The King of Fighters XII

Infobox VG
title = The King of Fighters XII


developer = SNK Playmore
publisher = SNK Playmore
designer =
release =
genre = Fighting
modes = Single-player, Multiplayer (2 players)
cabinet = Upright
arcade system = Taito Type X2
display =
input = 8-way Joystick, 4 Buttons
platforms = Arcade, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
released = vgrelease|Japan|JP|April 2009cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6197909.html| title=King of Fighters XII knuckles up next year|publisher=GameSpot| accessdate=2008-09-19 | date=2008-09-18|author=Niizumi, Hirohiko]

"The King of Fighters XII" ("KOF XII") is to be the next installment of "The King of Fighters" series. SNK Playmore has announced that it is abandoning the Atomiswave system and is moving its most popular game franchises to the Taito Type X2 arcade system. In addition to "KOF XII", "KOF Maximum Impact: Regulation A" and a new "Samurai Shodown" game in 3D will be released on the new arcade system. "KOF XII" is expected to conclude the current saga in "The King of Fighters" storyline. The game is currently due to be released in the second quarter of 2009.

Game mechanics

"KOF XII" uses the usual 3-on-3 team system with each fight consisting on 5 rounds. However, the Tactical Shift System from "King of Fighters 2003" has been removed. DMs (Desparation Moves) will still require super gauge stock to perform; however, SDMs (Super Desparation Moves) and LDMs (Leader Desparation Moves) have been removed.

Development

It has been revealed that the game will undergo a complete graphical overhaul, confirmed by Nona, artist in charge of the art in the "The King of Fighters XI" endings. All the sprites used in previous games for over 10 years will be dropped and will be replaced with new high definition sprites. The programmers have stated their intention is to create the "ultimate 2D fighting game". Nona reaffirmed this once again in this year's The King Of Fighters Year End Party 2006 in Tokyo.cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3166474|title=The King of Fighters XII Preview|publisher=1UP.com|accessdate=2008-08-16]

It was later revealed at AOU 2008 that "KOF XII" will use newly-drawn 2D sprites on detailed 2D backgrounds. Producer Masaaki Kukino informed Kotaku that the game is one hundred percent hand drawn, there being zero cel shading in the game. [ [http://kotaku.com/362913/holy-crap-king-of-fighters-xii-is-100-percent-hand-drawn Exclusive: Holy Crap, King of Fighters XII Is 100 Percent Hand Drawn ] ]

On February 14, 2008; the first gameplay footage was revealed to the world showcasing the new, much larger, higher-resolution pixel art sprites at the Arcade Operators Union Amusement Expo (AOU) 2008. The footage also revealed the presences of Benimaru Nikaido, Terry Bogard, Athena Asamiya and Kim Kaphwan in "KOF XII".cite web | author= | url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1214186_1124.html | title=『ザ･キング･オブ･ファイターズXII』がついにベールを脱ぐ！| work= Famitsu | accessdate=2008-05-21| language=Japanese] The game is scheduled to make an appearance at the Tokyo Game Show which is running at the Makuhari Messe from October 9th to October 12th 2008. The SNK staff decided to create the new graphics during 2005 and 2006, and commented that they spent more than three times developing it than the previous game. Due to the time demands of drawing such detailed frames of animation, as well as the decision not to incorporate older assets as previous games in the series have, there will be only 20 playable characters, the lowest number ever in a game from this series.

Confirmed characters

The game will feature 20 characters, which is half the amount of characters in King of Fighters XI. 11 of them were playable in the AM show Japanese convention.cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6197909.html| title=King of Fighters XII knuckles up next year|publisher=GameSpot| accessdate=2008-09-19 | date=2008-09-18|author=Niizumi, Hirohiko] Recently, in Tokyo Game Show 2008, 3 more characters were revealed; Andy Bogard, Iori Yamagi and Raiden (a.k.a. Big Bear).
*Andy Bogard
*Ash Crimson
*Athena Asamiya
*Benimaru Nikaido
*Elisabeth Blanctorchecite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/arcade/action/thekingoffightersxii/news.html?sid=6197978&mode=news&tag=text-related-content;3| title=King of Fighters XII Hands-On Impressions|publisher=GameSpot| accessdate=2008-09-19 | date=2008-09-19|author=Niizumi, Hirohiko]
*Iori Yagamicite web | author= | url=http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/official/kof-xii/tgs2008/index.html| title=『ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズXII』稼動時期が決定！| publisher= Official The King of Fighters XII Homepage| accessdate=2008-09-17 | language=Japanese]
*Kim Kaphwan
*Kyo Kusanagi
*Leona Heidern
*Raiden
*Ralf Jones
*Robert Garcia
*Ryo Sakazaki
*Shen Woocite web | author= | url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1218123_1124.html?ref=rss| title=『ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズXII』稼動時期が決定！| publisher=Famitsu| accessdate=2008-09-17 | language=Japanese]
*Terry Bogard

References

=External links=
* [http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/official/kof-xii/ The official Japanese website]

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