THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII GLOBAL MATCH Deluxe Edition (NSP, XCI) ROM + v1.0.3 Update

THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII GLOBAL MATCH Deluxe Edition: Experience enhanced online play with rollback netcode and revamped functionalities! KOF XIII, the acclaimed final chapter in the Ash Saga, returns with thrilling online matches and new multi-player-capable online lobbies. Featuring 36 playable characters, including NESTS Style Kyo, Classic Iori, and Mr. Karate, this version boasts KOF’s finest-ever 2D graphics for global battles.

GAMEPLAY

The game removes some of the gameplay system features used in the prior game: the Guard Attack, the Critical Counter, the Clash System, as well as the dynamic, zooming camera. In their place, three new features have been added. The first of the three is the new EX Mode, which converts each character’s super moves into more powerful versions that allow one bar from the player’s power gauge for EX Special Moves and two bars from the player’s power gauge for EX Super Special Moves.

Another new feature is the Hyper Drive mode, which gives the player unlimited use of Drive Cancels for a while once the Hyper Drive Gauge has been maxed, and the last new feature confirmed for the game is the Drive Cancel, which opens up a new combo possibilities. The game also marks the return of the multi-bar power gauge that was introduced in The King of Fighters ’97.

In addition to standard and EX Desperation Moves, a new class of Desperation Move called Neo Max is included in the game and requires that three stocks of gauge be exchanged to perform one, making it similar to Hidden Super Desperation Moves from The King of Fighters 2002 and Leader Super Special Moves from The King of Fighters 2003. These can also be canceled from standard Desperation Moves, making them similar to the Dream Cancels from The King of Fighters XI.

The console version is based on the 1.1 update of The King of Fighters XIII arcade which fixed several issues from the original version. It also contains a story mode that is influenced by the player’s actions with various perspectives being available. The model is presented in visual novel style alongside fights, something considered to be hard to include in the arcade version by the SNK Playmore staff. Other modes shown are Arcade, Practice, and Challenge. The online gameplay is based on the one included in later versions of The King of Fighters XII, which fixed the issues the initial one had.

PLOT

The game takes place after The King of Fighters XI and is the last game of the third story arc that started in The King of Fighters 2003. The fighter Ash Crimson has absorbed the powers from two of the descendants of the clans who sealed the Orochi away 1,800 years ago, Chizuru Kagura and Iori Yagami, while Kyo Kusanagi is to be his last victim.

As his former comrade, Elisabeth Blanctorche, prepares to stop him, fighters receive an invitation to another King of Fighters tournament hosted by a person labeled as “R”. The tournament is sponsored by Rose who is being controlled by “Those From The Past”, the organization behind the two prior tournaments that has been trying to break Orochi’s seal.

When the winning team reaches the game’s end, Saiki, the leader of “Those From The Past” puts his work into motion. Saiki intends to use the energy expended by the winning team to enable him to cross time. However, as the fight rages, Botan notes that the gate that links them to the past is starting to close despite the battle. Before Saiki can act, he is ambushed by Ash Crimson, who steals his power.

It is revealed then that, while Ash was enlisted by Saiki to obtain the Three Sacred Treasures to power the time gate, Ash had no intention of helping Saiki. Ash is suddenly overtaken by Saiki’s persona, who then attempts to cross the time gate in Ash’s body. The winning team pursues him into the time gate and the final battle of The King of Fighters XIII begins inside the time gate.

Saiki is defeated at the gate but persists in crossing over to the past, believing it means nothing since he can return to the past and then cross the gate again to attempt his plan anew. However, Ash halts his attempt and allows the gate to close, leaving Saiki trapped in the present. Furthermore, Ash reveals that he is a descendant of Saiki. By locking Saiki out of the gate, he denies Saiki’s existence in the past and forces his existence to cease.

As Ash vanishes from the living world, the flow of time resumes. In the epilogue of the Story Mode, in the dimensional rift, a spear appeared in front of Shroom and Rimelo, two members of Those From The Past who faced Kyo in the opening of the game (Console version). More surprisingly, Shion appeared before them, revealing that he was still alive.