Best KOF EVER?

I would vote KOF '96. I love it. Its great overall. The fighters are good, the backgrounds are good, the gameplay is solid. I haven't received my KOF 2000 yet because I'm waiting until Xmas day but, '96 is awesome and none of them pass it up in my opinion. I know most of you will say 2000 is superior so I am drooling to get my hands on KOF 2000... but what do you REALLY think is the best KOF version? HONESTLY...

I'd say KoF 98 is the best. It has a large cast of character and is arguably the most well balanced game of the series. There are lots of special vs. intros (like Kyo vs. Iori or Kyo vs. Benimaru), which is something I really like. The only real problem is that there are some characters I really like that are not in it. Geese and Goenitz weren't included. Plus, since 98 SNK has come up with some great new character, namely K', Maxima (my two favorites), Vanessa and Lin.

Hopefully for KoF 2001 SNK will abandon the striker system.

I'd totally have to agree with you on '98. You can play it either old style or new, and the selection of characters is fantastic. They should have called it KoF special.

Hmm.. I can't say I'm a huge Maxima fan, but Vanessa and Lin get my nod for best new KoF fighters. The rest of them are only ok.

I think it's kind of refreshing to see a new boxing character that is actually GOOD. Think about it, how many boxing characters in fighters are decent? Not only that, Vanessa is pretty easy on the eyes, to boot! 8-)

'98 is a good year for KOF but where the hell is Geese Howard? Its just not a complete SNK fighter without Geese along for the ride.

If 2000 isn't as good as I hope, It's gotta be '97.
94-No Iori or Team Edit
95-No ADV. mode
96-see '95 complaint
98-They shoulda kept Blood Riots in, I also like storylines.
99-Close Second, maiden masher SDM isn't as cool anymore.

[This message has been edited by Iori (edited December 24, 2000).]