The King of Fighters 2003

The King of Fighters 2003
Developer(s)	SNK NeoGeo
Publisher(s)	SNK Playmore
Series	The King of Fighters
Platform(s)	Arcade, Neo Geo, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation 3
Release date(s)	Neo Geo ^JP December 12, 2003 PlayStation 2 ^JP March 28, 2004 ^EU April 2006 ^AUS January 16, 2007 ^JP April 15, 2015 (PS3) Xbox ^JP August 25, 2005
Genre(s)	Fighting game
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneously
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	Neo Geo

The King of Fighters 2003 (commonly abbreviated KOF 2003) is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK Playmore for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms in 2003. It is the tenth game in The King of Fighters series and the last one released for the Neo Geo, which served as the primary platform for the series since the very first game. It was ported to PlayStation 2 and Xbox, was released in North America as a two-in-one bundle with the preceding game in the series, The King of Fighters 2002.

Gameplay

The 3-on-3 Team Battle Format is applied in the game once again, just like the past editions. It also uses a Multi-Shift format that allows players to change characters during the middle of battle. When the "Change OK" sign is displayed above the Power Gauge, the player can do a Quick Shift and change characters immediately, or perform a Switch-Off Attack against the opponent that will consume one Power Gauge stock.

The game also features a Tactical Leader System, in which one of the members of the team is designated as the Leader. The chosen Leader can have an access to an exclusive move known as the "Leader Super Special Move" (in addition to the regular "Super Special Moves"). However, this usually requires two Power Gauge stocks to be able to perform it.

As in the last game in the series, the players' Power Gauge can hold up to 3 stocks at the beginning of a match. Unlike the previous game, however, the player starts with a full gauge of three stocks right away. When one team loses one of its members, the maximum capacity of Power Gauge stocks is increased by one, giving the losing team a handicap against the opposing team. In addition, unlike the previous KOF games, each hit only earns the player 100 points.

Plot

The game revolves around The King of Fighters, an elite fighting competition. In this competition, Rugal is defeated and the Orochi are sealed away. The tournament at the centre of the game is sponsored by an unknown patron, whose identity becomes a matter of public interest in the country. Perhaps as a result of this, it attracts a large number of contestants.

With the inception of the new "multi-shift" rule in this KOF tournament, wherein competitors can freely tag off during battles, the competition becomes a 'hot topic' and provokes widespread discussion. It also leads to a speedy execution of the match with unified team strategies.

In preparation for the tournaments, stadiums with the capacity to hold tens of thousands of people are procured from cities across the world and established in city centres. Schedules are completed and spectators move from one location to another to watch the preliminary matches. To create the atmosphere of a true street fight, competitions are broadcast live on giant screens.

Characters

Hero Team Ash Crimson Duo Lon Shen Woo Fatal Fury Team Terry Bogard Joe Higashi Tizoc Art of Fighting Team Ryo Sakazaki Robert Garcia Yuri Sakazaki Korea Team Kim Kaphwan Chang Koehan Jhun Hoon Ikari Team Leona Ralf Jones Clark Still Outlaw Team Gato Billy Kane Ryuji Yamazaki Women Fighters Team King Mai Shiranui Blue Mary

Benimaru Team Benimaru Nikaido Shingo Yabuki Goro Daimon High School Girls Team Athena Asamiya Hinako Shijou Malin K′ Team K′ Maxima Whip Three Sacred Treasures Team Kyo Kusanagi (Team edit) Iori Yagami (Team edit) Chizuru Kagura (hidden character) Mid-Boss Kusanagi Main Boss Adelheid Hidden Bosses Maki Kagura (Sub Boss with Chizuru Kagura) Mukai (Main Boss, can be accessible by during different objectives)

External links

• Official website
• Official website (Japanese)