There are 44 characters from The King of Fighters 2002, 16 characters from the NESTS arc, including King and Shingo, and 6 hidden characters, including additional characters from the previous console versions with the exception of Orochi Iori. The game has 66 characters in total, making it the series' largest roster. The PlayStation 4 version was released with this same rollback netcode. In November 2020, the Steam version of the game was updated with rollback netcode, allowing for higher quality online play. Instead, a new character called Nameless ( ネームレス) was designed to take his place in the game and features most of K9999's special techniques with an added touch.
Moreover, all of the characters featured in the series between The King of Fighters '99 and The King of Fighters 2002 are included with the exception of Orochi Iori, and particularly K9999, which is a character conceived as a pastiche of Tetsuo Shima from the manga Akira.
Beside new stages and artwork, the game also includes additional characters as well as changes to the team roster, with the number of default teams increased to 18, counting both the regular and alternate versions of the Orochi Team and '97 Outlaw Team. A physical release is set for late Spring 2021. The game was later ported to Steam on February 27, 2015, and a PlayStation 4 version was released digitally on February 8, 2021. Several characters have been redrawn, most notably the Orochi Team, representing The King of Fighters '98.Ī remake version of KOF 2002, The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match was released on Februfor the PlayStation 2 in Japan and on Novemfor Xbox Live Arcade. Capcom, namely Geese Howard, Goenitz, and Orochi Iori, are included in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions. The Dreamcast version of the game, nevertheless, features King and Shingo, while three additional characters from SVC Chaos: SNK vs. However, not all the characters from the previous games are featured, and series' regulars such as King and Shingo Yabuki are absent from the Neo Geo version for the first time since their first appearance. Omega Rugal returns as the final boss as well. In addition to the recurring teams from the series, including the original Japan Team, the game also features a series of teams representing each of the previous game series from The King of Fighters '96 to The King of Fighters 2001. Instead, a "Dream Match" is included featuring characters from all the previous games in the series. Just like The King of Fighters '98, the game has no storyline since the NESTS story arc has already concluded in the previous game, The King of Fighters 2001. Main article: List of The King of Fighters characters There are also MAX Super Special Moves, which are Super moves that can only be performed during MAX Activation with one Power Gauge stock, and MAX2 moves that require two stocks while low on health. In this state, a Super Special Move can be used without consuming a Power Gauge stock. For example, on the first round, the player can stock up to three Power Gauges, while losing two rounds allows the player to stock up to five.ĭuring MAX Activation, the player's offensive and defensive strength is increased for a short period and can cancel any attack into another player. The same case also applies to the 1-on-1 format, where the Power Gauge the player can stock up is also increased by one with each round loss. A single Power Gauge stock can be used to either perform a Counterattack and Evasion technique while guarding an opponent's attack, use a Super Special Move, or initiate the MAX Activation state. For example, the first member of the team can stock up to three Power Gauges, while the third member can stock up to five. The number of Power Gauges the player can stock up is increased by one with each member of the team. Like the previous games in the series, the Power Gauge is filled as the player attacks the opponent or performs Special Moves during a battle.
The game also revamps the Power Gauge system into a format similar to the one used in The King of Fighters '97. The King of Fighters 2002 discards the 4-on-4 "Striker Match" format used in the previous three games in the series and returns to the 3-on-3 Battle format originally used in the series up until KOF '98. Gameplay screenshot showcasing a match between Ángel and Maxima.