#King the king of fighters xv series

There are tons of unique approaches players can take and they’ll all be necessary if they want to really master the game. What you may notice from that mechanical breakdown is that a lot of these mechanics have multiple applications.

For one super meter, players can use an armored blowback attack that crumples grounded opponents and wall bounces aerial ones, making it a great guard cancel and combo tool. The newcomer, Shatter Strike, is a big game-changer. Raw MAX mode increases the damage and guard bar damage done by activated characters and Quick MAX can be canceled into it from a connecting normal attack, making for a good combo tool despite its shorter duration.Īlong with those mechanics come classics like rolls, short hops, hyper hops, and guard cancels. Mainstay mechanics such as MAX Mode (which allows EX specials to be performed freely) have been further expanded with two different variations.

But then came the new tweaks, which made playing even the oldest characters feel even more fun.ĭespite sticking to its guns, KOF XV feels like a breath of fresh air. Everything I learned with her in past games still applied, down to the combos and knockdown options. Upon starting the game, I went to my favorite character from the series, Shermie, and immediately felt at home. Of course, that’s not to say this old dog doesn’t have any new tricks.

#King the king of fighters xv series

This makes it a very welcome title to longtime lovers of the series and newcomers alike, and it’s something fighting game players have been begging developers to realize for years now. It doesn’t water anything down to open doors to players that won’t know the difference between every specific mechanic. This system - along with the classic KOF movement options like runs, short hops, and hyper hops - are all intact for this installment.ĭespite sticking to its guns, KOF XV feels like a breath of fresh air. Upon beating an opposing character, your current character’s life bar will refill a small amount. When one is knocked out, the next takes over and is granted an extra bar, which can go up to five stocks. Your three characters have different life bars, but all share a super meter. Like previous entries, this is a team-based 3v3 fighting game (though it features a 1v1 mode as well) and it separates itself from the competition with a unique system.

This new entry in the KOF series takes that flawed philosophy and throws it to the side, challenging new and old players alike to come and master all of its mechanics. The King of Fighters XV is a traditional 2D fighting game that truly feels like it’s returning to form and broadening its horizons in a world where its peers have devolved in hopes of bringing in new players. It accomplishes that perfectly without dumbing itself down in the slightest, remaining beginner-friendly and looking great with its new polished graphics. King of Fighters 15 - Official Release Date Trailer | gamescom 2021Īfter finally getting to try The King of Fighters XV, I quickly found out the answer is “yes.” The King of Fighters XV is a game that looks to the past for the best inspiration possible, remembers its core, and doesn’t let go of the classic team-based gameplay philosophy that defines the series.