The King Of Fighters XV (PS4)

The King Of Fighters has been running for over twenty years, with each release staying true to the formula while also including new fighters and mechanics. This is a fighting game that combines elements of sports, strategy games like chess and esports in one package; it has always had an active competitive scene just as big or bigger than other popular eSports titles. The series explores different themes from time to time — even some philosophical ones at times — but the core gameplay remains largely unaffected throughout its history.

The “King Of Fighters XV (PS4) initial release date” is the game’s release date. The game was released on January 19, 2019 in North America and Europe.

The King Of Fighters XV (PS4)

There hasn’t been much (fairly favorable) news or updates on future fighting games in a while, thus the fighting game community has been in a bit of a drought. We had lengthy seasons of basically old main fights, lackluster DLCs, and the odd interest-piquing independent game for much of last year.

We’ve received Guilty Gear Strive, Melty Blood Type Lumina, and the Blazblue Centralfiction reversion update, but fighter fans have been hungry for more. Which is why you can imagine how excited fans were as King of Fighters got closer to its release date, with each video getting a new coat of paint and bringing back or introducing something cherished by the community.

 

FGC Twitter users who took part in the betas and early access can’t stop gushing about it. We check in to see whether the SNK classic measures up to the anticipation after its release last week.

Graphics

It’s a clear step forward from KOF XIV. XV has a great blend of anime-style models, improved shaders and textures, and a fair balance of classic aesthetics with current touches, but it may not be on par with other modern 3D fighters like Tekken or Mortal Kombat. The majority of the returning cast members were given incredible makeovers.

shermie-snk-heroines-original-costume-artwork Despite the fact that she didn’t need the glow-up, here we are.

XV employs the same graphics engine as its elder cousin Samurai Shodown’s visual feast, but with its own treatments and tastes. While the visuals aren’t AAA-quality, the strategic mix of bright, lively character renderings and popping effects against a detailed but muted backdrop creates an aesthetically pleasant business that isn’t cluttered or distracting. 

Gameplay

KOF XV Fight

All of us have seen the memes and videos. People used to be terrified of KOF due of its intimidating physics, pretzel motion inputs, and high-level executions – the KOF XIII combo trials being the most famous example. Lovers and FTG fans will be relieved to see that they made it more approachable by reducing the inputs to simply simple quarter circles while maintaining the sophistication of the fight system and execution – which is much superior than Strive’s approach. 

KOF XV Climax Cancel

XV improves on XIV’s concept by keeping the cancel series (specials to lvl1 supers to lvl2s or lvl3s) but also adding the ability to complete the whole 1-2-3. EX moves are now accessible outside of Max Mode, same as in previous games. The inclusion of the Shatter Strike mechanism (which stuns you and allows you to continue a ground combination or bounce off the wall on a counter hit juggling) is also a welcome addition. While this may seem intimidating to newbies, it is really fairly simple and provides you with more flexibility than other contemporary fighting games. 

KOF XV Fight 2

Its rewind netcode is one of its greatest features. The developers are well aware that fans of previous titles are still active online, and that the usage of netcode in games like 98 and 2002 UM has kept the community engaged and pleased. To ensure that XV provided the same accessibility, they engaged Code Mystics, the team responsible for UM’s netcode. And boy, did they come through. Matchmaking is quick, and lobbies are simple to navigate, making XV one of the most popular online games.

KOF XV Fight 3

The only drawback I can think of is the dearth of single-player content. Only offline vs, training, and narrative mode are offered in addition to online versus (which is just the arcade mode with special cutscenes for the team intro, fated battle intros, the boss scenes, and the endings). It doesn’t bother me since the fighting is where the meat is. However, adding options like time trial or survival mode would be beneficial, and this is something they can do later. 

Content

KOF XV Roster

Aside from the fantastic gameplay, KOF XV dives deep into the nostalgic pit. Only a few newcomers (unlike XIV, which had a large number of new characters) have chosen to bring back old fan favorites, with hints and promises of additional returning characters through DLC. This is a fantastic decision since KOF has one of the biggest character pools of any fighting game franchise, and watching all of these characters interact with one another in the context of all of the series’ previous events is a delight for long-time fans. While there is a designated conclusion for the default teams in story mode, SNK went above and above by including a plethora of unlocked fully-voiced endings for various character combinations, giving fans even more reasons to revisit story mode.

KOF XV DJ Station

DJ Station is another feature (which should be normal in long-running series). This lets you to replace the music at particular areas of the game (such as character selection, regular bouts, and boss battles) with any song from KOF’s extensive BGM repertoire. As a fan, I can speak to the fact that several of these songs are absolute bangers.

Verdict

With all of these glow-ups, fan-favorite inclusions, and fanservice, SNK really pampered their fans. It was clear that they paid attention to comments throughout the betas, and they pledged to keep improving XV in the future. By making the gameplay more approachable, SNK was able to avoid alienating new players. With the vast potential of the combo system and fluid netplay, KOF XV did not disappoint veterans. It might even outperform Strive in terms of launch, indicating that KOF XV is indeed the KING of fighters.

 

The game King of Fighters XV is now available on all platforms. This game is a must-play for every SNK/KOF fan or fighting game fanatic seeking for the next great thing to dig your teeth into.

KOF XV Review Header Image

The King Of Fighters XV is a fighting game developed by Capcom (PS4)

DA Good

Possibly the greatest and most hyped fighting game available right now.

It’s simple enough for newbies to take up, yet deep enough for ftg veterans to appreciate.

Netplay and smooth matchmaking

The quantity of unlockable material will delight long-time SNK / KOF aficionados.

DA Bad

The move lists for the characters were a bit simplified, but we’ll deal with it.

More single-player / offline content is required.

The King Of Fighters XV is a fighting game that was released for the PlayStation 4 in 2018. It features characters from previous games in the series, as well as new ones. The developers have also made it possible to play with up to four players online. Reference: king of fighters characters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be a KOF 15?

A: There is not currently any plans for a KOF 15.

What is the release date for King of Fighters 15?

A: The release date for King of Fighters 15 is scheduled at Mar 25, 2019.

How much does KOF XV cost?

A: KOF XV costs $60.

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