I thought this could do with its own thread to separate it from the SF4 talk. A better version of the trailer has shown up on gametrailers. Watch it here - http://www.gametrailers.com/player/30829.html

Looks excellent. The sprites are really well drawn and full of life and the backgrounds are absolutely gorgeous. Apparently they are looking at a console release for 2009 so there's a long wait for us non-arcade gamers.

It is looking really swell; Kyo's fire effects in particular look awesome.  But, was that Athena just now?  What's with her sporting that chibi doll-face?  ^^;

Seeing KOFXII sort of has me yearning for a Capcom VS SNK 3 done up in this style.  Maybe with the revitalization of fighters with this and SFIV, we'll see just that in the future.

I was wondering about Athena too. It's definitely her trademark pose but she looked even younger than usual. The drawings are incredible though. It looks like they cut into close-ups pre-match and the exact same drawings hold up at that size, which is amazing.

Same here...I remember what a huge deal it was back in 99/2000 or so when this was announced.

My only complaint is it looked like the sprites were animating a little slow. Great detail, but maybe fewer frames than I'm used to seeing.

On the side note...Both Neo Geo Battle Coliseum and Fatal Fury Anthology 1 are out, with World Heroes Anthology on the way. Considering the age, I'm really impressed with Fatal Fury Special. Most fun I've had with a fighter (especially in 1p mode) in years.

Yep, you're right about the frames. This is somewhere KoF has always fallen down on and SF3 really set a benchmark for smooth 2D that just hasn't been beaten. SNK came close with Garou MotW so I was hoping they'd give us more frames for this one.

A friend showed this to me a few days ago, since we're both interested in KOF (though I've since fallen out of it due to the newer titles.)  I'm... not surprised that they've decided to take the whole thing in the direction of very stylised/animesque sprites, but I am a little disappointed.  I always enjoyed the sort of gritty, quasi-realisitic visual style of the older KOF games - its one of those qualities that always stood out to me (alongside the festive atmosphere of the backgrounds and presentation - at least that's back!)  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for a new start, but it unfortunetly wasn't what I was dreaming of.  That said it is a mighty impressive feat, as the sprites really do look like print artwork. 

I really hope they don't rely on particle effects for most of the projectiles though, or that if they do it wont be as noticible as in a Capcom game (MvC, vs SNK2.)  To see the painstaking detail in Kyo's flames or any of the other projectiles is one of the most unique and fascinating things about KOF!

Goldfish, I played NGBC recently.  Though my time with it was shortm I really was underwhelmed by it.  I still dislike 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds (supposedly the Arcade version had 2D backgrounds, but whatever one we played did not), unless its really well done, and further the sprites in the game look awfully strange (Robert looks possessed.)  If you liked FFS, you must try Real Bout Garou Densetsu!  I was totally 'wow'ed by those games.

I love Real Bout Special...I hope the next FF Anthology has both that and RB Special 2 (which was one of the first SNK soundtracks I heard). Wanted to like RBFF1, but I HATE having a foreground and a background...Same reason FF3 didn't do much. I do have the Saturn FF Collection...When my RAM cart digests it, it's a lot of fun.

As I understand, the US packs are based exactly on the Japanese packs, and all three RB games are on the GD Battle Archives 2, so its very likely they will be arriving to the US soon!  I enjoyed RBS and RB2 more then RB as well, which feels a bit slower.  Both look very awesome - full of vivid colours and lots of SNK style - and RB2 is just a great deal of fun due to its 'user-friendliness.'  Moves link into each other very easily, so the focus for beginners is more on developing good strategies and fancy combos as opposed to memorising which attack is cancellable at what frames.

Just got Battle Coliseum today...Yeah, I see what you mean. The 2D backgrounds from FF had a lot more character (kind of like my thing with the Marvel series...The ones in 2 are kinda cool, but lack any kind of life). Game plays like a dream though...I absolutely love survival mode. Plenty of familiar faces, but lots I need to learn (used to CvS Nakaruru...). Plus it's just nice having fighting game CPU's that can put up a decent fight. And I like how each character has individual stock usage parameters...I need to work out a good battery/user combo. Kim is just too much fun, no matter what game he makes it into!

Definitely worth $20. Just wish I had a local arcade to play it at now...

My friend told me that there are 2D backgrounds SOMEWHERE in the game as an option (an Arrange mode or something.)  I hope you find them.  I agree with you, 3D backgrounds in 2D game usually tend to lack a certain vitality that old SNK and Capcom backgrounds had (an example of truly DEAD backgrounds: KOF '94 Rebout).  Its funny cos 3D backgrounds IN 3D games tend to be pretty OK! *confused*

Honestly, I didn't spend that much time with it to develop a consensus on the mechanics.  I've heard its an evolution of that weird 'ol SVC Chaos (you need metre to throw... huh?)  Definetly post your detailed impressions, as you play it more!

And yes, I agree with you, the lack of human competition sucks.  On the one hand, SNK Playmore is finally releasing these games here, but on the other hand, it serves to remind how hard it is to find someone to play them in!  Catch-22, for sure.

Detailed...Was always more of a Capcom-system fan so not sure how useful this is, but the funky dash-cancel from SvC is here. I'm not really used to it or anything, but the CPU uses it sometimes. It does use up meter. I imagine you see it a lot in advanced 2P play. There is a standard roll, unlike SvC, plus dashes. Meters charge normally, like in a Capcom game. In survival, they auto-charge. You can super cancel certain special moves, like Marvel vs Capcom 2. In certain situations (Kyo/Iori, Terry/Rock, etc) you can do a team-up attack. No small jumps, which was odd...Always thought they were an SNK staple. Either regular jump or a super jump. Controls are very responsive...no problems with DP's and 360's were easy (remember, I had played early Fatal Fury right prior to this...the ease of controls was VERY noticable. ;p)

Lots of moves for everyone. They didn't skimp (see: CvS 1) Kim is very much like his CvS 2 version (both anti-airs, slide...one difference is he can do his diving kick with just down and k). He's my main, along with Kyo. Terry is kind of strange compared to the "classic" one. Probably based off the MoTW one...Crack Shoot was garbage. Geese is a terror (and this is my first time playing Geese in any SNK game). Sick priority on everything. Akari is a lot of fun, but almost has too many moves and a lot have horrible lag if you miss. The schoolgirl (Kisarah? Think that's her name) seems pretty good...easy, painful combos with her moves and a good high/low game with the backpack move and is just plain fun (her win pose is similar to Shermie's, with the cell). Didn't like Hotaru at all...Her stances were kind of awkward to work with (like Gen, but horrible...probably an advanced character). Nakaruru's super off the bird seems pretty good. Marco seems like a nasty keep-away character with the grenades. Mars People has nasty supers, but regular moves have weird hit properties. Ai (one of the new main characters) has a balloon move that does absolutely nothing and I kill her everytime she pulls it...Maybe a gag character? Too many to play...Let me know if there's any you want me to work with. They're all good to me. ;p

Mizuchi/Orochi is 10x worse than the KOF 97 version. If he doesn't want you to get to him, you won't. Thank god for Kim's rushing super. I've gotten to Goodman once in survival and he completely ass-raped me...not even close (and this was after getting through Mizuchi, Neo-Dio and the lion boss). SNK boss syndrome at work.

Haven't found any kind of 2D option yet, but the only character I need to unlock is Athena. Loading times are bad, but are pretty minimal in suvival mode (which is my main mode). There are individual "text-scrolling" endings. I personally think the music is pretty lame...No remixes, nothing too memorable. KOf 2003 and XI were both much better. I do like the SNK Planet background. One has the Ikari team there.

And uh, after about 3 hours, that's it so far. Just a good, clean fighter with a good survival mode. Think I'll bump up the AI a little bit next time though and see if there's more dash cancels.

Interesting.  Its probably a little faster then SVC, right?  I remember SVC was real slow, which, I guess shows at least SNK wanted to do something creative in terms of the system as opposed to just making a KOF clone with Genjuro and Capcom dudes.  But damn, I really didn't like the game much.  I mean, it had some very nice art, esp. on the Capcom side (Balrog/M.Bison just looks MENACING), and my KOF gal Kasumi... but as a game it just fell flat on its face.

I'm kind of curious how the Bakumatsu Rouman characters are like... Kaede, Moriya, and Akari.  But of course I'm curious in the sense that I want to know how they compare to thier original game, which may not be applicable to you if you haven't played it.

And to deviate even further of topic yet!, I just picked up a USB to PS2 converter for the PC.  So, if you have similar capabilities and want to play some Real Bout head-to-head, let me know!

Anyway, despite my negativity concerning the game (and believe me, its not just NGBC, but newer 2D fighters in general!  I don't discriminate ), I'm glad you're enjoying it.  I'm guessing you'll also be among the first to pick up KOF XI when it hits stateside (has it yet, actually?  Amazing how out of these things you are when you start importing)

Not sure if you heard, but:

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-40- … -2mbk.html

Edit:  I hope they decide to move the logo a bit or something, its totally covering up poor Mary there!

Just a heads-up, KOFXII hits stateside for PS3 and 360 this week.

Anyone picking it up soon?  If not, I figure I can wait out on it for a bit.  Leaning toward the PS3 version.

I'm getting it for PS3.

Welcome back KoF. How I've missed you so.

Famitsu didn't love it, which is surprising considering how they tend to overrate games these days:  http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3175250

i'll get it for PS3 as soon as possible.

Yeah, in comparison to the frills-heavy BlazBlue (which Famitsu favored considerably, if I'm not mistaken), it seems XII is pretty sparse on the content front.  All the same, so long as the core fighting is as tight as I'm hoping it'll be, and the online portion works well enough, I'm totally on board.

Kudos to their 10/10/9/9 scoring of Gears of War 2, though.  Damned if the game doesn't deserve it.