The King of Fighters 2003/FAQ

General

What game versions are there?

• Arcade
• Neo・Geo
• PlayStation 2
• Xbox
• PlayStation Network

The PlayStation Network version is the same as the PlayStation 2 version. Both the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PlayStation Network version include arranged soundtrack, 3D backgrounds, access to all boss characters, and an arranged mode, that changes the game balance. Although I am not sure what exactly are the arranged mode differences, it has come to my attention that controls have been improved, since buffers have become much more viable. Leona's famous buffer combo [qcf,u+D,hcb+P], which was not executable through buffer in the arcade release, is then possible. It does not fix some bugs, though. The Xbox release also included a color edit mode, and an online mode thanks to the Xbox Live.

Technical

Any secrets/bugs I should know about?

Route Select

• There are 2 routes in the story mode, which also result in a different ending. The "bad end" route, where you fight Adelheid as the final boss, can be accessed by defeating the Mid-Boss KUSANAGI without a MSA, DM or SDM, while the "Good End" route, where you fight Mukai as the final boss, can be accessed by defeating KUSANAGI with a MSA, DM or SDM.

Play as Kusanagi

• At the character select screen, input this command: qcb,ub,hcf,uf, and without letting go of uf, press A,B,C or D.

It MUST be input as a special command, without letting go, but there is no need to rush, you can input the command very slowly if you want, but it is very important that you don't let it go. You must keep holding the directional at all times, until you press a button to select the character.

Play as Chizuru

• At the character select screen, input this command: u,ub,b,db,qcf,uf,f,df,d,db, and without letting go of db, press A,B,C or D.

It MUST be input as a special command, without letting go, but there is no need to rush, you can input the command very slowly if you want, but it is very important that you don't let it go. You must keep holding the directional at all times, until you press a button to select the character.

Debug Dip Switches

• There are disabled features which can be enabled by using the dip-switches. These are the effects:

NOTE: The first digit corresponds to the row, and the second digit to the number(appearing as 0).

   - |Dip 1-4: Activates collision boxes
   - |Dip 1-5: Freezes clock
   - |Dip 1-6/7: "Change" time recharges fast, plus invincibility for both players
   - |Dip 2-3: Show inputs on screen
   - |Dip 2-7: Zoom in/out effect. Get away from the opponent to see.
   - Boss Code(Unlock every boss): Enable Developer Mode(Glitches online; use the Uni-Bios Enable Boss code instead).

Bugs

| Ash's pseudo Sans-Culotte:

This is a glitch that allows you to have two A Ventoses[b~f+A] on screen. Throw an A Ventose from fullscreen while buffering a second. After it connects with the opponent or passes through, throw a second Ventose, while buffering a third, and then you will be able to throw the third before the second connects to the opponent, having 2 Ventoses on screen. As long as you keep buffering, you can keep throwing Ventoses. The glitch will be cancelled as soon as you let go of b or db.

• Example: https://youtu.be/WY8h8DetSaY

| K's Unblockable Ein Trigger:

This is a glitch that will make K's Ein Trigger[qcf+P] unblockable. Uppon knocking down an opponent, use qcf+A/C as a meaty, and cancel into b+B/D to teleport with Blackout. The game will consider K' not to be attacking, and until Blackout ends, Ein Trigger will turn unblockable. On corner, an unblockable A Ein Trigger will allow K' to combo into his qcfx2+K DM or a MSA.

• Example: https://youtu.be/TzewMHWmQZk

| Tizoc's gravitation:

Tizoc's throw can be followed by a pursuit attack, dfx2+C. If the pursuit attack is input just as Tizoc holds the opponent(before he actually executes the move), the follow up will come out, and the opponent will spin in the air as if the throw were still undergoing. Tizoc recovers first, and if fast enough, can grab the opponent with a free hcb+P or hcbx2+P.

• Example: https://youtu.be/O-aXR422hH4

| Jhun's Levitation:

This is a glitch that allows Jhun to levitate until he jumps or gets hit. Use an air dw+B, and just after the hit, when Jhun is starting to recover, try rolling forward or backwards. As a result, Jhun will roll in the air, and stay there. In this state, Jhun's attacks will not push him back, allowing him to use a infinite corner combo with dw.A. However, in this state, Jhun CANNOT block, making him vulnerable to any attacks. Also, if Jhun tries a second dw+B while levitating and it whiffs, Jhun will not be able to fall, resulting in him being stuck until hit by the opponent.

• Example: https://youtu.be/uXggjleBvrU

| The Super Cancel Levitation:

Similar to Jhun, this is a glitch that allows other characters to levitate. As far as I know, it works for Joe and Iori. It happens when you try to super cancel Joe's dp+D on the first hit, or Iori's after the second hit while the opponent is high in the air, in a way that the camera will follow them, such as after a jump in or a multi-shift combo. The super cancel comes out but out of time, resulting in the levitation.

• Example: https://youtu.be/6VsvV7nKeek

| Leona's "Heart Attack"'

If you hit an opponent's character which is not their last with Leona's Earring Bakudan 2, and manages to defeat this very character backturned before the earring explodes, it will be inherited by their next character.

• Example: https://youtu.be/Y6dUPiuyYxg

What does the tier list look like?

WARNING: Due to the lack of competitive play in over a decade, the only tier list that can be found everywhere is very outdated:http://www.geocities.ws/psychochronic2004/Tiers-Archive/tiers-snk.txt

I have built an updated tier list based on my own experience of years of competitive play on FightCade, which I humbly defend as more acurate than the old tier list. It may slightly change over the years, as new data about the characters and the game is found.

The King of Fighters 2003 Tier List by Ariasvil

Tier	Character(s)
Banned	Mukai, Maki
God	Duolon, Gato, Adelheid
Top	Iori, King, Daimon, Ash, K'
High	Malin, Mary, Yamazaki
Medium	Yuri, Billy, Kyo, Benimaru, Terry, Whip, Jhun, Ryo, Robert, Kim, Shen, Shingo, Clark, KUSANAGI, Joe, Hinako, Athena
Low	Griffon Mask/Tizoc, Maxima, Leona, Chang, Ralf, Chizuru, Mai

TOP 3 TEAMS

1st: Duolon, Gato, Iori[L]

 - No disavantaged match-up.
 - Very Powerful Okizemes.
 - Good teamwork everywhere.
 - Medium cost Multi-Shift Combos.
 - Difficult Leader 100% combo.

2nd: Duolon, Gato, Daimon[L]

 - Only a few disavantaged match-ups.
 - Good Okizemes.
 - Potential teamwork midscreen, good on corner.
 - High cost Multi-Shift Combos.
 - No Leader 100% combo.

3rd: Duolon, Gato, K'[L]

 - Many disavantaged match-ups.
 - Weak Okizemes.
 - Good teamwork only on corner.
 - High cost Multi-Shift Combos.
 - Easy Leader 100% combo.
 - Includes an unblockable glitch

Any useful links I could use?

• Discord Server : https://discord.gg/R7at7TP - Discord Server focused on the game.
• ボクけー : http://you.lolipop.jp/s/kof/2003/ - Contains partial information on the KoF 2003 Flame of Nova Mook released long ago. The page is in japanese.
• The Duelist of the Roses : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCULeloIM5gYxVw_DI59Ep1Q - Has a few 2003 combo videos.
• Shazam Sakazaki : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCapSS3xERr9PSwI2sPaGORg - Posts 2003 match videos pretty often.