KOF XIII Looks To Make Up For XII's Complete Failure

[bork]

It already sounds 100% better.  The removed the zooming, so now the sprites stay smaller but look better that way.

- KOFXIII will be the climax of the Ash saga.
- The intro show's him, Rose & I could've swear ppl that wore clothes like Zero from KOF2000.
- I think there will be a total of 9 new characters, 3 which are revealed as the Women's Team (Mai, Yuri & King).
- As u can see, Mai is in her Real Bout oufit I think.
- Her fighting stance is like a very exaggerated pose from her official art from KOF2000.
- She has a new VA (Koshimizu Ami). The presenters commented that her voice sounds very sexy when she does her "Kachou-sen!" fan throw 
- Yuri's sprite looks very cute.
- The character order selection screen's music is the same as KOFXI (probably just a placeholder).
- 4 new stages shown (1 is the jungle stage mysteriously removed from KOFXII). They also said that there will be more new stages.
- The sousai & critical combo system seems to have been removed.
- There is also no longer the zooming in & out camera effect (the camera seemed to be zoomed out now).
- The speed seems to have been increased.
- In short, the game feels more like classic KOF than the slower paced KOFXII.

(Image removed from quote.)

-Game is slated for arcades this summer
-Female fighters team: Mai, Yuri, King is in the game
-Also slots for 6 other characters
-Character select seems to have multiple palette selections like Blazblue

-Characters can do new "EX" specials and supers by using up their power meter. EX versions of the moves can have various effects ranging from multiple hits, invincibility, hit detection after move hits, and in cases of some projectiles- faster speed, penetration.
-New "drive cancel" system allows for players to cancel a special or super into another one. Requires the use of the "drive meter". EX moves can be used.
-New "Hyper Drive" mode. When the drive meter is at MAX, you can go into Hyper Drive mode, which lets you cancel all normal moves, direction moves (like f+P), and also lets you do infinite drive cancels for a limited time.

-4 New stages: Bus Terminal (United Kingdom), Sumo ring in fall season, Jungle in the sunshine, Maharaja.

-Additional Stuff (some unconfirmed):
Terry has his Buster Wolf
Kyo can do an aerial Orochinagi


Also, the game will be included in the next Tougeki battle tournament.

[MCD]

- KOFXIII will be the climax of the Ash saga.

Complete Failure

[iconoclast]

Looks really good so far. I was really hyped for XII and was looking to finally dive into KoF with that, but I wound up passing on it because of how incomplete it was.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

not to mention the achievements sucked.

[close]

Hopefully SNK has learned a whoooole lot about netcode since then.

[Beezy]

-Female fighters team: Mai, Yuri, King is in the game

Sales just quadrupled.

[BlackMage]

Billy Kane better be in it.

[Don Flamenco]

mmmmmmmmm.......not interested. 

[bork]

Looks really good so far. I was really hyped for XII and was looking to finally dive into KoF with that, but I wound up passing on it because of how incomplete it was.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

not to mention the achievements sucked.

[close]

Hopefully SNK has learned a whoooole lot about netcode since then.

Before this is released, (shitty-ass avoid like the plague) Samurai Shodown Sen (next week), the visually enhanced NeoGeo Battle Coliseum XBLA, and (why not enhance this too, distinguished mentally-challenged fellows?) KOF 2002 XBLA should all come out.  So we'll definitely see if they have been working on their awful netcode or if it's still pure dreck.

[iconoclast]

See, with NeoGeo and KoF2002UM, those are just going to be $10 arcade games, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if they skimp on the online. Hell, I bet KoF2002UM won't even be translated, just like 98UM. You can tell no effort went into the new Samurai Shodown to begin with, so... I'll wait until XIII is out to reserve judgment, since that's their flagship game.

And where the hell is Metal Slug 7 XBLA god damn

[originalz]

It's released in the summer yet also in Tougeki?  How is that possible?  Tougeki is in August and usually the regional qualifiers start in May, there's not enough time to learn the game well enough, shit's gonna be rushed like crazy!

[Bebpo]

I will buy it if and only if the console version is not barebones like KoFXII.

I liked the core fighting in KoFXII but between the lack of characters and lack of modes it got boring real fast.

[Akala]

I was super hype about XII until quite late when it became obvious they just wanted to get something out. this will be the first HD (ish lol) KOF in my book, and will buy. probably.

[Raban]

is it just me or is there a reason the animations in every KoF game look so janky and off?

[bork]

High(er) res art and screenshots can be found here:
http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100326_357146.html

Hey guys.
The locktest will continue until sunday. About the fact that kof could die, they did not announce it this way but the man that was there for me knows well japanese industry and producers, he also worked for several mags. He explained to me that kof XII was this way cause it cost a lot of money to do and that they needed easy and fast money, they needed to sell something. So kof XII get out this way on consoles very early. They putted kof 2002 um in arcades so the game sold correctly in asia (china, corea, thailand) and even did things like... Kof Sky Stage.

Now let's see what options they already explored :

- Kof 98 and 2002 remakes (the favorites) : done and is ok
- Kof in 3D : done and fail
- Kof in other genres : partially done and fail/gave something correct (kof sky stage and kof online)
- Putting games on xboxlive (correct conversation but bad online)

You see ? They used all they can use to make games and sell them and it's correct/failure most of the time. Now what can they do ? Kof XI UM ? Maybe yeah but seriously ? They only can do Kof XIII the way they wanted it from the beginning and that's all. And why do they have to succed with kof XIII ?

- It cost A LOT of money to do
- It cost A LOT of time (5 years !!)
- They cannot do a remix/revamp of another kof because it's already done or the people behind the old kof (shinkiro, coders, sprites designers) are gone for years to other companies
- They can't afford another one if this one does not sell a bit, it will mean they is no public for kof

And what are the goals ?

- They want to find new players that begun with SFIV (ex moves in a kof ? never seen before !)
- They have to make players slide from old kofs to this one (kof 2002 system, guard cancel, old camera)
- They need to convince arcade owners to buy this kof so SNKP can make money (no console ports announced)
- The need to sell a lot of kof after the arcade version on the consoles with a good online


The thing that we have to understand is that SNKP is in a critical situation because of their fans : they always want new things, but if it's not the exact same as the previous game, it's no good, if there is not THE character they love, it's no good, if there is only 9 stages it's no good. You can't satisfy old kof fans even when you try to be kind with a gameplay they know, they will say the design is not their taste. Even with 35 characters, there will be one they wanted. Kof fans aren't watching the actual game but wishing for their personnal game to come.
SNKP have to make a kof that will convince everyone like capcom did with SFIV (or almost did) to switch or begin but they do not have the same people to do the game (the director of dimps, who is the company that did SFIV, is the man behind SFI ! But all the people behind all kofs are gone so you can't copycat them) and it's taking a risk, they are in the same situation Arcsys was when losing guilty gear rights : asking players to switch, or it's the end.


All these reasons, are hintches that gave us this conclusion : SNKP is putting their balls on the table, but at the opposite side, they are doing a lot to gain success :

- The graphics will convince most of the people now that the zoom is over (for hardcore gamers) and the pixelisation gone (for newbies and game reviewers)
- The system is well knowned of the players and can be learned easily by begginers because it has less options than kof XII.
- They are doing a bit the same thing that capcom did with SF3 : give us chun-li ! Here they are giving Mai and other characters the fan really wanted and it counts a lot
- The game will be first in arcades for months, so arcades can buy it and be sure they will make money with it -> the game will have a life
- The game will have a tournament on the tougeki
- The home port will have more time to be done, same for netcode
- They are putting an end for the Ash arc (seven years after the first game !) and giving what fans want and if it works, they will be able to run a totally new arc
- Come back of bosses, storyline

Different color schemes change the outfits slightly.  PANTSU YURI.

[demi]

So basically, SNK is fucked. Enjoy your last KOF

[bork]

Could be!

[Robo]

I was all hyped up for KoFXII and then...



Yeah, fuck that noise. I'll wait until there's confirmation that the console port is up to par.

Word.  Fool me once, yadda yadda yadda.

[iconoclast]

Wtf is up with that moe moe Yuri? Looks awful.


Superior

I'll be buying this though. I feel kinda bad about skimping on KoFXII since it's the only fighter from this gen I don't own. Gotta support (kinda) HD 2D.

[bork]

Yeah, weird art style going on with some of those characters.

[Akala]

I feel kinda bad about skimping on KoFXII since it's the only fighter from this gen I don't own. Gotta support (kinda) HD 2D.

same!

[originalz]

KOF is in an odd position indeed, I almost feel like naming the game KOF12 did more damage than expected, side games never had big expectations but the mainline titles were usually pretty good.  Should have been Neowave 2 instead, then focus all efforts in making KOF12 like we see now.

[bork]

KOF is in an odd position indeed, I almost feel like naming the game KOF12 did more damage than expected, side games never had big expectations but the mainline titles were usually pretty good.  Should have been Neowave 2 instead, then focus all efforts in making KOF12 like we see now.

Yeah, that actually might have helped.  I mean, it all still would sucked, but expectations wouldn't have been as high among the hardcore.  I REALLY hope XIII is good (looks great right now) and has good online play.  The latter is absolutely crucial to its success on the home platforms.

[muckson]

i just wasn't feeling kof 12 and now before i know it 13 is on its way.  hopefully it will come out in the next year because i am sick of seeing previews and waiting forever for the game after all the delays.  i waited years for the samurai showdown anthology and then when i heard about it, i had to wait 9 months in pushbacks.  gay. 

i am impressed with the movement and graphics, but now they are recycling sprites again.  it's the same game.  i'll play 12 at some point and see if it's worth a damn.  it's pretty cheap nowadays so i don't see why not.

[bork]

i just wasn't feeling kof 12 and now before i know it 13 is on its way.  hopefully it will come out in the next year because i am sick of seeing previews and waiting forever for the game after all the delays.  i waited years for the samurai showdown anthology and then when i heard about it, i had to wait 9 months in pushbacks.  gay. 

i am impressed with the movement and graphics, but now they are recycling sprites again.  it's the same game.  i'll play 12 at some point and see if it's worth a damn.  it's pretty cheap nowadays so i don't see why not.

NO DON'T.  Just wait for the real XII.  Don't play that beta.

[naff]

I never played KoF XII and I'm not a massive fighter fan primarily cause I'm shit, but I'm trying to get better at SF and I love playin Garou MoW every now and again.

KoF XIII looks hot anyway, with a fuller character roster this time it's looking to shape up a bit better, plus it's the only new nex gen fighter (besides KoF XII) to keep with traditional sprites rather than 3d. I personally prefer fighters this way...

Full list of characters and their animations here http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/official/kof-xiii/character/index.html

at Goro and Mai

[Bebpo]

They put so much effort into Mai's breasts

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I can't say it wasn't worth it 

[close]

Yuri looks weird though

[naff]

I think all the animation is pretty solid, Terry Bogard looks more badass and muscly, but I only have Garou MoW as reference. Mai's boobies obviously had some time put into them also she's part of 'Team Women Fighters' . I like how each team has their own theme tune too

[bork]

Threads merged.

You're lucky you never played XII, QuietID.   

KOF's not the only next-gen series with sprite art, BTW-- you forgot about BlazBlue.  XIII is looking great but I am still disappointed that there are NO NEW CHARACTERS.  K', Maxima, and Kula seem to be the final ones that have been revealed.

[Sho Nuff]

Wait, are those sprites proper 1:1 HD or are they scaling them up?

[bork]

Wait, are those sprites proper 1:1 HD or are they scaling them up?

They're 480P being upscaled.  XIII doesn't zoom in as close so it looks a lot better than XII did.

[naff]

KOF's not the only next-gen series with sprite art, BTW-- you forgot about BlazBlue. 

Yeah I know BlazBlue, the game looks great. Didn't think of it for some reason. I thought SF2THDR was pretty great this gen as well, but it's not exactly a new game so I didn't count that either. However after thinking about it more SFIITHD is pretty amazing and offers a lot. I actually enjoy playing it more than SFIV, but then again I've only played SFIV a few times through since I bought it just over a month ago on the cheap for the figurines (that turned out to be kinda shit, especially Viper) that came with the CE. I really hate Seth, I think he's the cheapest POS boss I've ever fought. I can fight my way to him with relative ease and kick his ass in the first round but once you've beat him he just whoops my ass for the next 2 rounds. Can't beat him yet on anything but easy, surely I just need to know better how to fight his moveset better. Then again I'm a relative noob to fighters...

Also, I wish Khoushnou Butt was in KoFXIII. That guy rules.

[bork]

They don't need Butt when Takuma/Ryo/Robert/Yuri are in the game.