Well, here we have it: King of Fighters 2003. This is a strange entry in the series for many ways. It makes the last time a KoF game was made on the NeoGeo board. At the same time that it's an ending, it's also a beginning as it starts a new saga in the KoF storyline (Tales of Ash). This game is also the first KoF game to incorporate a tag-style system to the game reminiscent of Capcom's Marvel vs. games. This tag system is highly controversial among fans. Many dislike it and some accuse them of just ripping off of MvC2. One must remember, however, that SNK did team fighting before anyone else. They've KoF is a series that has been running team-based combat since 1994. They just normally have fighting commence in independent rounds, not enabling switching.

While the traditional method of combat in KoF has its charm and I definitely like it, I can easily appreciate the change of pace the tag system offers this entry. Instead of multiple, almost unconnected fights, the battle now seems like one fluid, cohesive battle between two sides. They all cooperatively work together to take down the other team. It really feels more like legitimate teams rather than each member doing their own thing independently.

Another notable difference in this entry involves the engine mechanics themselves. Gameplay feels more fluid than every before. There seems to be an increased move buffer and controls are a lot looser with more lax timing for execution. The combat itself is much faster paced that normal, making matches more exciting.

Graphics: 9 - Okay, let's be honest... these graphics are pretty poor for 2003, but you have to remember that it's running on an arcade board built in the early 90s. Considering how limited their hardware must have been, they did a pretty good job on this game.

Sound: 7 - Finally free of Eolith's influence, SNK is able to start getting back to quality KoF music. While they haven't fully returned to old form, the actual sound quality seems to be a step up from the previous two games and the soundtrack itself has a few really good songs in it.

Addictiveness: 9 - This is one of the more fun KoF games for me. It may not work well for a serious, tournament scenario, but if you just want some fun matches with friends, this one is great. The fast-paced gameplay and crazy tag action makes it immersive. This is definitely an entry I can continuously go back to and play.

Story: 7 - Here we have a new storyline starting up, full of mystery and confusion. Old school fighting games were not very good at storytelling, but this one does a little better of a job than older games in the series. If you're able to actually find out the full scale of the story behind the bits and pieces it feeds you in cut-scenes, you'll find that it's a really neat and interesting setup for this new saga.

Depth: 5 - It's a fighting game... there isn't much more to do in it but play matches. Home mode has your typical Versus, Arcade, or Practice modes with either the standard 3 on 3 teams or 1 on 1 Single Play. It lacks the Survival or Time Attack modes present in older entries. There are two different paths you can take through the game though with two different endings. Only one of these is considered the "true" ending, but there is at least some replay value in trying to take both paths.

Difficulty: 4 - It's easier to pull off moves than in most KoF games. The AI isn't especially tough either (though this is adjustable).

Overall, this gets a 7.4 which is somewhere between "Good" and "Very Good". It's a solid game that's a must-play for any fan of the series... even just fighting game fans in general should be able to appreciate it. If you like Marvel vs. Capcom style gameplay, there's a good chance you'll enjoy this game as well.

Oh wow, so that's why people bashed on the game. Seriously, just because a game uses an idea (like mortal kombat with their team tag system) doesn't mean it is ripping a game off or etc unless they do the tagging system exactly the same way, meaning they are parodying it. The tag system of MvC2 is a concept or idea, and therefore under the copyright laws, can be built upon if remixed or altered from its original idea.

People really need to learn copyright law and saying this game is ripping off this and that. Kind of like Fighter's History which was almost sued, but copyright laws won the case. They altered the idea and etc and in no way actually copied. Why? Well, in my batman let's play, I even made a reference to street fighter with blanka because a particular boss does the rolling attacks the same way he does. Is it copyright? No, it's a fighting style that matches the character! (It wasn't even a fighting game either.)

Anyway, nice review of the game. Maybe I might review KoF 2002, one of my favorite KoFs. Before that will be Garou: Mark of the Wolves, and Art of Fighting 3 first.