The King of Fighters '97

There are tournaments, and then there is The King of Fighters '97. For many fighting-game fans from the late nineties, this very edition is the moment when SNK brought its ambitious crossover series to perfection. After two years of tuning, you have a game that plays fast, cleanly, and with absolute confidence in every blow.

The foundation is three-on-three team combat, where you assemble a trio of characters from a rich roster uniting heroes from Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and original fighters created specifically for KOF. The '97 edition introduced a major novelty: two selectable play styles, Advanced and Extra. The Advanced mode works with rolling, short hops, and a gradually filling Power gauge, while Extra continues the older system of charging energy by holding. This choice gave players the ability to adapt the pace to their own nature, and passionate debates about it still rage among tournament players today.

In narrative terms, KOF '97 closes the so-called Orochi saga, a story arc stretching back to 1995. The climax surrounding the dark god Orochi and his servants gave the series a dramatic charge that went beyond mere brawling in the ring. Characters like Iori Yagami or Leona came here to the center of events and gained a depth that was rather exceptional in the genre at the time.

The Neo Geo was expensive arcade and home hardware, but it was precisely thanks to it that KOF '97 looked luxurious. Large, finely animated sprites, hand-painted backgrounds full of movement, and SNK's characteristic sound design turned every match into a little show. Moreover, the game ran smoothly even in demanding moments, which was a hallmark of first-rate craftsmanship for its time.

Today, the '97 edition is considered one of the milestones of the series and returns in all sorts of compilations and digital reissues. For retro players, it represents an ideal gateway into the world of KOF: accessible enough not to overwhelm you, and at the same time deep enough to hold you for months.

Why play: A top-tier team fighting game that closes the legendary Orochi saga and to this day ranks among the best the Neo Geo had to offer.