The King of Fighters is an annual tournament uniting fighters from across the world, starting in 1994. Those deemed worthy of entry into the King of Fighters receive a letter of invitation from an anonymous sponsor of the tournament. Fighters are divided into teams of three and battle other teams in order to advance to the finals.
[[:category:The King of Fighters|The King of Fighters]] is an annual tournament uniting fighters from across the world, starting in 1994. Those deemed worthy of entry into the King of Fighters receive a letter of invitation from an anonymous sponsor of the tournament. Fighters are divided into teams of three and battle other teams in order to advance to the finals.
In [[The King of Fighters '94]] and [[The King of Fighters '95]], the sponsor of the King of Fighters tournament turned out to be [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Rugal|Rugal Bernstein]], a notorious criminal and fighter who held the tournament in order to satisfy his thirst for competition. He was consequently defeated at the end of the first two tournaments by the team from Japan, consisting of the story's main protagonists, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Kyo|Kyo Kusanagi]], [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Benimaru|Benimaru Nikaido]], and [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Daimon|Goro Daimon]].
In [[The King of Fighters '94]] and [[The King of Fighters '95]], the sponsor of the King of Fighters tournament turned out to be [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Rugal|Rugal Bernstein]], a notorious criminal and fighter who held the tournament in order to satisfy his thirst for competition. He was consequently defeated at the end of the first two tournaments by the team from Japan, consisting of the story's main protagonists, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Kyo|Kyo Kusanagi]], [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Benimaru|Benimaru Nikaido]], and [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Goro|Goro Daimon]].
In 1996, the King of Fighters tournament was announced again, though the letters of invitation sent out to fighters were no longer sent by Rugal. The letters also announced many changes, the first of which being a massive overhaul of the tournament's approach. During the time that had passed between the tournaments in 1995 and 1996, and the King of Fighters tournament's fame had grown immensely, to the point that it turned into a major international event, which had not happened before. Huge corporations transformed the King of Fighters tournament into something widely televised, commercialized, and celebrated, drawing in many crowds.
In 1996, the King of Fighters tournament was announced again, though the letters of invitation sent out to fighters were no longer sent by Rugal. The letters also announced many changes, the first of which being a massive overhaul of the tournament's approach. During the time that had passed between the tournaments in 1995 and 1996, and the King of Fighters tournament's fame had grown immensely, to the point that it turned into a major international event, which had not happened before. Huge corporations transformed the King of Fighters tournament into something widely televised, commercialized, and celebrated, drawing in many crowds.
The Japan Team reached the finals of the tournament again, where the sponsor turned out to be a woman named [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Chizuru|Chizuru Kagura]]. Her intent was to make contact with Kyo Kusanagi, as well as his rival and enemy, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Iori|Iori Yagami]]. After fighting Kyo and losing to him, Chizuru revealed to him that a larger power was afoot, known as the [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Orochi|Orochi]], and that he would soon have to battle against it.
The Japan Team reached the finals of the tournament again, where the sponsor turned out to be a woman named [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Chizuru|Chizuru Kagura]]. Her intent was to make contact with Kyo Kusanagi, as well as his rival and enemy, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Iori|Iori Yagami]]. After fighting Kyo and losing to him, Chizuru revealed to him that a larger power was afoot, known as the [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Orochi|Orochi]], and that he would soon have to battle against it.
New characters introduced in this episode include [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Kasumi|Kasumi Todoh]], who became a member of the Ladies' team and acts as a rival to the [[:category: Art of Fighting|Art of Fighting]] Team; [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Leona|Leona Heidern]], who joins the Ikari Team in place of her mentor, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Heidern|Heidern]], to investigate [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Geese|Geese Howard]]; [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Mature|Mature]] and [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Vice|Vice]], two of Rugal's assistants who join Iori Yagami and aid him; and the Boss Team, composed of Geese Howard, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/Wolfgang|Wolfgang Krauser]], and Geese's right-hand-man, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Characters/MrBig|Mr. Big]].
New characters introduced in this episode include [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Kasumi|Kasumi Todoh]], who became a member of the Ladies' team and acts as a rival to the [[:category: Art of Fighting|Art of Fighting]] Team; [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Leona|Leona Heidern]], who joins the Ikari Team in place of her mentor, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Heidern|Heidern]], to investigate [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Geese|Geese Howard]]; [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Mature|Mature]] and [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Vice|Vice]], two of Rugal's assistants who join Iori Yagami and aid him; and the Boss Team, composed of Geese Howard, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/Krauser|Wolfgang Krauser]], and Geese's right-hand-man, [[The King of Fighters Orochi Collection/MrBig|Mr. Big]].
This is the first game to achieve KOF's distinct look; its graphics and sound more closely resemble the newer King of Fighters games than they do those of KOF '95.
This is the first game to achieve KOF's distinct look; its graphics and sound more closely resemble the newer King of Fighters games than they do those of KOF '95.
{{Continue Nav|nextpage=Walkthrough|nextname=How to play|nextpage2=Moves}}
The game was also released to the [[Game Boy]] as '''[[Nettou The King of Fighters '96]]''', that was also known in Europe as The King of Fighters: Heat of Battle, it was not released in the USA, an [[1997]] spin-off of the game was released exclusively for the [[Neo Geo CD]] only on Japan, '''[[The King of Fighters '96: Neo Geo Collection]]'''.
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:KOF96 Screen 1.png|title screen
File:King of Fighters 96 PS1 box.jpg|PlayStation box
Image:KOF96 Screen 2.png|character selection
File:KOF96 Screen 1.png|title screen
Image:KOF96 Screen 3.png|fight screen
File:KOF96 Screen 2.png|character selection
File:KOF96 Screen 3.png|fight screen
</gallery>
</gallery>
Line 41:
Line 47:
==Character Select==
==Character Select==
{|
{|align=center
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Kyo.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Kyo Kusanagi]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Benimaru.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Benimaru Nikaido]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Daimon.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Goro Daimon]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Terry.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Terry Bogard]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Andy.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Andy Bogard]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Joe.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Joe Higashi]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Ryo.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Ryo Sakazaki]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Robert.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Robert Garcia]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Yuri.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Yuri Sakazaki]]
|-
|-
|<imagemap>
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Leona.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Leona Heidern]]
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Kyo.png|64px|Kyo
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Ralf.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Ralf Jones]]
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Kyo Kusanagi]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Clark.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Clark Still]]
desc none
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Chizuru.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Chizuru Kagura]]
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Benimaru.png|64px|Benimaru
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Benimaru Nikaido]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Goro.png|64px|Goro
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Goro Daimon]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Terry.png|64px|Terry
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Terry Bogard]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Andy.png|64px|Andy
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Andy Bogard]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Joe.png|64px|Joe
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Joe Higashi]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Ryo.png|64px|Ryo
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Ryo Sakazaki]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Robert.png|64px|Robert
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Robert Garcia]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Yuri.png|64px|Yuri
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Yuri Sakazaki]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|-
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Leona.png|64px|Leona
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Leona Heidern]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Ralf.png|64px|Ralf
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Ralf Jones]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Clark.png|64px|Clark
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Clark Still]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Chizuru.png|64px|Chizuru
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Chizuru Kagura]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|
|
|<imagemap>
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Goenitz.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Goenitz]]
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Goenitz.png|64px|Goenitz
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Athena.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Athena Asamiya]]
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Leopold Goenitz]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Kensou.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Sie Kensou]]
desc none
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Chin.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Chin Gentsai]]
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Athena.png|64px|Athena
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Athena Asamiya]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Sie.png|64px|Sie
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Sie Kensou]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Chin.png|64px|Chin
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Chin Gentsai]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|-
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|<imagemap>
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Geese.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Geese Howard]]
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Geese.png|64px|Geese
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Krauser.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Wolfgang Krauser]]
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Geese Howard]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Big.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Mr. Big]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Wolfgang.png|64px|Krauser
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Wolfgang Krauser]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Big.png|64px|Mr.Big
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Mr. Big]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|-
|-
|<imagemap>
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Kim.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Kim Kaphwan]]
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Kim.png|64px|Kim
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Chang.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Chang Koehan]]
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Kim Kaphwan]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Choi.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Choi Bounge]]
desc none
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Kasumi.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Kasumi Todoh]]
</imagemap>
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Mai.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Mai Shiranui]]
|<imagemap>
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 King.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#King]]
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Chang.png|64px|Chang
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Iori.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Iori Yagami]]
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Chang Koehan]]
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Mature.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Mature]]
desc none
|[[File:Portrait KOF96 Vice.png|64px|link=The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Vice]]
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Choi.png|64px|Choi
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Choi Bounge]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Kasumi.png|64px|Kasumi
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Kasumi Todoh]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Mai.png|64px|Mai
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Mai Shiranui]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_King.png|64px|King
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#King]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Iori.png|64px|Iori
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Iori Yagami]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Mature.png|64px|Mature
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Mature]]
desc none
</imagemap>
|<imagemap>
Image:Portrait_KOF96_Vice.png|64px|Vice
rect 0 0 64 64 [[The King of Fighters '96/Moves#Vice]]
The King of Fighters is an annual tournament uniting fighters from across the world, starting in 1994. Those deemed worthy of entry into the King of Fighters receive a letter of invitation from an anonymous sponsor of the tournament. Fighters are divided into teams of three and battle other teams in order to advance to the finals.
In The King of Fighters '94 and The King of Fighters '95, the sponsor of the King of Fighters tournament turned out to be Rugal Bernstein, a notorious criminal and fighter who held the tournament in order to satisfy his thirst for competition. He was consequently defeated at the end of the first two tournaments by the team from Japan, consisting of the story's main protagonists, Kyo Kusanagi, Benimaru Nikaido, and Goro Daimon.
In 1996, the King of Fighters tournament was announced again, though the letters of invitation sent out to fighters were no longer sent by Rugal. The letters also announced many changes, the first of which being a massive overhaul of the tournament's approach. During the time that had passed between the tournaments in 1995 and 1996, and the King of Fighters tournament's fame had grown immensely, to the point that it turned into a major international event, which had not happened before. Huge corporations transformed the King of Fighters tournament into something widely televised, commercialized, and celebrated, drawing in many crowds.
The Japan Team reached the finals of the tournament again, where the sponsor turned out to be a woman named Chizuru Kagura. Her intent was to make contact with Kyo Kusanagi, as well as his rival and enemy, Iori Yagami. After fighting Kyo and losing to him, Chizuru revealed to him that a larger power was afoot, known as the Orochi, and that he would soon have to battle against it.
New characters introduced in this episode include Kasumi Todoh, who became a member of the Ladies' team and acts as a rival to the Art of Fighting Team; Leona Heidern, who joins the Ikari Team in place of her mentor, Heidern, to investigate Geese Howard; Mature and Vice, two of Rugal's assistants who join Iori Yagami and aid him; and the Boss Team, composed of Geese Howard, Wolfgang Krauser, and Geese's right-hand-man, Mr. Big.
This is the first game to achieve KOF's distinct look; its graphics and sound more closely resemble the newer King of Fighters games than they do those of KOF '95.
