$20 Game of the Week: The King Of Fighters XI (PS2)

The Neo Geo’s flagship fighting series returns for another year, and it delivers the same SNK 2-D fighting action fans have grown to love for well over a decade. After Ash Crimson stole the Yata Mirror and Mukai broke the Orochi Seal in The King of Fighters 2003, a new organization known as “Those From the Past” sponsor a new tournament. It’s up to you and your chosen team to find out the truth behind the organization and its mysterious leaders. There are 11 teams to choose from, and a number of hidden features and surprises to discover.

This year’s tournament sees a number of changes, not the least of which is the changing of the name to numbering rather than noting the entry by the year (reason being is that SNK didn’t want to be locked into yearly releases). The roster has received some heavy shaking up, with this year seeing some very interesting line-ups. Terry Bogard, Kim Kaphwan, and Duck King (making his KOF debut) compose Fatal Fury team, Whip replaces Leona on the Ikari team, Eiji Kisaragi (returning to KOF after a long absence) teams up with Malin and Kasumi Todo to form an “Anti-Kyokugen Ryu” team, and Ash’s former teammate Duo Lon joins Benimaru and new character Elisabeth to take on Ash. Some longtime characters surprisingly didn’t make the cut, such as Chang, Andy Bogard, Leona, and Goro Daimon. However, the PS2 version of the game contains exclusive unlockable characters such as Mai Shiranui, Geese Howard, and Robert Garcia.

The roster isn’t the only thing that received some major changes this year. The tag system from KOF 2003 returns, however, there are some new ways in which players can make use of it. Along with the regular super meter (known as the power stock), a new meter known as the “skill stock” has also been added. Building up gradually over time, the skill stock allows access to maneuvers such as the Saving Shift and Quick Shift. The former allows players to change their character as soon as they are hit, and the latter allows players to change their character in the middle of a combo, prolonging it. Also added to the combat system are the Dream Cancels, which allow players to use their stock bars to interrupt an opponent’s attack with an even more powerful attack of their own. These additions serve to add more depth to an already deep fighting system.

As with most recent SNK home versions, there are options to adjust the aging Neo Geo graphics and music with several different graphical settings and an arranged soundtrack. Along with the standard VS and arcade modes, players can also choose from challenge and survival modes. An art gallery features endings and artwork that have been unlocked during the course of the game. Disappointedly, there is no online functionality. Many KOF fans would have found it nice to be able to take on fellow KOF fans worldwide. Even so, you can never go wrong with SNK and the king. KOF XI is another solid entry in a solid franchise. Even with new technologies, SNK has proven that there will always be room for classic 2-D fighting.