mode for devastating super moves. Conversely, Extra mode replicates the classic KOF '94 and '95 style, where the power gauge fills organically when taking damage or using defensive charges, granting access to Desperation Moves when health flashes red. The game features an expansive roster of 29 playable characters, plus hidden secret fighters like Orochi Leona and psychiatric fighters accessed via specific button codes. Combat is defined by blistering chain combos, high-jump versatility, guard cancels, and distinct character movelists—such as Kyo Kusanagi’s complex command-normal rekka strings (e.g., QCF + P) and Terry Bogard’s iconic Power Geyser (21416 + BC). The omission of the recovery roll forward in favor of evasion dashes further shifts the meta toward aggressive, high-risk momentum.