The King of Fighters XII - PS3

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The King of Fighters XII (PS3)
Also for: Xbox 360
Viewed: 2D Side-on, Scrolling Genre:
Beat 'Em Up
Media: DVD Arcade origin:No
Developer: SNK Playmore Soft. Co.: SNK Playmore
Publishers: Ignition Entertainment (GB)
Released: 25 Sept 2009 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 12+
Features: DualShock 3 Vibration Function
Accessories: Fighting Stick

Summary

SNK's long running 2D beat 'em up is back for it's 12th round of high intensity fight action in time to celebrate the series' 15th anniversary. King of Fighters XII is something of a reboot for the series as it takes the set up to the PS3 and 360, and many characters and features of previous games are dropped in favour of a new graphical look. The game retains the traditional 3-on-3 team based system and each fight lasts up to five rounds. Players can still dash, backstep, and perform rolls as in the previous games, but the Guard Break moves from previous games can now be done at any time.

KoF XII introduces the "Critical Counter" system. When a player lands a strong counter punch they enter Critical Counter mode which gives them a short period of time during which they can link multiple attacks together. At the end of the Critical Counter period the player can finish with a special move.

Guard Attack is a new feature which enables a player to repel an incoming opponent's attack and remain damage free.

King of Fighters XII also introduces the "Deadlock" system. When characters land blows on an opponent simultaneously, the game will push the characters away from one another into neutral position, so the Deadlock is broken.

All of the character graphics in KoF XII are redrawn and their move animations have been improved to make them smoother and more fluid. As a result of the time this took, KoF XII doesn't bother with a storyline, instead concentrating purely on the action like an old-school beat 'em up title! This also enables SNK to bring back several characters regardless of their status in the series. There are also no pre-defined teams, leaving the player to create any team they wish to use.

The console versions of KoF features 22 playable characters, all of whom have appeared in previous KoF games, with the exception of Raiden, who joins from the Fatal Fury series. A number of characters are hidden, and must be unlocked to play. There is a choice of control methods to address advanced players and newcomers to the series.

Artwork

The King of Fighters XII - PS3 Artwork

The King of Fighters XII - PS3 Artwork