KING OF FIGHTERS 98
Modes of Play
--ADVANCED MODE--
In Advanced mode you can still build up your POW stocks, but the
system has been modified somewhat. The first chara will be
able to retain 3 stocks, the second chara can retain 4, and the
final chara will be able to retain 5 stocks! This is a very
cool addition to KoF, since as the fight progresses, the charas
will become stronger allowing awesome specials to be performed.
Also note that doing DM's when the player is POWed will result in
the emptying of the remaining meter.
It has been noted, also, that the "friendship" system
will be included in KoF98, like in KoF97.
--EXTRA MODE--
There have also been some changes to the Extra mode in
KoF98. The POW bar will shorten for each chara that you
lose, so the 3rd chara will have a very easy time POWing
up. Attacks can now be performed from the dodge move (and
the dodge can now be cancelled into a combo), and the
"middle jump" is now useable in both Extra and
Advanced.
Game Extras
hara Colors C
There is now 4 different colors selectable for each chara in
KoF98, something that I think should have been implemented a long
time ago. Each button, respectively chooses a different
color for your chara.
TidBits
--RANDOM SELECT--
There is a random select located on the chara select screen this
time around. If you choose random, your fighters will
change after each battle, so you will always have a new team for
the next team challenging you.
--SPECIAL TROW--
Special throws are nothing new to the world of KoF, but this time
around they have changed a bit. Now if you do a special
throw and you miss, there is a "miss animation", which
is very similar to Zangief's in Street Fighter.
--WINNER MESSAGES--
We've all come to love these, now haven't we?..All the cheesy
dialogues will surely be back. [Yes!!! :) ]
--MID BOSSES--
Shingo will appear after the 3rd battle if you have chosen chars
that are related to him in some way (Yagami, Kusanagi,etc).
Rugal will come out and challenge you after the 6th team is
defeated)
Special Demo
Even though there will be no storyline in KoF98, there aill be
many special demos (When certain charas meet up in battle they
exchange a few words (and gestures ^_^ ). Heres a few
of them (Thanks to Gebe):
Kyo Vs Iori
Both flare up their hands and raise them down after saying ther
lines.
Kyo- "The flames are calling for you!" (Honoo ga omae o
yonderuze!)
Iori- "Then burn down, respectively!" (Nara
moetsukiro, isagiyoku na)
Kyo Vs Shingo
Shingo- (pointing at his glove) "This
this! 'Moetaro?' Just
kidding!"
Kyo- "Why you..."
Benimaru & Female Fighter
Benimaru- "Let's go, Cutie!"
Billy & Iori
Eiji appears secretively in Billy's back, taunt together with
Billy and flys away.
Billy looks around, wondering what had just happened.
Yashiro VS Iori
Fools around doing Chrises' intro
"Oh no, he looks strong! Just kiddin' "
Kensou & Athena
Kensou "Ooooh Athena!" (Throws heart mark to Athena)
Mai & Andy
Mai does a cute bow to Andy, Andy greets Mai by holding his hands
together.
Takuma & AOF Members
Takuma appears with his Tengu mask, Ryo, Robert or Yuri gets
upset at him.
Takuma then throws his mask into the air and kicks it apart while
shouting out "chest--o!"
Yamazaki & Orochi Member
Yamazaki just keeps on laughing-- a riot of the blood?
MISC.
Kyo & Benimaru
Kyo & Saishu
Heidern & Rugal
Band Team members against each other
Heidern &Ikari Team members
Ikari Team members with each other
Robert & Kensou
Kim & Anyone Evil
Chizuru & Orochi member
Chara Selection
The Character select screen consists of 12 teams of 3, and 2 lone
charas (Shingo and Rugal). That makes 38 charas available
right off the bat!! Plus, there is supposed to be a minimum
of 10 hidden charas ( I hope one of them is Todo,
Kasumi!). There are also an assortment of
"alternates" which can be chosen by pressing start when
highlighting certain fighters.. These are:
-Orochi Yashiro (from '97)
-Orochi Shermie (from '97)
-Orochi Chris (from '97)
-Real Bout 2 Andy Bogard (No power charge, but his projectile
goes the screens length, andhe's got the Fire Kick)
-Real Bout 2 Andy Bogard (He can use the DaDanDan (a DM), and his
fireball goes the length of the screen, like Terry's)
-'94 Sakazaki, Ryo (Has the Illusion punches and his fireball
goes the length of the screen)
-'94 Sakazaki, Yuri (Fireball is like '95, and so is the
Raioo-ken. Her SaiFa is also in the game, while the spin
kick
and Burn Knuckle are out. She will be sporting a new super
though.)
-'94 Robert Garcia (Same as Ryo '94, but has the illusion kicks)
-'94 Higashi, Joe (Tornado Punch reaches the end of the screen
but he has no Golden Heel. His taunt, victory pose,
and his rapid punches become the '95 version)
-'94 Kusanagi, Kyo
--MISC. CHARA INFO--
Kyo
Has a new victory pose where he faces back, takes his hand behind
him and kills his flame
His words has changed in his Rapid punch DM.
Goro
Still has a good CD attack and firece punch, Earthquaker seems to
hit opponents lying on ground.
Benimaru
Nowhere as strong as before, and his Electric Jolt DM has gotten
much weaker as well -no invincibility.
Terry
No infinite Juggle.
Andy
Can't seem to hit opponent with his press kick after the
unguardable punches.
Joe
Comes out with the Champ's garment when the 1st character.
Taunt has changed back to 95' style "kocchi kocchi!"
Has a new fighting stance, leaning a tad forward.
Spin kick has a different curve now.
Kensou
Anti-air special (normal one) is a lot easier to counter and
sometimes drops opponent off in middle.
Pants drop off in his new victory pose.
Athena
Voice is now done by the cast of "Mary's Atrium"
(game). She also does a voice cast for "Lets & Go"
(anime). When the first chracter, she comes out with her
Sailor clothings and then takes them off, revealing her
costume from KOF94, then KOF95, KOF96, KOF98, and finally KOF98.
Mai
Has a new Lever + button move where she jumps into the air to
attack.
Has a new victory pose where she fits in a fancy kimono and has a
hellishly big pair of fans in both hands.
Her Dance of Fury is weakend and can now be countered.
King
Waitresses comes out in Demo
Chizuru
Has new victory dance, no longer looks like a mid-aged lady in
victory shot.
Kim
His new special kick seems to shake the ground, effects not well
known.
Chang
When first character, comes out singing with a special BGM.
Leona
Something happens when the Rebel Spark is done at Max.
Clark
When first character, has his sunglasses off.
Yashiro
Million Bash Stram ends pitifully unless the punch is rapid
repeated.
Comes out upside-down on his hands, doing pushups. Mr. Macho.
Two new victory poses- one where he takes out a plastic bottle
and splashes it across his face, and another
where he looks back and waves his hand.
Shermie
Shermie Clutch seems to be a anti-air throw like Clark's Napalm
stretch.
Shermie Spiral is fast enough to use in a combo.
Has a new victory pose where she throws kisses around.
Mary
Cannot snatch after the splash rose.
Billy
Has trademark sparrow killer move from 95'.
Takuma
Projectile or Illusion punches can be comboed/juggled from his
flying double kick.
Shoots 3 Haoh-shikou Kens in his Max Dragon Dance.
Seems to have a Counter attack throw.
Saishu
Voice (tone?) has changed
His new DM seems to be a "Burning Shingo" with flames.
Has a new special move similar to Kyo's air kick.
Has an additional input special like Kyo.
Heidern
When the first character, comes out of the dark with his eye
glowing.
Moves much faster than 95 and is much more tricky.
Storm Bringer probably afflicts more damage when pressed rapid.
Has a counter attack Storm Bringer.
Heidern's End is similar to Leona's Rebel Spark, except its
attack point is high so characters dodging may
be missed. Wears a coat in new victory pose.
Mature
Metal Massacre slices sideways now.
CD attack has more frames and is slower.
All three Death Claw hits unlike in 96'.
Has a projectile similar to Eiji's huge attack.
New DM is a rush combo of air blades.
has her hip moving around in her new fighting pose, and her leg
shows time to time.
Vice
DeSide is very fast now.
Her new thor "Black end" make the opponent fly
vertically into the air.
Has a new move where she tacklye the opponet like Terry's Power
Charge.
Has a new fighting pose which looks a bit like Riot Iori's.
Iori
His voice has gotten even lower.
His DM voice "Cry, scream and die!" 's last part is a
lot longer now, making him sound as he really hates
the opponent.
His Anti-air now always makes the opponent fall down.
His Max Dm has more motion and is thus slower. There is a
possibility that it cannot be used in combos.
Still grabs opponents from air.
His new move "nail gale" is similar to a petite version
of Orochi Chrises' cecent lundge attack.
Shingo
The laughingstock of KOF98', but unlike SFA's Dan Shingo is still
strong.
Says out loud the "sound effects" of his moves when he
executes them, like "boom!" "Slash!" (in
Japanese)
Has a new attack "Elbow Drop" which is an unguardable
attack.
When Maxed up, his normal special anti-air move can take up 1/3
the oppoennt's life bar at times.
Rugal
His new DM "Dead End Screamer" is said to have very bad
taste and was being called "The Rugal
Dance" by beta testers.
His Gigatech Pressure is extremely fast now, but can easily be
counter once guarded.
I got some screen shotsof the game:
KOF1 KOF2 KOF3 KOF4 KOF5 KOF6 KOF7 KOF8 KOF9 KOF10
KOF11 KOF12 KOF13 KOF14 KOF15 KOF16 KOF17 KOF18 KOF19
