The King of Fighters '98
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Two, three! It all began in '94, kept on rollin' in '95. Fell in place in '96, it came to an end in '97. And now it comes, say here we go, KOF is here again, nothing's gonna stop... It's 1998!
-Intro
The all-star dream match never ends.
-Tagline
The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (The Slugfest in the rest of the world) is the fifth game in The King of Fighters series. The game was released for the Neo Geo and later ported to the Sony PlayStation. The Dreamcast port of the game was titled The King of Fighters: Dream Match 1999. A remake titled The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match was released in Japanese arcades on March 18, 2008 and later on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4 and PC (through Steam). The original game was then released on the iOS on July 25, 2014.
The game does not have a storyline. Instead, it was developed as a "dream match" game featuring characters from all previous King of Fighters games, including killed-off characters. The series' canon storyline continues in The King of Fighters '99.
Gameplay
This game has two systems: ADVANCED and EXTRA.
ADVANCED MODE
This mode employs aggressive tactics and the gameplay from The King of Fighters '96 and '97. Can be used the new rolling sidesteps to quickly rout the enemy and build up your POW Gauge using your special moves. As the fighter performs special moves and takes damage, the POW Gauge builds up, depending on the special moves used. Using multi-hit attacks increases the gauge faster. Once the gauge is filled up, one power stock is stored, indicated by a green flashing orb. A player can store up to 3 stocks at a time. The player can then use Desperation Moves at the cost of one stock.
In addition, with at least one stock stored, the player can activate MAX Mode where he is granted extra damage to his attacks and suffers less damage from the opponent. A timer indicates the elapsed time while the mode remains active. If the player also has more stocks stored while in this mode, he can pull off a more powerful Super Desperation Move which deals up to twice the damage of the normal version! It's a great way to turn the tides of battle! Once the mode ends, the character's attributes revert to normal, keeping any stocks he has stored.
When Advanced Mode users lose team members, the new Advantage System awards the player by increasing the maximum amount of stocks that can be stored. The 1st member can store 3 stocks, the 2nd can store 4 stocks, while the last member can have the maximum of 5 stocks stored at a time.
EXTRA MODE
This mode employs defensive tactics and the gameplay from The King of Fighters '94 to '95. Can be used the classic dodge move to evade enemy attacks and Power Charge to build up your POW Gauge. As the fighter takes damage and blocks attacks, the POW Gauge builds up, depending on the intensity of the hit. Being struck by multi-hit attacks increases the gauge faster. However, you can manually store power with the Power Charger move, but leaves you very vulnerable. Once the gauge is filled up, it flashes MAXIMUM and your fighter's offensive power increases for a short while. During this maxed-out state, you can also perform your character's unique Desperation Move for devastating damage.
The gauge remains at max for a limited time only, so make good use of the extra attack power and don't be afraid to use your Desperation Move before the gauge drains away. Once your character's life gauge drops below 20%, the gauge flashes orange. In this time of peril, your character can perform Desperation Moves indefinitely without the maximum POW Gauge requirement. If your life flashes orange AND you have your POW Gauge filled-up, you can pull off a Super Desperation Move which deals up to twice the damage of the normal version.
It's a great way to turn the tides of battle! Certain situations during the fight may even allow you to perform Super Desperation Moves just by having a full POW Gauge. In addition, the POW Gauge drains much faster when it is filled up to the max by blocking attacks or taking damage. Using the Power Charger to store power grants you more time in Max Mode before it completely empties. When Extra Mode users lose team members, the new Advantage System awards the player by decreasing the length of the gauge to fill it up faster. The 1st member has the gauge at 100%, the 2nd has a 75% length, while the last member can charge up to Max Level fastest at 50%.
Social Relations
Following the footsteps of its predecessor for teammate social relations, can be selected the order your characters will fight.
In the Order Select Screen, hold down the START button to see the smiley icons that depict partner relationships. These icons identify how POW stocks are affected between rounds (when in Advanced Mode), and if your teammates will help you by calling off a Back-Up Attack (both Advanced and Extra Modes). The icons do not affect your Power Gauge, only your current POW stocks. The character relations specifically reflect on the order you have designated.
| Icon | Relation | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| File:Smiley1.png | Happy | The two characters have friendly terms. One stock is awarded once the next character comes into play. If undefeated, they will always help in a Back-Up Attack. |
| File:Smiley2.png | Neutral | The two characters are cold to each other. The number of stocks remain unchanged between battles. If undefeated, they may or may not help in a Back-Up Attack. |
| File:Smiley3.png | Angry | The two characters despise each other. One stock is taken off once the next character comes into play. Even if undefeated, they will never help in a Back-Up Attack. |
Characters
<tabber> Official Team Roster=
Hero Team
Fatal Fury Team
Art of Fighting Team
Ikari Warriors Team
Psycho Soldier Team
Women Fighters Team
Korea Justice Team
New Faces Team (A.K.A. Orochi Team)
'97 Special Team
|-|Sub-Bosses Teams=
|-|Single Entry=
|-|Mid-Boss=
|-|Boss=
|-|Alternate Characters=
Awakened Orochi Team=
Alternate Character Versions
Original Character Version
- The King of Fighters '95 Kyo Kusanagi
Fatal Fury Versions
Fatal Fury Team
- Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 Terry Bogard
- Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 Andy Bogard
- The King of Fighters '94 Joe Higashi
Misc.
- Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 Mai Shiranui
- Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 Billy Kane
Art of Fighting Team
- The King of Fighters '94 Ryo Sakazaki
- The King of Fighters '94 Robert Garcia
- The King of Fighters '94 Yuri Sakazaki
|-|Special Edit Teams=
Sacred Treasures Team
- Kyo Kusanagi
- Iori Yagami
- Chizuru Kagura
Shingo Team
- Shingo Yabuki
- Kyo Kusanagi
- Iori Yagami
Rugal Team
- Rugal Bernstein
- Mature
- Vice
SNK Heroes Team
- Kyo Kusanagi
- Terry Bogard
- Ryo Sakazaki
No. 2 Team
- Benimaru Nikaido
- Andy Bogard
- Robert Garcia
No. 3 Team
- Goro Daimon
- Joe Higashi
- Yuri Sakazaki
Baseball Team
- Ralf Jones
- Blue Mary
- Lucky Glauber
Father Team
- Saisyu Kusanagi
- Takuma Sakazaki
- Kim Kaphwan
Rapid-Punch Team
- Billy Kane
- Chang Koehan
- Joe Higashi
Severely Burned Team
- Kyo Kusanagi
- Saisyu Kusanagi
- Orochi Chris
Sakazaki Family Team
- Takuma Sakazaki
- Ryo Sakazaki
- Yuri Sakazaki
Teen Team
- Shingo Yabuki
- Sie Kensou
- Chris
Orochi Ladies Team
- Shermie
- Mature
- Vice
Orochi Men Team
- Yashiro Nanakase
- Chris
- Ryuji Yamazaki
Kusanagi Style Team
- Kyo Kusanagi
- Saisyu Kusanagi
- Shingo Yabuki
Comedy Team
- Robert Garcia
- Sie Kensou
- Choi Bounge
"Cute" Team
- Choi Bounge
- Chin Gentsai
- Chang Koehan
Cap Team
- Terry Bogard
- Lucky Glauber
- Clark Still
Other Hero Team
- Shingo Yabuki
- Benimaru Nikaido
- Goro Daimon
Other Ikari Team
- Leona
- Ralf Jones
- Heidern
Other Heroine Team
- Athena Asamiya
- Mai Shiranui
- Yuri Sakazaki
Destructors Team
- Ralf Jones
- Brian Battler
- Chang Koehan
April 8th Birthday Team
- King
- Mature
- Shingo Yabuki
</tabber>
Stages
- Note 1: This game is the last of the series in which the characters are waiting to fight in the background. It's also the first game of the franchise with Practice mode. In the remake of the game ('98 UM), in the 3D backgrounds (only available in PS2 and PS4 versions), the natural sounds of the stages doesn't appears. In addition, the changes of the stages are different in both versions.
- Note 2: This game is the first of the series in which all stages are selectable (only in Versus Mode). Acessing the game settings, the Versus Mode can have stages chosen randomly. In Team and Single Play Modes, the stages are automaticly chosen randomly.
- Note 3: In this game, only the Sub-Bosses and the Final Boss have associated stages.
- Warning: The sight of some stages can cause epilepsy.
<tabber> Normal Stages=
- Kof98japanstreetbg.gif
Japan Street Stage
- Kof98mideastbg.gif
Middle East Stage
- KOF '98 Korea Stage.jpg
Korea Stage
- KOF '98 China Stage.gif
China Stage
- Kof98spainbg.gif
Spain Stage
- Japan Street: A viaduct next to Esaka Train Station and SNK's headquarters, in the city of Osaka. There are various vehicles, an LED panel with the game and SNK's name, a crosswalk, people cheering, a toll and a karaoke in the background.
- Changes: in the 1st round, the stage is partially full of cars; in the 2nd round, partially empty, but some vehicles can be seen passing by; from the 3rd round, there is a congestion due to the fight, and it is possible to hear a horn. In the PS2 UM version, depending on the round, vehicles or people can be seen.
- Note: When Choi wins the third round in more than 30 seconds, a special cameo appears, of two students on a bicycle. This only happens if the player don't defeat the opponent on the following conditions: perfect, use throwing punches, use of C + D buttons, use command punches or use the same punch in the same fight. Only Choi can win, he must be the second or third chosen by the player, defeat the second character of the opponent team and press C button immediately after victory.
- Middle East: A commercial village. Can be seen tents, merchants, vases, carpets, fruits and people. In all rounds, can be seen a boy asking his mother to watch the fight, and shortly after, running close to her and vibrating. In the PS2 UM version, the time of the stage changes, from dawn, to daytime, to evening. The boy appears only the second and final rounds.
- Korea: A pier in Seoul. Can be seen a fruit truck and a fair in the left, a shop, a bridge in the middle and, in the background, the Yeonju-dae and Yonjuam temples. Also can be seen a man watching the fight in the window, on the right, and seagulls, listening to the noise of the birds. In the PS2 UM version, the time of the stage changes, from dawn, to daytime, to evening. The man doesn't appear.
- Note: in the PS2 UM version, in the 2D background, the seagulls don't appear next to the temple.
- China: A boat passing in Wulingyuan, in Hunan Province. The fight takes place while the boat sails by the river. Can be seen two native men: one, sitting on the bow on the right, and the other paddling the boat, on the left.
- Changes: in the 1st round, can be seen a temple in the beginning; in the 2nd round, the rocks and a waterfall; in the 4th round, only the rocks; and in the 3rd and the final round, a mountain covered by a fog. In the PS2 UM version, the temple appears in the second round, the mountain, only in the fourth round, and the waterfall, in the final round.
- Spain: The Court of the Lions, in the Alhambra Palace, in the city of Granada. Can be seen a foutain, shrubs, lamps and a white cat passing through the stage. It is also possible to hear the fountain spouting.
- Changes: in the 1st and 2nd rounds, it's day; in the 3rd round, sunset, and the fountain stopping to a gush; from the 4th round, night.
|-|Sub-Boss & Boss Stages=
- Kof98japantemplebg.gif
Japan Temple Stage
- Kof98usatrainyardbg.gif
U.S.A. Train Yard Stage
- Kof98usabballcourtbg.gif
U.S.A. Basketball Court Stage
- Kof 98 rugal stage.gif
Black Noah Stage
- USA Yard (A.K.A. Train Yard) — Yagami Team: A train garage. Can be seen a gray train, a dog tossing a trash can and a plaque with the sign MOTEL.
- Changes: From the 2nd round, can be seen a wagon, which is approaching in the 3rd round, departs in the 4th and returns to the same place as the second in the final round. Besides that, the time changes to sunset from the third round. In PS2 UM version, the changes are: in the first round, the grey train appears; in the second round, the wagon appears; in the fourth round, the wagon departs. Strangely, the wagon departs once again in the fifth round.
- Note: The wagon appears only in the arcade version and, in the PS2 UM version, only in the 3D background.
- Japan Temple — Masters Team: The Art of Fighting Team's stage in KOF '95. In the '98 version, the Kyokugenryu Dojo is partially destroyed, and can be seen trees, shrubs, the wrecks of the building and fireflies floating in the background. When any player makes a strong move with his character, parts of the roof begin to fall.
- Changes: until the 2nd round, it's nighttime; in the 3rd round, it's dawn; in the 4th round, it's morning and the fireflies are gone; in the fifth round, it's daytime. In PS2 UM version, the stage is always at night but, from the third round, fireflies start floating around much closer to the fighting lane.
- USA Wharf (A.K.A. Basketball Court) — American Sports Team: The American Sports Team's stage in KOF '94. The only difference between the old stage and the new is the people and the animals: in the '98 version, can be seen some cameos, a street dog and people wearing a suit and tie, and, occasionally Ryuhaku Todoh. The stage is partially empty and the old ring has turned into a junkyard.
- Changes: in the 1st round, sunset; in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, night; from the 4th round, smelly fog. In the PS2 UM version, the fog appears from the third round.
- Unknown (A.K.A. Black Noah): A submarine. The wreck of another can be seen behind the glass, along with sharks, jellyfish and flashlights. There are also a pool filled with blood, portraits of Rugal, and his black panther. The lighting progressively becomes more and more blue with each roundAssociated with Omega Rugal.
- Note 1: In the Dreamcast version, the stage is called Sunken Ship.
- Note 2: In the PS2 UM version, the lighting doesn't change.
</tabber>
See also
- Gallery of The King of Fighters '98 Endings
- The King of Fighters R-2 (portable remake of the game for the Neo Geo Pocket Color)
- The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match, an upgraded version of the game
- The King of Fighters '98/Credits
Gallery
- 104.jpg
Full image of the cover artwork
- Kof98.png
Promotional poster.
- Kof 98 second cover.jpg
Neo Geo CD cover, showing Kyo, Iori, Heavy-D!, Mature, Terry, Shermie, the Ikari Warriors Team, Shingo & Yamazaki. Illustration by Shinkiro
Trailer
- THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 Trailer (English)
External links