King of Fighters XIII improves upon the KOF XII engine, using the Taito Type X2 arcade board like it’s predecessor. There are nine returning KOF veterans in this installment, including: K’, Kula, King, Mai, Yuri, Takuma, Vice, Maxima, and Hwa Jai. In addition, there will be at least 3 console exclusive characters, including: Billy Kane, Classic Iori Yagami, and Human Saiki! All together, KOF XIII boasts over 30 hand-drawn characters and the fighters will be grouped into teams this time.

The console version will pack at least 10 game modes, including: Story, Tutorial, Mission (complete with Survival, Time Attack & Trials), Online, Customize, Replay, and Gallery! The console version also hosts a greater selection of character colors (20 per character), including some ultra cool sprite edits & “head swaps” for certain fighters. At least 8 new hand-drawn stages will appear on console, and returning stages have been given visual updates as well. Color Edit/Customize Mode has also been confirmed for console! If the 20 color variations per character aren’t enough for you, you can create your own badass color scheme for your favorite fighters!

With the triumphant return of fan favorite characters like Mai, K’, and Vice, extensive refinement of the core fighting engine based on community feedback, and vastly improved network functionality, The King of Fighters XIII represents the HD entry in the series that fans have been waiting for.

Painstaking effort has been made to address every last concern following the last entry: fights play faster; the addition of over a half dozen play modes offers variety and replayability; the game’s beautifully rendered and animated character sprites are better distinguished from the backgrounds–which happen to be richer and more detailed; the camera perspective is less restricted; fighters have more moves, including new supers and the all-new Neomax supers; and much, much more.

After recent incidents, involving such characters as Ash Crimson, Iori Yagami, and Kyo Kusanagi, it was feared that the next King of Fighters tournament would never happen. However, thanks to worldwide-sent invitations to fighters and an unheard-of amount of promotion by a mysterious party (led by a figure known as “R”), the new mixed-martial arts tournament is now on the world stage with mass-media coverage like never before.

With a roster featuring over 30 hand-drawn fighters, a number of detailed stages bursting with life, over a half dozen play modes, a refined fighting engine built for speed and complete with new moves and supers, a vastly improved Online mode, and a host of other additions, tweaks, and enhancements, THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII represents a rebirth for one of gaming’s longest tenured franchises and one of the most popular fighting brands ever.

Game Features

The biggest, best high-definition KOF game yet—With tons of play modes, a refined, faster-paced fighting engine, over 30 beautifully rendered and animated characters (including triumphant returns of fan favorites like Mai Shiranui, K’, and Vice) with a host of new moves—including the all-new NEOMAX supers, and much more, XIII represents the HD entry in the series that fans have been waiting for!
Smooth, stable net functionality with global online play—Challengers can take on opponents anywhere in the world and using KOFXIII’s vastly improved network functionality, bringing to fans an incredibly smooth and stable Online mode.
Console-exclusive content—Featuring characters, stages, and modes not available in the arcades, the home console version of KOFXIII gives fans no shortage of incentives to play and try to unlock new content.

Developer: SNK
Publishers: SNK, Atlus ()
Artwork by: Nona
Platforms: Arcade, Playstation 3, Playstation Vita (rumor), Xbox 360
Release Date: November 22nd 2011 (/PS3/XBOX360)
Characters: Kyo, Iori, Ash, K’, Terry, Andy, Joe, Ryo, Kim, Benimaru, Robert, Ralf, Clark, Athena, Duo Lon, Shen Woo, Leona, Raiden, Kensou, Chin, Goro, Elizabeth, Takuma, Mature, Vice, Mai, King, Yuri, Maxima, Kula, Hwa Jai, Saiki, Dark Ash, Billy Kane (XBOX console exclusive)

The King of Fighters XIII game screenshot

The King of Fighters XIII video

The King of Fighters XIII: Console Combo Showcase