The King of Fighters is a series with an insanely large following, and with good reason. SNK has been releasing quality King of Fighters games since 1994, each one better than the last. King of Fighters 2000 is no exception. Thanks to Playmore, SEGA Dreamcast owners can enjoy the love, too.

King of Fighters 2000 has four game play types; Team play, Team versus, Single play, and Single versus. Team play allows you [in typical King of Fighters fashion] to choose three characters and a striker to play through the single player game with. Team versus is the very same, with the exception that you are fighting a [player] opponent, and not playing through the single player game. Single play is similar to 'Team play', with the exception that you can only choose one character. (and a striker) Single versus allows you to fight one on one (with a striker) against a human opponent.

Strikers [a concept introduced in King of Fighters 99] are characters that can be called in at any point in time, so long as you have the ability. (A little meter at the bottom lets you know how many times you can call a Striker this round.) Strikers can do various things - one may hold a character in the air, another may launch INTO a kicking frenzy, while another could merely jump in for a moment to laugh at the enemy. The general Striker routine is ; jumps in for a moment, launches an attack, hangs around for a bit, then leaves, sometimes delivering an extra attack while doing so. Any character can be a Striker, there are also other forms of Strikers you can choose that are not in the game, totaling 35. Doing a taunt gives you one more Striker credit.

Other things brought over FROM King of Fighters 99 include armor and counter mode. Once filling up your 'power bars', you can utilize these modes. Counter mode allows you to make as many desperation moves as you like in the allowed time. Armor mode allows you to ignore the hit animation you would normally take FROM an attack. This allows you to be a nearly invincible [or not quite so..] juggernaut for a temporary time period. Unfortunately, survival mode is nowhere to be seen in this port. (Featured in the King of Fighters 99 port)

The roster is as large as ever - at 35, this presents plenty of characters and Strikers to choose. Old favorites such as Kyo, King, and Iori return, while new faces, like Kula and Hinako, make their first appearance. All of which are well animated, as you would expect. Fingers move, articles of clothing flap in the wind, all very well animated.

Original Name	ザキングオブファイターズニセン
Release Date	Aug 07, 2002
Genre	Fighting
Version	Japan
PAX-Code	PAX0000033456
Catalog No.	T-47303M
Item Code	4964808201136
Players	1-2

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• Official website (Japanese)
  
• Insert Credit game preview