The King of Fighters XIV is a 2016 Japanese street fighting game. Part of SNK‘s franchise The King of Fighters (KOF) series, with this installment being published by Atlus USA in North America and Deep Silver in Europe. After the 13th installment that used 2D raster imagery, this game is rendered entirely in 3D similar to the spin-off Maximum Impact. SNK released the game on the PlayStation 4 in worldwidely in August 2016 and ported it to the Microsoft Windows and Japanese arcade cabinets in June 2017.
The development of The King of Fighters XIV began in April 2014, after SNK’s CEO Eikichi Kawasaki who reoriented the company toward traditional video games after several years of focus on Pachinko-style slot machines and mobile apps. Yasuyuki Oda, who previously worked on Capcom‘s Street Fighter IV and other titles by SNK, directed the game. It retains the series’ system of teams composed of three fighters while introducing “Rush Combo”, an automatic combo system designed to make the series more accessible for new players. The game received post-release downloadable content support through new characters, alternative outfits and patches to improve the game’s visuals. Kyōtarō Azuma. wrote a spin-off manga series, The King of Fighters: A New Beginning, published from 2018 to 2020.
The King of Fighters XIV received generally favorable reviews. Critics praised the game’s fighting system as enjoyable for both new players and fighting game experts, but criticized its graphics as inferior to other fighting games released for the eighth generation of video game consoles. SNK confirmed a sequel, The King of Fighters XV, at EVO 2019.
Gameplay
A fight between Terry Bogard (left) and Geese Howard (right)
The King of Fighters XIV features full 3D models like its spin-off The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact against a 2D background.[1] The player can use can select a three-character team. In the game’s story, the characters often interact depending on their relationships. After eight rounds, the player fights two bosses.[2][3]
The game introduced a system known as the Max Mode. While in Max Mode, the player can perform an unlimited amount of named EX, special moves superior than the regular moves for a short time, with the timer changing in response to the character’s position.[4] The characters use three types of Supers: Super Special Moves, Max Super Special Moves, and a new type called Climax Super Special Moves. Max Super Special Moves require two power bars (located in the screen’s bottom), in to execute—one if Max Mode is activated. Climax Super Special Moves are the strongest in the game, requiring three power gauges, or two while Max Mode is active. The game also features the Just Defend mechanic which allows the players to parry enemies’ moves.[5]
For beginners, there is an automatic feature called Rush Combo. When performing a Rush, the player can create combos of special attacks as well as Desperation Moves if the energy bar is filled. Techniques created by the Rush system produce less damage than ones performed manually.[6] The online lobby has modes called team VS, single VS, and party VS; up to 12 players can enter and spectate.[7]
Plot
The King of Fighters XIV takes place a few years after the events of The King of Fighters XIII. A Russian billionaire named Antonov buys the rights to the King of Fighters competitions to host a new tournament in which veterans and newcomers compete. Following the competition, the chosen faces Antonov. In the aftermath, the winning team must confront a strange, threatening entity named Verse. This anomaly attracts characters from other dimensions and universes. Following Verse’s defeat, some characters take missions to confront people revived through this mysterious enemy.
