The King of Fighters Neowave

Introduction

Released in 2004, "The King of Fighters Neowave" represented a major shift for SNK's direction as far as game development goes. For well over a decade, SNK had been developing on their own, time-tested NeoGeo MVS/AES hardware; far and away the longest any company has stood by and developed for a specific game system. Even their previous King of Fighters ("The King of Fighters 2003") had been developed for the NeoGeo system. The King of Fighters Neowave was the game that would break the cycle of NeoGeo-developed software. SNK-Playmore developed this KoF title for the "Atomiswave" (AW.net) platform, a new arcade system that allowed for higher resolution graphics and improved processing (though, SNK did insist on porting their classic NeoGeo-era sprites into the new game, despite the possibility of cleaned-up graphics). Neowave is the inagural title for SNK's line of new, AW.net-developed games (which also includes NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, The King of Fighters XI, and Samurai Shodown Tenka). Neowave brings together a "dream match" roster (meaning that the characters in the game are not restricted to being canon with an ongoing storyline and can come from any period in the King of Fighters lineage), which is heavily based on KoF 2002's roster (as are a majority of the gameplay mechanics). SNK did introduce some new features to the game over KoF 2002. A "heat" mode allows the player to increase the attack power of their character at the expense of a decreasing health bar. The game also features a "groove" system similar to that of Capcom VS SNK 2 (allowing the player to choose between three different super bar styles and other gameplay sub-systems).

Game Versions

• Arcade (Atomiswave)
• Playstation 2
• Xbox

The Characters

Japan Team
Kyo Kusanagi
Benimaru Nikaido
Goro Daimon

Garou Densetsu Team
Terry Bogard
Andy Bogard
Joe Higashi

Art Of Fighting Team
Ryo Sakazaki
Robert Garcia
Takuma Sakazaki

Korea Team
Jhun Hoon
Choi Bounge
Chang Koehan

Women Fighters Team
Mai Shiranui
Yuri Sakazaki
King

KOF '96 Team
Iori Yagami
Mature
Vice

KOF '97 Team
Ryuji Yamazaki
Blue Mary
Billy Kane

KOF '98 Team
Yashiro Nanakase
Shermie
Chris

Orochi New Faces Team
Yashiro
Shermie
Chris

KOF '99 Team
K'
Maxima
Whip

Psycho Soldier Team
Athena Asamiya
Sie Kensou
Chin Gentsai

Ikari Warriors Team
Leona Heidern
Ralf Jones
Clark Steel

??? Team
Saisyu Kusanagi
Kula Diamond
Shingo Yabuki

Edit Characters
Ramon
Vanessa
Kim Kaphwan

Console Only Characters
Seth
Angel
May Lee
Kusanagi
Rugal

Boss
Young Geese Howard

Links

King Of Fighters Neowave Official Site (Japanese)