KoF Dreamcast ports

Hey all,
Okay, I gots a couple of questions
Firstly how do the DC conversions of the recent KoF games stand up to the AES ones? Any negatives etc...?
Secondly, what are the odds of KoF '03 being ported?

Thanks!
- RR

I'm not good at judging what gets cut to the DC ports since I played them first. But most here say the DC KOF98 port is better than the Neo game.

Next KOF2003 is coming to the PS2 as a double pack with KOF2002

RockstarRunner said:

Hey all,
Okay, I gots a couple of questions
Firstly how do the DC conversions of the recent KoF games stand up to the AES ones? Any negatives etc...?
Secondly, what are the odds of KoF '03 being ported?

Thanks!
- RR

Click to expand...

Well unfortunately, I haven't played much of the DC KOF ports yet. As of now, I only have King of Fighters 98 (renamed 1999 Dream Match). And as for differences, it has some annoying instances of load time namely when Shingo challenges you, and worst of all, inbetween rounds the music restarts so round progression isn't as smooth (however doing Single Match plays just fine).

On the plus side, you've got the really nice looking 3D backgrounds. It's not as bad as some people say. They just take the original stages add some damn good looking parrallax scrolling (it's a feature Capcom originally used in SF2 that makes the ground you're fighting on look more 3D and interactive with the background) and just turn some of the original background elements (the water in the Korea stage, the blood in Rugal's stage, etc) into smooth animated 3D. Not to mention the AST which is only hindered by the bad loading times.

However I've heard 99 Evolution fixes a lot of these problems and looks even better. KoF 2000+2001 for the PS2 also load and play tru to the originals from what I've seen.

lithy said:

But most here say the DC KOF98 port is better than the Neo game.

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Mostly because they just care about the intro video.

Who cares playing a KOF with loads ?
No matter how fast they are, the annoying cd spinning noise is irritating all the time.

I have KOF DM 1999 (98) and Evolution (99) for the DC, and I also have 98 and 99 for my MVS. I will take the MVS versions of both over the DC ports. While some of the 3D backgrounds do look sorta nice, I still prefer the originals. The pace of the games feel different to me on the DC.

The Neo-Geo version of 98 is a lot better, absolutely no loading times, sprites look cleaner, the lifebars are huge (while the ones on 99DM are thin like in 97), and if I don't remember wrong, there were small gameplay differences... like certain combos not possible in the DM version.

I have played KOF 99 on DC more than any other DC game...

I have also played 99 on my mvs more than any other game...

I can tell you that from my experiance (I am not a FIghing game guru tho) that they are very close...

I actualy prefer to play the DC version to the mame version...

I prefer the BG's and Music in the DC version...

I play both the DC and MVS versions on my cab, and they are reallly really close...

Here's a short rundown:

KoF99 DM ( = KoF98): Ugly interface, crap backs, smaller sprites, timing problems, overall blocky gameplay feeling. Nice intro, decent unlockables. Not worth it if you really want to play the game, might be worth it if you're in for the extras. IMO, it's the worst DC KoF port.

KoF99 Evo ( = KoF99): Original menus, debatable 3D backs (much better than KoF99 DM tho), smaller sprites, (minor) timing differences, improved gameplay compared to predecessor, nice extras like NGPC chara/striker exchange, extra strikers, etc. Not too shabby, I quite like it.

KoF2k: Slowdowns (try a DM combo in the aquarium stage...), partially weird timing differences but not too noticeable, missing moves (Iori's b,b+B, etc.), good extras, overall quite well done but the missing moves and slowdowns lower the fun for me... hate to say it, but the ps2 version of 2k is much better...

KoF2k1: Now this is a port like it should be, all major features (gameplay, graphics, sound) are there and the gameplay differences are neglectable, I've played 2k1 on homecart and DC for hours on end and couldn't find any problems except for differences in CPU reaction and a few minor timing differences in two or three of the bigger combos. Comes with lots of extras like the Puzzle Fighter mode that IMO is much better than 2k's puzzles. Very good port, well worth the bucks.

KoF2k2: Same as 2k1, good port.

Thanks for the info, just what I wanted to know...
I got a dilemma though, I have an AES, DC and a GC, and would very much like KoF '03, problem is I can't afford the AES version for atleast 3 to 4 months from now, by that time I expect finding a Jap one will not be easy at all for a sane price. Other option would be to get a PS2 and waaaaait, but I really cant get another console, i have enough as it is..... where's the Cube love playmore?!? So I was hoping maybe the DC would see a port

- RR

p.s. Do the DC ports support the VGA box?

RockstarRunner said:

So I was hoping maybe the DC would see a port

p.s. Do the DC ports support the VGA box?

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Dreamcast port? Forget it, nothing was announced on that.

And as far as I know, 99DM and 99Evo don't support VGA-Box, I don't know about the rest.

It's funny, how SNK made the "inferior ports", while SNKP made pretty decent ports.

RockstarRunner said:

Thanks for the info, just what I wanted to know...
I got a dilemma though, I have an AES, DC and a GC, and would very much like KoF '03, problem is I can't afford the AES version for at least 3 to 4 months from now, by that time I expect finding a Jap one will not be easy at all for a sane price.

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The Neo Store will sometimes let people buy games on a payment plan... maybe you could pay a deposit, and make payments every month until you pay off the price of the game. Try sending an e-mail to the Neo Store, and asking about it.

I agree with Takumaji, the KOF 2001 is a fine port!
What about the Garou Mark Of The Wolves port? I have only the DC version.
I think´s a great game but is the original AES or MVS better?

Temjin said:

I agree with Takumaji, the KOF 2001 is a fine port!
What about the Garou Mark Of The Wolves port? I have only the DC version.
I think´s a great game but is the original AES or MVS better?

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Good port overall, but there are several drawbacks, first the sound is lagging, for ex. if you do a Rising Tackle with Rock, you will hear the "Rising Tackle!!" sample too late. Nothing that'd spoil the gameplay, but it's a bit annoying. There are also some animation cuts but only in menus, not in the game.

Then there are these minor timing issues that again occur in bigger combos but some say that comboing into supers/potentials is actually easier on MotW DC because of the small lags.

IMO, the biggest drawback is the constant loading of the DC while the game runs, which is the source of all those lags. If you do a super, the game loads the super effect and the corresponding sample in background; if you play this game for more than 3 hours in a row, this is going to be a major stress test for your DC.

RockstarRunner said:

Thanks for the info, just what I wanted to know...
I got a dilemma though, I have an AES, DC and a GC, and would very much like KoF '03, problem is I can't afford the AES version for atleast 3 to 4 months from now, by that time I expect finding a Jap one will not be easy at all for a sane price. Other option would be to get a PS2 and waaaaait, but I really cant get another console, i have enough as it is..... where's the Cube love playmore?!? So I was hoping maybe the DC would see a port

- RR

p.s. Do the DC ports support the VGA box?

Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry too much. KoF2k3 is the last Neo KoF and therefore will hold its price longer than 2k2 did, but KoF also is a very popular series and the release numbers should be quite high given 2k2's success in the arcades and on homecart, so if you're patient (I know... not easy...), you may get a decent deal for a jpn 2k3 homecart in about 4 to 6 months.

About the chances for a port, well, I wouldn't get my hopes up, at least for a DC version. I don't think that there will be no port whatsoever but SNKP seems to focus on Xbox more than any other console lately so perhaps we might see a 2k3 port on that. I mean, SvC and Slug 3 will come out for it as well so it'd be only logical.

Oh, and the Neo DC ports do NOT support the VGA box except for KoF2k2, see this thread and read Kirk Foiden's replies: http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89155 .

Actually there might a good chance KoF '03 gets ported to Dreamcast. I remembered this one thread here on n-g.com, that had a link to a french site.

This one:

http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00003899_00000003_dossier.htm

(the SNK/P stuff is on the second paragraph)

It basically says, that THREE of the following FOUR arcade games WILL be ported to the Dreamcast in 2004: KoF '03, Samurai Shodown 0, Metal Slug 5, SNK vs. Capcom Chaos. But which three, it's uncertain. Pretty exciting stuff.

But could some french member please read through the text and verify the "rumour"-factor of this article? Naturally it's not set in stone, but I would like to know if there is any foundation to this.

Well it'd be sweet to see a DC port, or a GC port for that matter, if the quality is the same.

I am hesistant to order a new AES game from the Neo-Store, for the only reason that i'm in Finland (EU) and for the price these games go for the Taxination would be... brutal, to the tune of an additional €85 or so on top of game + p&p.

Takumaji said:

Here's a short rundown:

KoF99 DM ( = KoF98): Ugly interface, crap backs, smaller sprites, timing problems, overall blocky gameplay feeling. Nice intro, decent unlockables. Not worth it if you really want to play the game, might be worth it if you're in for the extras. IMO, it's the worst DC KoF port.

KoF99 Evo ( = KoF99): Original menus, debatable 3D backs (much better than KoF99 DM tho), smaller sprites, (minor) timing differences, improved gameplay compared to predecessor, nice extras like NGPC chara/striker exchange, extra strikers, etc. Not too shabby, I quite like it.

KoF2k: Slowdowns (try a DM combo in the aquarium stage...), partially weird timing differences but not too noticeable, missing moves (Iori's b,b+B, etc.), good extras, overall quite well done but the missing moves and slowdowns lower the fun for me... hate to say it, but the ps2 version of 2k is much better...

KoF2k1: Now this is a port like it should be, all major features (gameplay, graphics, sound) are there and the gameplay differences are neglectable, I've played 2k1 on homecart and DC for hours on end and couldn't find any problems except for differences in CPU reaction and a few minor timing differences in two or three of the bigger combos. Comes with lots of extras like the Puzzle Fighter mode that IMO is much better than 2k's puzzles. Very good port, well worth the bucks.

KoF2k2: Same as 2k1, good port.

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Takumaji said it all, I would just changed the last comment about 99EVO, cause I think it's shabby