The King of Fighters '98 is a Rare Masterpiece. Defines the Neo Geo in my eyes...

CORY

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KOF '98 is the only KOF I've kept in my collection and still playing from time to time. KOF 2k2's gameplay and roster are good but everything else in this game just doesn't feel right to me, I never liked this game. I'm probably too much of an old fart though :tickled:
 
city41

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Coryoon! said:
KOF '98 is the only KOF I've kept in my collection and still playing from time to time. KOF 2k2's gameplay and roster are good but everything else in this game just doesn't feel right to me, I never liked this game. I'm probably too much of an old fart though :tickled:
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I'm with you. But I also feel that way about all post-SNK games. They all feel off and weird. Proper SNK always had a way of giving games a quality feel.
 
rarehero

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I never liked the change in move sets and ranges in 2002,
despite bringing back favorite characters of mine.
98 is a great game, I do dig it a bit.
The profile art is boring when compared to 95-96.
At least the music is existent as compared to 97.
There's pros and cons to every KOF,
98 is great for what it is,
the slugfest.
It was 97s chain combo system fine tuned.
Not all of the KOF characters so far, but a good enough accounting of past folks.
The way I kind of have it in my mind is 2000 for fun/story and 98 for the game play.
 
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I'm probably the only one that still prefers 94'.
 
rarehero

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94 is great.
The only detractor is no edits,
but I'm okay with that for the most part.
It was especially great before 95 which had some harsh damage ratios.
Great music, great backgrounds, great times.
 
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city41 said:
I'm with you. But I also feel that way about all post-SNK games. They all feel off and weird. Proper SNK always had a way of giving games a quality feel.
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I agree. 2002 just feels weird for some reason. Also, fuck 2002 for not having Geese.
 
Strange

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My Top 5 KOF Rankings:

1) KOF98 (10/10)
2) KOF2002 (9/10)
3) KOF2000 (8.8/10)
4) KOF99 (8.5/10)
5) KOF97 (8/10)

--) KOF13 (7/10)
 
Pope Sazae

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I've been playing some XI and I can't see why it wasn't released on the MVS. The tag system was in 2k3 and the graphics are not of such a high level that the Neo couldn't handle it. Decent game but if I'm going to play a post-Neo KoF it's going to be XIII though I did have some fun times with the XIII beta test that was XII.
 
Ganelon

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Yeah, the Neo Geo probably could've handled KOFXI with some background, special effect, and GUI compromises. But in case you weren't aware, SVC Chaos, Samurai Spirits 0, and KOF03 were dumped and could be easily found online the first week of their releases (the first day even). SNK tested out KOF Neowave to make sure the then-promising Atomiswave platform was viable and made the only realistic business decision available at the time.

Anyway, it's interesting nobody has mentioned KOF98 Ultimate Match here yet. Although it's not a Neo Geo title (original UM was on Type X, UM Hero was on PGM2, and UM Final Edition was on NESiCA), it certainly maintains the same spirit and has the same high points as KOF98. I'm not too sure how it's faring now compared to the original KOF98; Krauser dominated KOF98UM tourneys, nobody seems to care about the PGM2 version, and NESiCA is apparently rebalanced but has little info because the platform can only be run in Japan (where there don't seem to be any religious English-speaking KOF fans). Anyone here have more info on the later KOF98UM revisions?

I respect KOF98 as the apparent epitome of SNK tourney fighters but I'm in the simplicity camp of KOF94 and 95 myself.
 
Pope Sazae

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98UM is my favorite XBLA game on my system, so many hours of fun playing that with friends and when the planets are lined up just right it plays great online.
 
Strange

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KOF98UM is a great game but I feel ultimately it's an example of adding just too much to something that was already fantastic. Now there is a tournament banned God Tier in the roster of characters that shouldn't have been in the game to begin with like all the bosses from the games before and having the ridiculous Orochi Leona and Iori characters. Many of the new stages are awesome but there are those few that are just stupid, I can't help remembering the crappy stages over the good. Also the new font for "Ready, GO, KO" seems so out of place along with the new meter at the bottom. You can totally tell they weren't part of the original design messing up the balance of the presentation.... In the end KOF98UM is a good game but just seems what it ultimately is - A Cash In.
 
city41

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SNKorSWM said:
I'm probably the only one that still prefers 94'.
Click to expand...

Nope, it's my favorite KOF.

I'm probably the only one that really digs 97. Love the Satella News Network and the Orochi New Faces Team.
 
GutsDozer

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Professor Denim said:
eheheh i can see what you mean :)
I love them all from 94 till 99.
The challenge is to make me believe that 97 is better than 98!
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Me and my buddy have had a 97/98 best game debate for years and it's still deadlocked. I still like 98 a bit better.
 
Strange

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GutsDozer said:
Me and my buddy have had a 97/98 best game debate for years and it's still deadlocked. I still like 98 a bit better.
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KOF 98 wins if only for a little thing it has called, you know... MUSIC! 97 is a bit bare but some the backgrounds are memorable. Still I can't get passed the ambient soundtrack shit. If it was used more sparingly it would have been okay...
 
Strange

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obednow said:
i feel the same about metal slug
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Cool... Which one? My fave is Metal Slug X. 3 is my next favorite but can be a little too ridiculous at times, LOL. If I could only own or play three neo games they would be KOF98, Metal Slug X, and Magical Drop 3. You have a collection with these three titles what more could you ask for?
 
dspoonrt

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Strange said:
Cool... Which one? My fave is Metal Slug X. 3 is my next favorite but can be a little too ridiculous at times, LOL.
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My favorite Metal Slug is either 1 or X. It's hard to choose between the two, although I'd probably have to give the nod to the first Metal Slug game.

Strange said:
If I could only own or play three neo games they would be KOF98, Metal Slug X, and Magical Drop 3. You have a collection with these three titles what more could you ask for?
Click to expand...

That's a pretty good group of three Neo Geo games right there, definitely three of my favorite games in my collection. But I prefer Money Puzzle Exchanger to MD3, so if I could only have three games in my MVS cab, I'd probably pick KOF 98, Metal Slug, and Money Puzzle Exchanger (of course, I'd have to add in Strikers, Blazing Star, or Windjammers - can't leave the 4th slot empty).
 
Dr. Jigglin

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I'd probably pick KOF'96, Metal Slug and NAM 1975
 
Danthor

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city41 said:
Nope, it's my favorite KOF.

I'm probably the only one that really digs 97. Love the Satella News Network and the Orochi New Faces Team.
Click to expand...

No way, 97 has always, and ever shall be my favourite! It was my most heavily played NGCD game when I first got it, and is the most heavily used homecart in my library after finally making the jump to carts.
 
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