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The King of Fighters '96 (NGM-214)

Game Information
manufacturer SNK
year 1996
cloned by kof96a kof96h
genre Fighter
downloads 0
Screenshots
kof96 title
kof96 title
kof96 title
kof96 title
kof96 title
kof96 title
kof96 title
Download Details
split set kof96.zip 22.48m
bios/device neogeo.zip 1.77m
merged set kof96.7z 19.88m
standalone set kof96.7z 20.22m
artwork kof96.zip 720.32k
Game Details
SNK Neo-Geo MVS cart. published 29 years ago:

The King of Fighters '96 (c) 1996 SNK.

The 3rd chapter in this groundbreaking series brings 27 classic SNK characters together against Goenitz, the final boss.

- TECHNICAL -

Runs on the SNK "Neo-Geo MVS" hardware.
GAME ID: NGM-214

[SNK MVS Neo-Geo Controls]
2 players - 4 buttons per player.
[JOY] 8-way.
[A] Weak Punch.
[B] Weak Kick.
[C] Strong Punch.
[D] Strong Kick.

- TRIVIA -

Released in July 1996.

This is the first game to include special phrases and poses when two characters in particular fight. In this game, it happens only with Kyo Vs. Iori, Terry Vs. Geese and Ralf Jones vs Clark Steel.

Ryo Sakazaki's fighting stance changed from the regular 'dukes up' to try and distance him from being thought of as a Ryu ripoff. His basic moves, however, remained unchanged.

Yuri's Yuri Chou Mawashi Geri is a knock-off of Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.

If you look at the game code for this game, you would have seen more moves that were originally planned for this game, but never made the cut (for some characters, these moves debuted in later games).
Among those moves that were cut were Kyo's Saishuu Kessen Ougi 'Mu Shiki', Daimon's Arashi no Yama, Robert's Muei Senpuu Juudan Kyaku, Ralf's Umanori Vulcan Punch, Clark's Running Three, Geese's Deadly Rave and Choi's Hou'ou Kyaku.

Geese's music (Geese ni Katakori) is a remixed version of his Fatal Fury 1 theme music (Geese ni Kiss).
A remixed version of Big Shot! (originally Terry's theme music in "Fatal Fury 3 - Road to the Final Victory") was used as the Fatal Fury Team's music.

About Leona:
Along with the extensive overhaul to the team lineup of KOF '96, Leona entered the series as a replacement for Heidern, leader of the Ikari Team. Introducing the plot element of Heidern's adopted daughter had been dreamed up by the game designers before the production of KOF '96, and the details surrounding her origins gradually came to include a crucial role as a descendant of the Orochi tribe. Designed with the ardent love of her designers, Leona's special moves are markedly unique compared to the other characters, and reveal the particular tastes of her designers.

About Mature:
She used to be Rugal's secretary. For the chief game planner at the time, it seems that both she and Vice were given the image of the 'ruthless woman' and the 'cruel woman' respectively, but when they became actual characters things got a little hectic, and someone came up with, 'Rugal had a secretary, didn't he. Make it two and run with that'. So these two characters came into being (Talk about slacking off). Consequently, they received additional characteristics : they were actually spies sent to observe Rugal and the descendants of the Orochi 8ketsu Clan.

About Vice:
If Mature was the 'ruthless woman', Vice was to be the 'cruel woman'. The official illustrations for Vice and Mature remain extremely popular, and we're glad we could supply our fans with these images that cannot be reduced to pixels. The period of development for KOF '96 dragged on right up to the time of its scheduled release. At the location test for this title, Mature and Vice were still not included in the game. It's not that they were hidden, but there wasn't enough time to insert them into this initial version (we can talk about this calmly now, but at the time...forget about it!).

About Goenitz:
In spite of the fact of Goenitz's sole official appearance in '96, he continues to have a considerable following of fans to this day, making him one of KOF's most popular characters. With strength that surpasses Rugal, the boss character of '94 and '95, the episode of the young Goenitz taking out the eye of Rugal was added to the game's story. Rugal, in turn, relieved Heidern of one of his eyes, which makes us think that SNK sure seems to have a lot of one-eyed characters, witness Gilbert, Jubei Yagyu, and Ramon. If you look carefully at the Goenitz the designer drew at the time (with a little help), you'll notice the shiver-inducing moment in which Goenitz appears to have six fingers.

About Geese Howard:
The dream event for SNK's most recognizable characters! ...and what dream event would be complete without the appearance of Geese? Naturally, he's the character who people hope appears in the game each year, and there were plans to have him appear in KOF '95 long before. Various considerations at the time, however, led developers to abandon this plan. Then, with the time being ripe, Geese reappeared in KOF '96. Even throughout the game, this boss team received special treatment : things like leitmotif music were prepared for each member and at the time of this title's release, enthusiasm for this game reached a feverish pitch. Numerous special moves were prepared for Geese, but in view of the memory capacity and time required for adjustments, a good number of Super Special Moves had to be left out. A waste, really...

About Wolfgang Krauser:
In KOF '96 the Boss Team was formed! And with that, Krauser entered the tournament, teaming up with his half brother Geese... but at the time, in terms of memory limitations and the KOF system of that time, it was a tough environment to faithfully depict the Krauser of Fatal Fury. Developers still cringe remembering the numerous criticisms, big and small, regarding the Fatal Fury Team's treatment. KOF '96 saw the debut of Krauser as a player character, but in the ending sequence he did make a cameo in KOF '94.

About Mr. BIG:
For a variety of reasons, the Krauser of KOF got a bad rap, but BIG received favorable reviews from the fans. BIG is an austere villain brimming over with adult appeal-that's the character of Mr. BIG. The behavior of the women who hang with him also is based on a certain video the designers of the time often watched. The woman mutters, "He's bad", but just what does that actually mean? The truth remains a deep mystery. During the development stage, a positive slide for his Super Special Moves included one labeled "Spinning Stick Thrust, Kind of Like an Anti-Air Assault". We'd like to think that the move wasn't scrapped because of the vagueness of its name, but it's too bad the general public never got to see it. It rocks!

Leona, Ralph and Clark are playable characters in the Foma 90x Series Mobile Phones game 'Metal Slug Survivors'.

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (The King of Fighters '96 - PCCB-00223) on 21/08/1996.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Alternate costume colors:
Press D when selecting a fighter on the character selection screen.

* Select victory pose:
Press a Punch or Kick button immediately after winning a match.

* Finish the game using one of these combinations to see the special endings:
1) Chizuru, Kyo, Iori
2) Goenitz, and 2 more characters except Chizuru

- SERIES -

1. The King of Fighters '94 [Model NGM-055] (1994, Arcade)
2. The King of Fighters '95 [Model NGM-084] (1995, Arcade)
3. The King of Fighters '96 [Model NGM-214] (1996, Arcade)
4. The King of Fighters '97 [Model NGM-232] (1997, Arcade)
5. The King of Fighters '98 - The Slugfest [Model NGM-242] (1998, Arcade)
6. The King of Fighters '99 - Millennium Battle [Model NGM-251] (1999, Arcade)
7. The King of Fighters 2000 [Model NGM-257] (2000, Arcade)
8. The King of Fighters 2001 [Model NGM-262] (2001, Arcade)
9. The King of Fighters 2002 - Challenge to Ultimate Battle [Model NGM-265] (2002, Arcade)
10. The King of Fighters 2003 [Model NGM-271] (2003, Arcade)
11. The King of Fighters NeoWave (2004, Arcade)
12. The King of Fighters Maximum Impact (2004, PS2)
13. The King of Fighters XI (2005, Arcade)
14. The King of Fighters Maximum Impact 2 [Model SLPS-25638] (2006, PS2)
15. The King of Fighters Maximum Impact - Regulation A (2007, Arcade)
16. The King of Fighters Maximum Impact - Regulation A2 (2008, Arcade)
17. The King of Fighters '98 - Ultimate Match (2008, Arcade)
18. The King of Fighters XII (2009, Arcade)
19. The King of Fighters XIII (2010, Arcade)
20. The King of Fighters XIII Climax (2012, Arcade)
21. The King of Fighters XIV (2016, Arcade)
22. The King of Fighters XV (2022, PS4)

- STAFF -

Producer: Takashi Nishiyama
Chief Director: Kuwayan
System Director: Toyochan
Sub Director: Toyochan, Haruo Tomita, Namaan-Hiroto, T. Hosokawa
System Editor: Khozoh Nagashima (K. -Mac- Nagashima)
Front Designers: Tatsuru Murakemi (Tatsuru-Man), C.A.C. Yamasaki, Goro Hamada, Akihiko Nasu, Yuichirow Hiraki, Hagihara Shagiko, Naisyo...., Miki Asakura, Joe-Terry Sato, Kazuhiro Toba ('Toba'), ....., Miho Uematsu, Akiko Yukawa, Shinsuke Yamamoto, Kalkin Mizuno (Kal Mizuno), Mitsuru Kawasaki, Kohrin, Nishida Mika, T. I-NO-U-E, 44Oka, Aska Tahara
Back Designers: Sahori Etoh ('Etosan'), Manoru, Bibidebabidebu, Tsugumi A., Eri Kohjitani, Kaori Kusunoki ('214 Kusu'), Souzi Takamori, M. Yokoyama, Muneki Raishi
Programmers: Shinchan ('Shinchan-R32'), S. Fujinuki, Cyber Kondo
Sound: SHA-V, Konny, Masahiko Hataya (Papaya), Toshio Shimizm ('Shimizm'), Yamapy-1, Tate Norio, Brother Hige, Ackey, Miwa

* Voice Actors :
Kyo Kusanagi: Masahiro Nonaka
Benimaru Nikaido, Ralf Jones, Choi Bounce: Monster Maetsuka
Goro Daimon, Ryo Sakazaki: Masaki Usui
Mai Shiranui: Akoya Sogi
King: Harumi Ikoma
Kasumi Todoh, Vice, Leona: Masae Yumi
Iori Yagami: Kunihiko Yasui
Mature: Hiroko Tsuji
Terry Bogard, Kim Kaphwan: Satoshi Hashimoto
Andy Bogard: Keiichi Nanba
Joe Higashi: Nobuyuki Hiyama
Robert Garcia: Mantaro Koichi
Yuri Sakazaki: Kaori Horie
Athena Asamiya: Tamao Satou
Sie Kensou: Eiji Yano
Chin Gentsai: Toshikazu Nishimura
Clark Steel, Goenitz: Yoshinori Shima
Chang Koehan: Hiroyuki Arita
Geese Howard: Kong Kuwata
Mr. Big: Masaru Naka
Wolfgang Krauser: B. J. Love
Chizuru Kagura: Akiko Saitou

Special Thanks To: Y. Inui, Team POW, Team Syunsuke '96, M. Yasuda, Kazu. Takinaka

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo AES (Sep. 27, 1996) "The King of Fighters '96 [Model NGH-214]"
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo CD (Oct. 25, 1996) "The King of Fighters '96 [Model NGCD-214]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (Dec. 31, 1996) "The King of Fighters '96 [Model T-3108G]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (Dec. 31, 1996) "The King of Fighters '96 [Model T-3109G]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (Dec. 31, 1996) "Gentei KOF Double Pack [Model T-3110G]"
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo CD (Feb. 14, 1997) "The King of Fighters '96 [NeoGeo Collection] [Model NGCD-229]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (jul.04, 1997) "The King of Fighters '96 [Model SLPS-00834]"
[JP] Nintendo Game Boy (Aug. 08, 1997) "Nettou The King of Fighters '96 [Model DMG-AK6J-JPN]"
[JP] Sony PlayStation (jul.23, 1998) "The King of Fighters '96 [The Best] [Model SLPM-86110]"
[JP] Sega Saturn (Oct. 01, 1998) "The King of Fighters Best Collection [Model T-3125G]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (Apr. 20, 2006) "The King of Fighters - Orochi Hen [NeoGeo Online Collection Vol.3] [Limited Edition] [Model SLPS-25535]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (Apr. 20, 2006) "The King of Fighters - Orochi Hen [NeoGeo Online Collection Vol.3] [Model SLPS-25605]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (june.21, 2007) "The King of Fighters - Orochi Hen [NeoGeo Online Collection The Best] [Model SLPS-25791]"

- CONTRIBUTE -

Edit this entry: https://www.arcade-history.com/?&page=detail&id=1287&o=2
Driver Details
source neogeo/neogeo.cpp
status good
emulation good
savestate supported
Screen Details
display screen
type raster
orientation horizontal
width 320px
height 224px
refresh 59.19mhz
Input Details
player 1
type joy
buttons 4
directions 8
player 2
type joy
buttons 4
directions 8
Chipset Details
name Motorola MC68000
clock 11.44mhz
name Zilog Z80
clock 3.81mhz
name YM2610 OPNB
clock 7.63mhz
name Speaker
clock N/A
name Speaker
clock N/A
ROM Details
name size crc
sp-s2.sp1 128.00k 9036d879
sp-s.sp1 128.00k c7f2fa45
sp-45.sp1 512.00k 03cc9f6a
sp-s3.sp1 128.00k 91b64be3
sp-u2.sp1 128.00k e72943de
sp-e.sp1 128.00k 2723a5b5
sp1-u2 128.00k 62f021f4
sp1-u4.bin 128.00k 1179a30f
sp1-u3.bin 128.00k 2025b7a2
vs-bios.rom 128.00k f0e8f27d
sp-j2.sp1 128.00k acede59c
sp1.jipan.1024 128.00k 9fb0abe4
japan-j3.bin 128.00k dff6d41f
sp1-j3.bin 128.00k fbc6d469
sp-j3.sp1 512.00k 486cb450
sp-1v1_3db8c.bin 128.00k 162f0ebe
uni-bios_4_0.rom 128.00k a7aab458
uni-bios_3_3.rom 128.00k 24858466
uni-bios_3_2.rom 128.00k a4e8b9b3
uni-bios_3_1.rom 128.00k 0c58093f
uni-bios_3_0.rom 128.00k a97c89a9
uni-bios_2_3.rom 128.00k 27664eb5
uni-bios_2_3o.rom 128.00k 601720ae
uni-bios_2_2.rom 128.00k 2d50996a
uni-bios_2_1.rom 128.00k 8dabf76b
uni-bios_2_0.rom 128.00k 0c12c2ad
uni-bios_1_3.rom 128.00k b24b44a0
uni-bios_1_2.rom 128.00k 4fa698e9
uni-bios_1_2o.rom 128.00k e19d3ce9
uni-bios_1_1.rom 128.00k 5dda0d84
uni-bios_1_0.rom 128.00k 0ce453a0
214-p1.p1 1.00m 52755d74
214-p2.sp2 2.00m 002ccb73
214-s1.s1 128.00k 1254cbdb
sfix.sfix 128.00k c2ea0cfd
000-lo.lo 128.00k 5a86cff2
sm1.sm1 128.00k 94416d67
214-m1.m1 128.00k dabc427c
214-v1.v1 4.00m 63f7b045
214-v2.v2 4.00m 25929059
214-v3.v3 2.00m 92a2257d
214-c1.c1 4.00m 7ecf4aa2
214-c2.c2 4.00m 05b54f37
214-c3.c3 4.00m 64989a65
214-c4.c4 4.00m afbea515
214-c5.c5 4.00m 2a3bbd26
214-c6.c6 4.00m 44d30dc7
214-c7.c7 4.00m 3687331b
214-c8.c8 4.00m fa1461ad