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The King of Fighters ’97

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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
1998

Size
1–2 Players

Version
PlayStation

Requirements
Sony Playstation

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

Released by SNK in 1997 for the Neo Geo MVS arcade hardware, The King of Fighters '97 stands as the historic climax of the narrative-driven Orochi Saga. The storyline follows a globally televised martial arts tournament that secretly masks a dark plot by the Orochi cult to resurrect their ancient deity. This narrative tension peaks with the tragic "Riot of the Blood" affliction, which drives characters like Iori Yagami and Leona Heidern into a murderous frenzy. Players must assemble a three-fighter team to stop the New Faces Team (Yashiro, Shermie, and Chris) from gathering the spiritual energy required to awaken the ultimate god-like threat, Orochi.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

This legendary title revolutionized fighting mechanics by letting players choose between two distinct playstyles: Advanced and Extra. Advanced mode relies on an aggressive run-and-roll system, where attacking builds up to three Power Stocks used to initiate Max Mode or execute Super Desperation Moves. Extra mode caters to classic enthusiasts, featuring tactical side-stepping, quick dashes, and a manual gauge-charging mechanic. Additionally, a hidden teammate affinity system influences whether stored stock transfers to the next fighter upon defeat. Executing signature special attacks, such as Kyo Kusanagi’s fiery Ura 108 Shiki: Orochibinagi, Terry Bogard's explosive Power Geyser, or Mai Shiranui’s graceful Chou Ryuuken, requires precise directional inputs and tight execution, offering deep competitive layers that keep arcade purists coming back decades later.