King of Fighters XII is not the best 2D fighter available on current-gen consoles, but it's still one of my favorites. It just looks so good. To a dyed-in-the-wool fan of 2D fighters, KoF XII is the only game in recent years to truly look right. It doesn't look like a CGI animated imitation of a 2D fighter, or an anime imitation of a 2D fighter. It looks like the real deal, and I love that. It may not have had the features of Street Fighter IV, or the originality of BlazBlue, but it was the only current fighter to truly take pride in its sprite based roots.
One of the main complaints about KoF XII was the roster. Not only was it missing fan-favorite Mai, but multiple other characters, modes, and stuffs went missing. Well, now Mai is back, and she's not alone. For one, I'm totally freaked out at the sight of Hwa Jai, the fanged-faced Mui Thai kickboxer who hasn't been seen in a SNK fighter since the Fatal Fury days. Other combatants coming back in KoF XIII include Maxima, Elisabeth, Mature, Yuri, King, Vice, Takuma, and Kula. That's 10 new characters in all, the same amount that Super Street Fighter IV brought. Now I just need to hear that KoF XIII will only cost $40, and it may be able to claim my "most respected fighting game semi-sequel" crown from the previously named Capcom fighter.
Don't get me wrong, SSFIV is amazing, but you just can't beat the graphics on KoF XIII. Don't believe me? Then check out the game's characters in motion over on the game's official site and see for yourself. The site is packed with animation, and loads really quickly, so fans of instant gratification won't be disappointed. Watch out for Mai though. She's... hypnotizing.
[Update- Oops! Look like I forgot about K', who is also making a comeback, making 11 "new" characters. KoF XIII > SSFIV CONFIRMED.]
Contest:
5:00 PM on 05.16.2010 | 
I hope they have a King of Fighters Revival/Garou 2 game at some point as well.
but seriously. THIS ANIMATION IS AMAZING.
And damn. Kula. Hells yes. Also, we still haven't gotten the full roster. Considering this is a story-based one, there has got to be at least one boss character, possibly more. The intro showed off a ton of characters that may or may not be playable.
Hey, there's a good chance she'll show up in the next game (assuming this one sells well enough).
I miss May Lee. And I know that there isn't a chance in hell she'll be coming back.
Not sure I like what they've done with the design for mature still tho. How come she gets an eyepatch but Vice is fine? Mature was always the better of the 2! Andy Bogard is back... meh. But that's probably why we get Mai back! And what the heck is up with team Korea??
Kim is rehabilitating Raiden and Hwa Jai. That's the whole reason Chang and Choi were originally on Team Korea.
Also, Holmes... you forgot K'. How could you forget K'?
Aside from the stance animations, many of the moves (especially combos) are choppy and look like 2-frame animations mashed together.
BlazBlue has similar issues as with some moves but I think it looks much more fluid and appealing overall.
So, they're like Ryu and Ken?
@Elzam
Vice and Mature are back because the villains of this game are trying to steal Orochi's power. Orochi can't come back himself, because he's been sealed away for the next 100 years - so he reanimated Vice and Mature to do what he can't.
@DinnertimeNinja
Different strokes for different folks. While I like BlazBlue and indeed find it interesting, I wouldn't call it 'fluid'.
Post Updated.
Make it so, SNK.
I never had a problem with the roster. Like you, I loved the sprite work and even the engine of the game. It was meatier. My main complaint and my fear for KoF XIII is the netcode. XII's was just plain horrible. Here's hoping they address that major deficiency in XIII because if I can't play this game online with my friends, whats the point?
So many characters for a KOF roster... these days I don't think the rosters are that satisfying to avoid complaining fans. I understand enough is enough and it was getting pretty huge when they first allowed Strikers, but I really almost feel like I want a gigantic character collection 'ala '98. Let some of the fan favorites (or mine!) get back in for fun and just devote it to online play.... oh my dreams...
Shingo got shafted yet again. *sigh*
Yaaaaaaawwwwwwn.
You mean EX moves are borrowed from Darkstalkers. Learn yoself some history.
Sadly, if they are going to get sales, they have to make it almost 100% returning characters. Otherwise, no one will buy it - and SNK desperately needs money.
I mean, lookit SF4. Almost everybody that bought it, bought it because it had all the SF2 characters in it.
@KingSigy
While it is a matter of taste, I'm inclined to agree with you. However, these new KOF graphics are definitely the closest anybody will come to touching SF3. Hell, no one else is even trying.
KoFXII and KoFXIII don't look like anime. OK, well, Athena does, but for the large part, the rest of the cast does not. They look like fighting game characters.
Which you like more is a matter of taste, but KoF XII is my favorite hands down.
@ d3v- To me, a fighting game "semi-sequel" adds new characters and tweaks the engine, but for the most part, uses the same assets as the prior game in the series.
Alpha 2 may have added the CC system, but since most of its cast are from Alpha 1, it's still a semi sequel to me. SF3, on the other hand, was a real sequel.
Huzzah @ everything else.
Uh...what? Dan Hibiki is Street Fighter. Are you sure you're not thinking of Robert Garcia?
You might be onto something. Three out of every four online matches I played had Joe on it in KOFXII. It was kinda ridiculous, and the all played in almost the same flow-chart style as a Ken player.