The current generation is deeply indulged in Sandbox and TPS, FPS games. But right after the release of "Street Fighters 4", "Tekken 5/6", "Maximum Impact 2" & "The King of Fighters XI/XXI", the gamers started taking interest in versus mode games. But its not only the stuff a pure gamer has to be attached to, come to the real origins fellas...
"The King of Fighters 2003 begins... As usual, matches are 3-on-3, but this time, you can look forward to see some new rules. We welcome all oncomers!"
"The King of Fighters 2003"(by SNK Playmore/ SNK NeoGeo) released on December 12, 2003 charged a great impact on KOF players as there were many additional characters and some missing ones i.e. K'47(K'9999), Angel, Kula Diamond and many other characters from KOF 2002.
Unlike "The King of Fighters 2002", the outfits, playing modes, bugs and moves are much changed and modified. The new entries are also worth battling...
The major twist in the game is the simultaneous team mode of fighting, which was very fast as compared to older and newer versions of KOF Series. The 3-on-3 matches are nomore parted rather two or all characters of a team could be beated at the same time, plus the switch-off attacks/tag out attacks are efficient for performing double powered combo, but requres one super bar.
Looking on to HDSMs(Hidden Super Desperation Moves), KOf 2002 was better for one character but these were limited to minimum life guages. KOF 2003 has some distinction as it offers "Tactical Leader System" in a team. The leader, however, can perform an HDSM move at any interval, either life guage is full or minimum. That's an advantage to win the match basically.
Typically, the DSMs and HDSMs have variations in this game as well, except for some generational heroic moves, like of "Ryo", "Ralf" & "Whip"(Muchiko) etc..
Here comes a new challenger!!
The newest characters introduced in this game are Ash Crimson, Duo Lon, Shen Woo,Tizoc, Gato, Hinako and Malin.
A New Heroic Entry:
Most likely in The King of Fighters 2003, a new character entering the 3rd part of Millennium, wields green flames and has a flamboyant, yet evil and mysterious personality. His motives for entering is to take the powers of the descendants of the clans who sealed Orochi away 1,800 years ago, Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami and Chizuru Kagura, for unknown purposes, has some coolest moves and dodges in the game. The name's Ash Crimson, born on February 14, likes nail arts and Sachertorte (sweets), team mates are "Duo Lon"(Replacement of "Lin") and "Shen Woo".
"Ash" is a character one is bound to either love or hate. Gamers can either hate his guts, or appreciate him for being such an interesting model. I fall under the latter category. I find his design to be rather unique and good, but I know that several others are going to find him a stupid design, and accuse him of being gay because of the way he dresses and the color he picks. Even though he does not exhibit signs of being gay so if you like his character, good; otherwise,"Oh well".
Exceptions:
Tizoc and Gato from "Garou - The Mark of The Wolves", are highly developed, fast and accurate. Plus "Terry" also has a costume picked from the same game(relative to Rock Howard). Hinako and Malin are members of "Psycho Team", leaded by Athena Asimiya, but they do play as well as a leader. "K'" has got some agility,immunity and a better stance. Exceptions even good or bad, are charged enough to beat every opponent. Most rated serial characters in that game are:
* Shen Woo is mostly selected for his sudden attacks and S.Cancel Techniques.
* Joe Higashi is much more effective if played as a leader.
* Terry Bogard as always, from Fatal Fury, passing thru Real Bout, entering The KOF was good and a known wolf.
* Tizoc, a gigantic wrestler is bound to close ranged attacks and grabs as his attacks overcome even high blocks.
* Ryo Sakazaki has gotten even stronger in his Kyokugen Martial Arts and now kick butts...
* Kim Hoon got a new stance and domination over his martial art with even more faster attacks and combos.
* Ralf has the same efficiency but now his DSM is an HDSM... Unblockable!!
* Gato is the silent evil with most dominant Kung Fu styles. I'll consider him the most fast male new comer.
* Yamazaki has got some distiction as he can perform a move over another, but is hard to control.
* Shingo Yabuki as always is a Cha-Cha dancer, but extremely lethal if someone get his potentials as a leader.
* King, still being a lover of "Ryo", can do far better than him at times. The secret lies in useage of her strikes.
* Atheni Asamiya is still the most rated character in whole game and this time, she also has got some similarity to "Athena" from "SNK vs. CAPCOM Chaos".
* Malin's main objective is to kill Athena though. She can be referred if someone's looking for a quick player.
* The Back Benchers like Maxima and Whip aren't too much selected as their mate, K Dash is already there to win the day.
* "Kyo" and "Iori" as always are hard tuned and blasting in the game.
Villains:
The game ending opponents are:
* Chizuru Kagura & Maki
* Kusanagi
* Mukai
* Adelheid
The appreciable fact in the game is that there's no straight ending to the game e.g. The villain is not only one. There could also come an alternate last stage, replacing Adel Heid to Mukai and vice versa.
"Kusanagi"(not Kyo Kusanagi) is a clone of Kyo summoned by Chizuru which comes in to battle in intermission of the Arcade mode. Maki is also a clone but emerged from dark art mirrors. The second last enemies are Chizuru and Maki which always come together either in Team or Single Mode of fighting.
Mukai's origin in "Orochi". He is also one of the "Ten Sacred Treasures of Orochi". The black rock gaint is very powerful and stunning opponent which could rarely be defeated by the beginners(need not to be disheartened).
Adelheid is son of Rugal Bernstein and his role in the game is to destroy the winners of KOF 2002 with her sister "Rose"(Rose isn't a member in the game rather she can be called a back up for Adel Heid).
With every end of KOF series, a new teams story begins, case similar in this one too. Not too sure to say, but "King of Fighters - Another Day" sounds the next link to KOF 2003.
In Console mode, the villains can also be selected to play. Moreover, the power guage and difficulty level could also be increased or decreased according to playing styles... Can be done in every game easily, just need some handling and good emulation(Win Kawaks and Neo Geo are preferred in PCs).
As being part of the original 2D King of Fighter Series, the graphics, background, sound effects and playing modes are still bit more than average in NeoGeo engines, but there's a superb vision in PS2 or X Box. Besides, two dimensional graphics couldn't be made the real image. This "obligation" however is fulfilled in "Maximum Impact 1/2".
Far too much versions of The King of Fighters have been released, but to be honest, KOF 2003 is the last part released for Neo Geo, so had to intoduce you guys to the finest Neo Geo Version. But: "The Game Continues...!!"
Official Status:
Developer(s): SNK NeoGeo
Publisher(s): SNK Playmore
Platform(s): Neo Geo, Playstation 2, Xbox
Release: December 12th, 2003 (Arcade)
Characters: Kyo, Benimaru, Daimon, Terry, Tizoc, Gato, Joe, Leona, Ralf, Clark, Kim, Chang, Ryo, Robert, Athena, Mai, Yuri, Malin, Ash Crimson, Duo Lon, Shen Woo, King, Iori, Yamazaki, Mary, Billy, Shingo, K', Maxima, Whip, Jhun, Chizuru, Hinako, Adelheid, Mukai
Nightlockers Ratings
Gameplay: 4.5
Story: 3.5
Characters' status: 4.5
Animations: 4
Graphics: 3.5
Music/Effects: 3.5
Customization: 4.5
Extra Features: 2.5
Replayability: 5
Hyper Factor: 4.5
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Overall: 4/5
Author: SilverPain
