The King of Fighters '97

About

"THE KING OF FIGHTERS '97" is a popular fighting game that has made its way to Android devices. As the new challenger, players can compete in the classic tournament and battle it out with a variety of iconic characters from the KOF series. The game features improved graphics and touch controls, allowing players to easily perform special moves and combos for an intense gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,070 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

graphics4 negative mentions

It's a great port of the original arcade game, bringing back nostalgic memories.
The game features a solid roster of characters and retains the classic gameplay mechanics.
Playing with a Bluetooth controller enhances the experience significantly.

The AI is extremely difficult, making it frustrating for players, especially after level 3.
Touch controls are unresponsive and difficult to use, hindering the ability to execute combos and special moves.
The game lacks a training mode, which is essential for newcomers to learn and practice.

graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
53%
27%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the retro pixelated style and smooth animations, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking clarity. Many users express a desire for improved graphics and additional features, such as a practice mode, to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the graphics seem to evoke nostalgia for some, but leave others feeling disappointed.
- “Awesome sounds awesome graphics easy controls very smooth animation.”
- “My favorite fighting game of all time even better than Mortal Kombat X lol...great pixelated graphics, runs perfectly smooth and I just love it!!!”
- “The graphics, sound, & integration of MOGA support are superb.”
- “I paid money for this game; honestly speaking, I'm not happy with the effects and graphics. They could be much better than they are now, please consider an update.”
- “Control stick sometimes not responsive, graphics outdated. Other than that, it reminds me of school days, well, the days I skipped school haha. It would be hard to play on anything with a small screen.”
- “Better than KOF-A2012 because it doesn't force close... but terrible graphics and controls. If you buy this for the 'retroness' of the game that brings back good memories, then yes, this game is suitable for you.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
43%
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of nostalgia and frustration, with many praising the classic feel and smooth controls, while others criticize repetitive mechanics and issues with grab functionality. Despite some complaints about ads in a paid app and touchscreen limitations, the overall sentiment leans towards enjoyment, particularly for fans of the genre.
- “This is an awesome game with classic gameplay.”
- “So far, the gameplay has been phenomenal. I used to love this game when I was a kid.”
- “Good arcade game with Google Play game features and good controls, gameplay, and graphics including immersive full screen.”
- “The bots are so repetitive, and the grab mechanics need fixing because I keep trying to grab, but for some reason, it doesn't work. Then the enemy grabs me after I hit them first.”
- “The gameplay feels unbalanced, with certain characters being overpowered while others are nearly useless.”
- “There are too many bugs that disrupt the flow of the game, making it frustrating to play.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, players appreciate the game's monetization approach, highlighting the absence of intrusive ads and in-app purchases, which enhances the gaming experience. However, some users noted the presence of ads in a paid app, indicating a mixed reception regarding monetization practices.
- “Great game and thank you for not including any in-app purchases.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt the gameplay experience.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without pushing for additional purchases.”
- “Good arcade game with Google Play game features and good controls, gameplay, and graphics including immersive full screen, but ads (in a paid app) and no Google Cloud sync.”
- “Great game and thank you guys for not including in-app purchases b.s.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the story elements in the game, particularly in single-player mode, but some find the difficulty level overwhelming, which detracts from their enjoyment of the narrative. The desire for a more accessible experience to fully engage with the story is a common sentiment among long-time fans.
- “I only bought the game to play on my phone and to enjoy the little bits of story in singleplayer.”
- “I've been playing KOF ever since I was 6; I'm 20 now, and sometimes I just want to play super easy for the story content of the teams.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in King of Fighters is highly praised by fans, with many considering it a standout feature that enhances the overall gameplay experience. Players express a strong appreciation for the soundtrack, often favoring it over competitors like Street Fighter. Despite some wishing for a free version, they agree that the game's music justifies its price.
- “I'm a new fan and I love King of Fighters now more than Street Fighter. The music and gameplay are great; I wish it was free like the King of Fighters 2012 app, but it is worth the money.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's stability is generally strong, but users have reported issues with buggy audio that detracts from the overall experience.
- “I would give a perfect score, but the audio is buggy.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the experience.”