games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


King of Fighters XII coming July 28, new vids to celebrate! photo

The end of July is going to be a good time for fans of 2D fighters: the genre has seen a resurgence in popularity over the past couple of months, and SNK's King of Fighters XII is only one of many high-profile releases this summer.

According to KOF12's Twitter feed, Ignition Entertainment will be bringing the brawler over to the States on July 28, one day before Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom 2 hits XBLA and PSN. And how's this for weird: We're getting King of Fighters XII two days before Japanese audiences, which probably means the world is about to explode.

Since there's only so much you can really say about release dates, here's a fun fact:  The artwork for King of Fighters XII was all hand-drawn and each character took 18 man-months to create. The team faked the lighting by using different sprites, depending on where characters were on the screen. Another fun fact? The PS3 version of the game will support clans.

And, hey, to make this post worth your while, I embedded two gameplay montages that Ignition PR were kind enough to send over. The e-mail mentioned that they featured "devastating Sousai (deadlock) counters, critical counter attacks and guard attacks," but I don't know enough about the series to be able to find those in these videos. I like the art and explosion effects, and I like making people beat each other up, but I know that I will never, ever be anything more than a below-average fighter.


Continue: More Xbox 360 stories





prev next

26 comments | showing # 1 to 26

Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 12:55
Dan CiTi
Although Im currently addicted to BlazBlue, Third Strike and SMT: Devil Survivor I might get this sometime.
Pyroph's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 12:59
Pyroph
28th can't come fast enough.
Overcrowd's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 12:59
Overcrowd
Worldwide release? Please.
nilcam's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 13:01
nilcam
I was praying that the July 20 date would hold. Oh, well. Still, I'm getting this day one. BlazBlue is a blast but it's not quite my style. King of Fighters will likely be my preferred fighter.
Char Aznable's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 13:04
Char Aznable
"each character took 18 [jimsterling]MAN-MONTHS[/jimsterling] to create"
Shael's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 13:06
Shael
I'm STILL waiting for a fighter that uses some of the ideas from Kakuto Chojin...

Sure, the game sucked but the destructible arenas (ok, so this isn't really unique), the clothes that get torn, realtime damage (we have it for boxing, why not fighters?) and the ability to strategically break bones!

Now combine that with weapons (or maybe not...either's fine), DOA style stages, fatalities and a solid engine powering the game + decent balancing and it'd be the dream of fighting game fans!
Jin Champloo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 13:27
Jin Champloo
I disagree and must say that the dream of fighting game fans is to have the perfectly balanced game, where every variable has been painstakingly accounted for. The fighter where every player, if serious enough and willing to work, could play whomever he or she wises in tournaments viably. The perfect game needs no fatalities, perhaps tatters on clothing, but even that idea isn't so necessary. I think the perfect fighter needs only balance. I
Jin Champloo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 13:29
Jin Champloo
believe any of the larger developers could create this game, of course, i'm speaking in ideals and this may not be possible. I would love to see another 2D fighter that runs smoothly at 60 frames per second.
Professor Pew's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 13:35
Professor Pew
28th August for Europe when I last checked :(

At least they give us a date though...
Dragonzigg's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 14:25
Dragonzigg
@Professor Pew ...unlike BlazBlue :( May still get this though, I've never played KoF but I'm hankering after a 2D fighting game.
mourning orange's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 15:03
mourning orange
I'll stick to Blazblue. Thanks.
The Kojukinator's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 15:06
The Kojukinator
I wish King of LowRezSprite Fighters would get with the times and give their artists high resolution tablets or something.
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 15:14
s0lesurviv0r
Argh, seems like I'll have to relearn kof again now that I got a stick. Well, not that I wasn't a bit rusty to begin with. Playing KOF 98 on NOT mame so hopefully I'll be comboing into V Slashes on day one.
wutang4ever's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 15:49
wutang4ever
this game has the best looking animation I have ever seen in a 2d fighter. This is a must buy for me. I'm surprised it took a fledging developer to create an all 2D fighter. Thanks for taking the risk! I'm gonna go broke with all these fighters coming out this year. Its a great year to be a fighting fan
nilcam's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 16:10
nilcam
@ The Kojukinator: KoF XII is high-res. The difference between KoF and BlazBlue is that BlazBlue uses tradition cel-style animation whereas KoF uses true sprites, which are built pixel by pixel. The animation in KoF is much more impressive than BlazBlue. Also, I expect a more technical fighter in KoF.
JLanphear's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 16:18
JLanphear
I'm so bad at fighting games, but I love them so much. This is DEFINITELY a GET.
The Kojukinator's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 16:33
The Kojukinator
@nilcam: thanks for the insight, I didn't realize they were using different techniques to achieve the end result. But it makes me wonder, why did they go the pixel by pixel route? Sprites are sprites, just an end result which is a 2d graphic surface. The art can come from a sketch, 3d render, vector drawing, etc... Are the KoF devs just so old-skool badass that they went with their method? I suppose I can appreciate that sorta leetness, but I still wonder about it.

Before my comment above, I compared the quality of the screenshots from BlazBlue to KoF XII and noticed much worse aliasing on the KoF sprites. Sure, they are not as pixelated as the Marvel vs. Capcom variety... but they are no Guilty Gear/BlazBlue caliber.

Also I agree that KoF will most likely be a more traditional and technical fighter. But BlazBlue is up my alley with over-the-top-characterization that I just have a thing for.
Pyroph's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 17:45
Pyroph
"Also I agree that KoF will most likely be a more traditional and technical fighter. But BlazBlue is up my alley with over-the-top-characterization that I just have a thing for."

Which is awesome! Fighting games for EVERYONE. 2009 is the year for the Fighting genre. I love it.
Kalmah's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 17:54
Kalmah
Man, those montages looked Brilliant!
Demtor's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 21:05
Demtor
That art work is as amazing as Street Fighter IV. Really amazing stuff, its really great to see the new age style of 2D fighters lately.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 22:43
Chronic Logic
Clans in a fighting game? Really? Kind of odd...
nilcam's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/14/2009 22:45
nilcam
@ The Kojukinator: I think they went the traditional route because pixels are more scaleable. If you scale up the hand drawn stuff, it gets blurry and messy. Scaling pixels up makes them a bit more jagged but the character models stay truer to the concept, because pixels are vector-based (defined by mathematical points) rather than raster art. They probably feel the sprites are more their style and can be reused for at least 10 more years, as SNK usually does.

I love that this year has so many fighting games dropping. Not only is there something for everyone, but there are so many different techniques on display - 3D with 2D hit boxes, hand drawn 2D, pixel 2D, 3D rendered, etc. It's all good.
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 00:56
DinnertimeNinja
Too bad this game is receiving pretty crappy reviews, even in Japan!

Honestly though, it boggles the mind that anyone thought this game would be good. KoF has a long and strong history of mediocrity.

And major LOLZ to saying KoF12 will be a more "technical" fighter than, BlazBlue. The Guilty Gear series (which it is basically a continuation of) is BY FAR the most technical and has the most depth of any 2D fighter out there. Except for MvC, nothing else is really even close to it in terms of technical skill needed to win at high level.

Stick with Street Fighter IV, BlazBlue, and Tekken 6 if you want GOOD fighters this year.
ciccio13's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 04:26
ciccio13
@dinnertimeninja................
MVC is a technical fighting game???????????Hem seriously have u ever play a KOF title?????
stafax's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/15/2009 05:22
stafax
@DinnertimeNinja
You are hilarious! Marvel vs Capcom is technical? Wow, you made my day! HA HA HA!
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 20:10
DinnertimeNinja
I know you won't read this but you guys obviously don't play MvC at even CLOSE to high level.

The ridiculous combos and screen control needed to maintain lockdown and high damage output are quite akin to those of the Guilty Gear series.

It only LOOKS like a button masher to people who don't know how to play it seriously because you can mash and make a whole shitload of stuff happen on the screen. That doesn't mean Justin Wong wouldn't beat you 100 out of 100 times using whatever characters you want him to use.

Yeah, that's what he does. He accepts money matches at this game where you can choose his characters. That sort of consistency doesn't come from something that isn't a technical fighter.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos

    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! review
    EyePet review
    more reviews
    Bad Company 2 beta dishes out meaningful experiences
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    Monster Hunter Tri
    Hooking onto, under and above Just Cause 2
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 50789 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: The ultimate PC gamer to-do list





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman    		 Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
         		Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong
    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006