The thirteenth main installment of the King of Fighters series, The King of Fighters XIII expands on the graphical and gameplay style of The King of Fighters XII with 11 additional fighters (most of whom are returning from previous entries) and the return of both predefined teams and the series's traditional single-player story. It also removes some sub-systems from its predecessor (such as camera zooming effects and the Critical Counter system) while adding EX Special/Super Moves and a "Hyper Drive Meter" for cancelling special/super moves into another. It is the last game in the main series to use 2D characters and backgrounds, with The King of Fighters XIV moving to 3D.The game's story takes place after the events of The King of Fighters XI and concludes the series' "Ash Saga" story arc. With a third tournament hosted by Rose Bernstein (who is revealed to be brainwashed) in effect, the leader of the mysterious "Those from the Past" organization begins the final phase in his plan to unlock the power of Orochi for their own purpose. After stealing Iori Yagami's power, Ash Crimson also reaches the climax of his mysterious plans, with a new hero team composed of his former comrades (led by Elisabeth Blanctorche) set out to stop him.The game later received home console and smartphone releases in 2011-2013, with several of its updates brought back into arcades as The King of Fighters XIII Climax. It later received a 2023 home release as The King of Fighters XIII Global Match, focusing on rollback netcode for its online multiplayer.Ports & Re-releasesAlong with a minor update to the arcade version, the game was ported to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, both published in North America (by Atlus on November 22, 2011), in Europe (by Rising Star on November 25, 2011), and in Japan (by SNK Playmore on December 1, 2011). Along with new console-exclusive characters, the ports adds bonus game modes and features (including paid downloadable content and the ability to change button configuration on the character select screen). It was later ported to the PC, released digitally via Steam on September 13, 2013 (titled The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition).It was also ported to both iOS (on July 7, 2011 as The King of Fighters-i) and Android devices (on March 22, 2012 as The King of Fighters Android), featuring simplified touch-based controls (similar to the mobile versions of Street Fighter IV). Both mobile versions received an updated version in 2012 (titled The King of Fighters-i 2012 for the iOS version and The King of Fighters-A 2012 for the Android version), featuring the entire roster of the original game and an optional ad-supported free-to-play version.The arcade version of the game was later re-released in April 26, 2012 as The King of Fighters XIII Climax, adding numerous additions (including characters) and fixes from the console versions. It was also released in 2013 for the NESICAxLive digital distribution platform.An updated version of the game was released for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on November 16, 2023. Ported by Safari Games and released as The King of Fighters XIII Global Match, this version focuses on rollback netcode for online multiplayer. It was later released for the PC on February 20, 2025, replacing the Steam Edition.GameplayKOF XIII does away with many of the changes made by KOF XII and the other Ash Saga games. The overall gameplay speed has been increased, placing it in line with previous entries in the series; the super meter also returns to KOF 2002's 3-to-5 stock system. Critical Counter and Guard Attacks have been done away with completely, and camera zoom-ins only occur during certain animations.The game's main gimmick is the Hyper Drive Meter. Drive Cancels allow the player to cancel an Special Move into another Special Move which costs 50% of the Hyper Drive Meter. Super Cancels allow players to cancel a Special Move into a Desperation Move which also costs 50% of the Hyper Drive Meter. Additionally, once the Hyper Drive Meter is filled, Hyper Drive Mode allows the player to perform unlimited HD Cancels for a short time.This game also introduces EX Special Moves, EX Desperation Moves, and Neo Max Desperation Moves. EX Specials work similar to EX moves in Street Fighter III and IV, giving special moves additional advantageous properties at the cost of one stock of Super Meter. EX Desperation Moves do the same for DMs, while increasing the cost of the attack to two stocks. Neo Max moves, the strongest moves in the game, require three stocks of Super Meter and either a full HD meter or Hyper Drive Mode (as of the console version, the cost is reduced to two stocks if performed from HD Mode). Neo Max moves can be canceled into during combos by using Max Cancel (which is essentially the Dream Cancel from The King of Fighters XI).The game also includes other subsystems that have become KOF standard, including the Jump/Super Jump/Short Hop/Hyper Hop system, rolls, Guard Cancel knockdowns, among others.Other FeaturesSeveral new stages have been created, and some from XII have been improved. Predefined teams return, along with team themes. Each character has ten color choices (fifteen for the console version) that are selected from a mini-menu, like BlazBlue; some characters also have an additional hidden set of color choices. As a throwback to earler SNK games, King's and Yuri Sakazaki's tops are destroyed when they are finished off by a special or DM.Gameplay ModesArcadeThe standard single player mode that is featured in most fighting games. There are six stages; then, depending on certain conditions, the player will either receive the game's "bad ending" or go on to fight the two boss characters. Each round starts with a short conversation between the two participating characters, a feature last seen in SVC Chaos. During the match, "Target Actions" appear; these are small tasks like "Roll 3 times" or "Perform an EX attack" that grant the player in-match benefits such as stock to the Hyper Drive Meter and Super Meter.StoryDeep story mode explaining the final part of the Ash saga presented in a visual novel format (akin to BlazBlue story mode). There are three perspectives to choose: Ash, Adelheid, and Heidern.VersusSplit up into team battle (three versus three) or single battle (one versus one). Stages can be selected and handicaps can be set. When the match is over, players can immediately go do a rematch, change the order of the team, or go back to the character select screen and choose a different team.There are five levels for the handicap, which are:Level 1 - HP 50%Level 2 - HP 75%Level 3 - NormalLevel 4 - P + 1 - HD 50% (Power meter has 1 stock and 50% stock of Hyper Drive Meter)Level 5 - P - HD MAX (Power meter and Hyper Drive Meter are at full stock)TutorialAn introduction to The King of Fighters. This explains the basic mechanics and the multiple gauges.PracticeA mode which allows players to test their combos and strategies against a dummy opponent. This mode is available in the arcade version by holding down the attack buttons while pressing Start, but is restricted by a time limit. A number of options can be manipulated for the AI dummy such as action, guard, counter hit, attack and passive mode. Also, the gauges in the game (Hyper Drive Meter and Super Meter) can be adjusted as well. By default, the Back/Select button displays the command input for the playable fighter, but this can be changed as well to either reset back to default positions, move the dummy forward or jump.GalleryVisual - This mode allows players to view artwork, endings, and videos from the game.Sound - Grants the ability to listen to BGM, voices for each character and the system voice.InvitationMissionThis is split into three modes:Time attack - "Fight against the CPU under fixed regulations and try to get the fastest clear time."Survival - "Keep fighting against the CPU opponents until you run out of health."Trial - "Challenge a variety of character-specific missions." (This mode is akin to the Challenge mode in BlazBlue)OnlinePlayers will be able to complete globally in either ranked or player matches along with friend match. After the match, replays can be saved and uploaded.Ranked Match - "Prove your strength under specified regulations. Your results will be recorded in the Rankings."Player Match - "Fight under a variety of rules. You can also invite a good friend to play with. Your results will not be recorded in the Rankings."Friends Match - "Check invites from your friends."RankingsReplayOnline matches can be downloaded and saved. When viewing matches, players can choose to frame advance, pause, or skip the round during playback.CustomizeProfile - "Select which items to show in your profile." The online profile allows players to make a default team for online use, add an icon and a short message to display online. Just like colours, icons will be unlocked through playing the game.Character - "Edit characters' custom colours." Each character can have up to five custom colour schemes. When changing colours, the region that will be adjusted will glow when selected. When a colour is selected for that specific region, the game will adjust to that colour and use the proper shade instead of having to adjust each individual shade, as in The King of Fighters XI. Colours will be unlocked as players progress through the game with each respective fighter.Player DataStatistics of wins and losses from online play. Also keeps track total play time along with high score in arcade mode plus percentage completed of trials and unlocks in the gallery.CharactersThe base game includes 31 playable characters, each split into three-fighter teams (with the only outlier, story protagonist Ash Crimson, as his own "Single Edit" character). All characters from the previous game return in the same form, along with 8 characters from previous games in the series (K', Maxima, Kula Diamond, Mai Shiranui, King, Yuri Sakazaki, Takuma Sakazaki, and Vice) and one new fighter (Hwa Jai, originally from the Fatal Fury series). The game also includes 2 unplayable boss characters (Saiki and a version of Ash possessed by him), each of which require players to achieve a certain score in order to fight them.The console versions of the game added two new unlockable characters for play (Billy Kane from previous games in the series and the human form of Saiki), with three additional character variations added as paid downloadable content. Both the arcade re-release and the PC version adds the DLC content for free.Hero Team Elisabeth Blanctorche Shen Woo Duo LonJapan Team Kyo Kusanagi (with his outfit from the NESTS story arc added on December 20, 2011 as paid DLC in the console versions, later included for free in the "Climax" and PC versions) Benimaru Nikaido Goro DaimonYagami Team Iori Yagami (with his outfit from previous games added on December 6, 2011 as paid DLC in the console versions, later included for free in the "Climax" and PC versions) Mature ViceK' Team K' Kula Diamond MaximaFatal Fury Team Terry Bogard Andy Bogard Joe HigashiArt of Fighting Team Ryo Sakazaki Robert Garcia Takuma Sakazaki (with his "Mr. Karate" alter-ego added on January 10, 2012 as paid DLC in the console versions, later included for free in the "Climax" and PC versions)Kim Team Kim Kaphwan Hwa Jai (first appearance, from the Fatal Fury series) RaidenWomen Fighters Team Mai Shiranui Yuri Sakazaki KingPsycho Soldier Team Athena Asamiya Sie Kensou Chin GentsaiIkari Warriors Team Leona Ralf Jones Clark SteelOther Ash Crimson (also a hidden mid-boss, with his "possessed by Saiki" form as the game's unplayable final boss) Saiki (first appearance and unplayable sub-boss, with his original human form added in the console, Climax, and PC versions as a hidden mid-boss that can be unlocked for play)Billy Kane (added in the console, Climax, and PC versions as a hidden mid-boss that can be unlocked for play)StagesThe stages available in the game (with more to be confirmed) include:JapanIndiaUnited KingdomBrazilEgyptChinaFranceAmericaRose StadiumDestroyed Rose StadiumRose Stage (Misted)Desert (Console version)Clock Tower (Console version)PaoPao Cafe (Console version)Micky's Stage (Console version)Kyokugen-ryu Dojo (Console version)Rose Stadium Rooftop (Console version)Destroyed Manor (Console version)Sky Noah (Console version)Those From The Past Headquarters (Console version)Rival Team Stage '95 (Console version, DLC)Japan Team / Psycho Soldier Team Stage '96 (Console version, DLC)Mr. Karate Stage AOF (Console version, DLC)SoundtracksAtlus and Rising Star Games offered a pre-order bonus for the game which is a compilation of music from all the King of Fighters games entitled "The King of Soundtracks." The bonus spans 4 Cd's. The tracks include:Disc IThe King of Fighters 941. Ne!2. NAPOLITAN BLUES3. JUNGLE BOUNCER4. SLUM No. 55. Kecchaku R&D6. Pre Bon (Long Version)The King of Fighters 957. Ryuko to Ken ~Yureru Otoko Gokoro~8. CLUB-M ~Aozora ni Flute~9. Senritsu no Dora10. Chi wo Hau Base11. HAL to Base to Melody to12. THE SUNSET SKY PART6 ~LIEBEThe King of Fighters 9613. Rumbling on the City14. ESAKA?15. Psycho Soldier (REMIX '96)16. Geese ni Katakori17. Dust man18. Requiem in D minor, K. 626 Dies Irae19. SELFThe King of Fighters 9720. Bloody21. COOL JAM ~Arashi no Saxophone 3~22. BLUE MARY'S BLUES23. Still Green24. Rhythmic Hallucination25. The Origin of MindThe King of Fighters XIII26. Soul Road ~KOF 96~27. Esaka ~KOF XI~Disc IIThe King of Fighters 981. Kurikinton (Gomame Guitar Ver.)2. C623. London March4. Fairy5. IN SPITE OF ONE'S AGE6. FANATIC WALTZThe King of Fighters 997. MAD FANTASY8. XXX9. W.W.310. 176th Street11. SHA-LA-LA12. The way to rebirth13. Tears14. Deaf Falling AngelThe King of Fighters 200015. KD-008416. INNER SHADE17. Will18. Ice Place19. DREAM EATER20. CRYSTAL (TypeA)The King of Fightes 200121. BIG PAIN22. Muaki no Homo-o23. THE QUEEN OF FIGHTERS24. NESTS: Yami no Shihaisha25. Warekoso SaikyoDisc IIIThe King of Fighters 20021. Deserted Town2. TACO'S DANCE3. Yuuwaku no Toki4. Last Dance5. Festive moodThe King of Fighters 20036. Splendid Evil7. Joyrider8. KyokuGen9. Villainous10. Blaze11. Kakumei no Etude ~RllThe King of Fighters XI12. kiss or poison13. Secret Circumstances14. Rinrin15. King16. Koubai17. an improvised concertoThe King of Fighters XII18. Cracker19. The Myths of Geb20. Cafe au Lait au Gout de la Victoire21. Matryoshka Dance22. Theme of XII-2The King of Fighters XIII23. PURE ~at good old days~ ~KOFXI~24. Arashi no Saxophone ~KOFXI~Disc IVThe King of Fighters XIIIThe Second JokerEach PromiseEsaka ContinuesWild StreetPurity SoldiersIrregular MissionWho is Queen?Arashi no Saxophone 5Kyokugen Shugyoul ~Yamagomori~Tame a Bad BoyKDD-0063FateDiabolosisLondon March ~Arranged~Toki wo Suberu Morojoker ~KOFXI~Queen ~KOFXI~Street Dance ~KOFXI~Smell of gunpowder ~KOFXI~I'm Hot for You ~KOF2003~After a long absence ~KOFXI~KDD-0075 ~KOFXI~Geese ni Katakori ~Arranged~Fate ~Arranged~Staffroll ~Consumer~System RequirementsMinimumOS: Windows XPProcessor: Intel Pentium4 2.0 GHz and upMemory: 1 GB RAMGraphics: GeForce 9500 GT ,VRAM: 256MB and upDirectX: Version 9.0cHard Drive: 5 GB available spaceSound Card: DirectSound, DirectX9.0c Compatible AudioRecommendedOS: Windows7Processor: Intel Core i5 2300 and upMemory: 4 GB RAMGraphics: GeForce GTS 250 ,VRAM: 512MB and upDirectX: Version 9.0cHard Drive: 5 GB available spaceSound Card: DirectSound, DirectX9.0c Compatible Audio
