The King Of Fighters 97 / ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ'97 / Za Kingu Obu Faitāzu '97

The King of Fighters '97[a] (KOF '97) is a fighting game produced by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home console in 1997. It is the fourth game in The King of Fighters series. It was ported to the Neo-Geo CD, as well as the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn in Japan only. An updated version titled Global Match featuring online multiplayer was released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Steam.

Gameplay

KOF '97 follows the same format as the previous KOF games, but introduces two distinct playing styles which the player can select before choosing their team: Advanced and Extra.

Advanced mode is based on the previous game in the series, KOF '96, but features a revamped Power Gauge. Instead of charging the Power Gauge, the Power Gauge is now filled whenever the player strikes the opponent or by performing Special Moves. The player can stock up to three Power Gauges. The player can use one stock of the Power Gauge to perform a Super Special Move or enter a "MAX" mode, in which the player's defensive and offensive strength are increased. Performing a Super Special Move while in MAX mode will make the player perform a more powerful Super Special Move.

Extra mode is based on the first two games in the series, KOF '94 and KOF '95. Like in those games, the player fills the Power Gauge by charging it or defending against the opponent's attacks. After the gauge is filled, the player enters MAX mode and like in Advanced, their character's offense and defense will increase. The player can only perform Super Special Moves in MAX mode or when the life gauge is near empty and flashing red. When the player performs a Super move in MAX mode while the life gauge is flashing red, then the Super move will be even more powerful. The Emergency Roll maneuver from KOF '96 used in Advanced mode is replaced by the side-step from KOF '94 and KOF '95.

Plot and characters
See also: List of The King of Fighters characters
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.

All of the characters from the previous game return, with the exception of the Boss Team (which was disbanded after its first appearance), Kasumi Todoh (who went off to search for her father), and Mature and Vice (who were killed by Iori Yagami after he was possessed by the Riot of Blood at the conclusion of the previous game).

Chizuru Kagura, the sub-boss in the previous game, takes Kasumi's place in the Women Fighters Team, while Geese Howard's underling Billy Kane, who previously participated in The King of Fighters '95 tournament, returns to join forces with female agent Blue Mary and wanted felon Ryuji Yamazaki (both from Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory) to form the unlikely "'97 Special Team". Iori returns as a Team Edit character along with Shingo Yabuki, a high school student who patterns his fighting style after his idol and reluctant mentor Kyo Kusanagi. An alternative version of Kyo with his pre-KOF '96 moveset also appears as a hidden character.

Japan Team (Hero Team)

Kyo Kusanagi
Benimaru Nikaido
Goro Daimon
Fatal Fury Team

Terry Bogard
Andy Bogard
Joe Higashi
Art of Fighting Team

Ryo Sakazaki
Robert Garcia
Yuri Sakazaki
Ikari Warriors Team

Leona Heidern
Ralf Jones
Clark Still
Psycho Soldier Team

Athena Asamiya
Sie Kensou
Chin Gentsai
Korea Justice Team

Kim Kaphwan
Chang Koehan
Choi Bounge
Women Fighters Team

Chizuru Kagura
Mai Shiranui
King
New Faces Team

Yashiro Nanakase (New Character)
Shermie (New Character)
Chris (New Character)
Special Team

Ryuji Yamazaki (New Character)
Blue Mary (New Character)
Billy Kane
Single Entries

Iori Yagami
Shingo Yabuki (New Character)
Alternate Character

Kyo Kusanagi '94 Version
Mid-Boss

Orochi Iori (New Character)
Orochi Leona (New Character)
Sub-Boss Team

Orochi Yashiro (New Character)
Orochi Shermie (New Character)
Orochi Chris (New Character)

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Developer(s)
SNK
Publisher(s)
SNK
Director(s) Toyohisa Tanabe
Producer(s) Takashi Nishiyama
Designer(s) Akiko Yukawa
Aska Tahara
Chikara Yamasaki
Programmer(s) S. Fujinuki
Souta Ichino
Artist(s) Toshiaki Mori
Composer(s) Akihiro Uchida
Hideki Asanaka
Toshio Shimizu
Series The King of Fighters
Platform(s)
Arcade
Release
1997
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s)
Single-playerMultiplayer
Arcade system Neo Geo MVS

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