The game is notable for starting the story arc of newcomer Ash Crimson who remains as a mystery. The narrative of the game involves a new tournament set by "R" with two parallel bosses serving as final bosses. Each team has one leader with access to a Leader Super Special Move. The game uses a 3-on-3 Team Battle format in which players can change characters in the middle of a fight. It was ported to the PlayStation 2 and Xbox (not compatible with the Xbox 360), and was released in North America as a two-in-one bundle with the preceding game in the series, The King of Fighters 2002.
It is the tenth game in The King of Fighters series and the last one released for the Neo Geo, which served as the primary platform for the series since The King of Fighters '94. However, that centering around the fight has allowed developers to make tweaks to deliver flawless fighting gameplay.The King of Fighters 2003 also known by fans as The King of Fighters X is a fighting game produced by SNK Playmore for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms in 2003. It may look a bit dated for its year compared to other franchise offerings from Tekken, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat. It's the core value of fighting mechanics that has led The King of Fighters 2002 to protrude as one of the classics. It's definitive of what a multiplayer arcade fighter should be like. All the player-dedicated refinements come at the cost of narrative and even visuals - but still manages to warp players into hours of battling it out with AI or groups of friends. Some solo players may moan about the lack of gameplay diversity in The King of Fighters 2002 - but it's clear that it was made to address the combat-focused audience. It's easy to say that anyone with a grasp on fighting games will understand that this entry is very well refined. It's welcoming to anyone willing to get stuck into a versatile fighter that's highly competitive, satisfying, and not overly frustrating. The King of Fighters 2002 feels good for a fighter. Finally, the adjustments to mechanics such as revamping the power gauge have returned the game to the epitome of the fighting genre. The combat is focused on being accessible to beginners - yet challenging to those who take their game to competitive levels. It has a bountiful roster of characters, each with its own sparkling visuals, animations, and abilities. The King of Fighters 2002 personifies what a classic arcade fighter should be. Ultimately, that proves beneficial among the fan base keener in duking it out than immersing in the story. Developers made a conscious decision to move their focus to the combat side of things. That is mainly because the predecessor wrapped up the story arc. The noticeable trait of The King of Fighters 2002 to fans would be the lack of story the previous games had. But will it maintain its crown (if it ever had one) as the King of Fighters in the new millennium? Better play to find out! There's a New King in Town Challenges await in this colorful, bold, and intense fighter. No narrative, little lore - only a taste to beat the ever-loving snot out of your opponents.
In true arcade-style - The King of Fighters 2002 gets right to the point. The 2002 edition seeks to be no different, providing some high-octane combat while alluring a sizeable player base. However, the series has dominated arcades and consoles throughout Japan. The fact of the matter is that it's not so present in the West. The fighter franchise that's always the subject of debate due to its rather pompous title.