The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood

The game's data is based on the 1999 arcade 2D fighting game The King of Fighters '99 but rather than focusing on its NESTS narrative, SNK chose to expand the previous Orochi's arc primarily focusing on Kyo Kusanagi. Writer Akihiko Ureshino considers the game a failure.{{cite web|url=https://note.com/ureshino_te/n/nbfd41a0c6d94|title=【SNK】血の色は？【KOF】|date=11 July 2022 |language=Japanese|access-date=September 9, 2024}} The game was released on January 1, 2002 in Japan,{{cite web |url=http://gba-mk2.com/fight/kingof.html |title= MK2: The King of Fighters EX|language=ja |work=MK2 |access-date=2008-08-04}} and August 23, 2002 in Western regions by Sammy Corporation and Majesco. According to Marvelous Entertainment, the team tried tried properly adapting the original arcade controls into the GameBoy Advance ones.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/07/hands-on-king-of-fighters-ex-neo-blood|website=IGN|title=Hands on: King of Fighters EX Neo Blood|date=7 November 2001 |access-date=June 2, 2025}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gba/action/kingoffightersexneoblood/similar.html?mode=versions |title=GameSpot: The King of Fighters EX |work=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc |access-date=2008-08-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220232504/http://www.gamespot.com/gba/action/kingoffightersexneoblood/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=2006-02-20}}

The game was first announced in June 2001 with developers announcing it was 30 percent complete and that it would feature over 20 characters.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-look-king-of-fighters-gba/1100-2783385/|title=First look: King of Fighters GBA|website=GameSpot|access-date=June 2, 2025|date=July 9, 2001}} Although SNK went bankpruft during, development, Neo Blood was handled by Marvelous Entertainment without issues.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/6664/snk-says-goodbye|title=SNK says Goodbye|website=Nintendo World Report|access-date=June 2, 2025|date=October 30, 2001}} Like The King of Fighters 99, the game is a fighting game where teams composed of four members fight against each other through combos and special moves and have to defeat the entire team to progress to the next stage. The counter and armor modes help to protect the player from major damage and create a major counterattack. The fourth team member is primarily used as an assistant dubbed Striker.

The story focuses on the crimelord Geese Howard who wishes to take the power of the demon Yamata no Orochi by manipulating its cursed fighter Iori Yagami, leading to Kyo and other teams to oppose them.{{cite video game|title=The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood|year=2002|developer=Marvelous Entertainment|quote=Iori: I'm no slave of the Orochi lineage. / Geese: So close. So close. / Kyo: Geese! / Geese: I almost had the Orochi power. / Kyo: Ah. That explains this KOF charade.}} Besides the story mode, the game offers single play mode and survival mode.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-46127|title=GBA feels Guilty, spills Blood|website=Eurogamer|access-date=June 2, 2025|date=June 12, 2002}} The playable characters are:

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Hero Team

• Kyo Kusanagi
• Moe Habana
• Benimaru Nikaido
• Shingo Yabuki (striker)

Fatal Fury Team

• Terry Bogard
• Andy Bogard
• Mai Shiranui
• Joe Higashi (striker)

Ikari Team

• Leona
• Ralf Jones
• Clark Steel
• Whip (striker)

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Art of Fighting Team

• Ryo Sakazaki
• Robert Garcia
• King
• Yuri Sakazaki (striker)

Pyscho Soldier Team

• Athena Asamiya
• Sie Kensou
• Bao
• Chin Gentsai (striker)

Korea Team

• Kim Kaphwan
• Chang Koehan
• Choi Bounge
• Jhun Hoon (striker)

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

• Iori Yagami

{{col-2}}

• Geese Howard

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• Iori Yagami
• Geese Howard

Strikers:

• K'
• Maxima
• Vanessa
• Ryuji Yamazaki

Critical response to the game was "Generally Favorable" according to video game website Metacritic.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-king-of-fighters-ex-neo-blood/|title=The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood|website=Metacritic|access-date=June 2, 2025}} GameZone considered the game a "musthave" for gamers due to its depth in gameplay and 18 playable characters but criticized its narrative, considering it as generic as Tekken games.{{cite web | url=http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19848_GBA.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005085449/http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19848_GBA.htm | archive-date=5 October 2007 | title=King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood Review - Game Boy Advance }} IGN praised its visual for being nearly as good as an arcade game and had mixed issues considering how the controls from the NeoGeo adapt to the GameBoy Advance.{{cite web | url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/379/379436p1.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023072335/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/379/379436p1.html | archive-date=23 October 2007 | title=King of Fighters EX Neoblood | date=5 December 2002 }} GameSpy said that while Striker system is not unique, SNK properly executed them into the game.https://web.archive.org/web/20030207080728/http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/november02/kofexgba/ Andres Rojas from Nintendo World Report said compared the gameplay with Marvel vs. Capcom and The King of Fighters '99 but mentioned it is benefitted by featuring an original story not featured in previous installments as it takes before the NESTS arc.{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/preview/3507/king-of-fighters-ex-neoblood-gamecube|title=King of Fighters EX: Neoblood|author=Rojas, Andres|publisher=Nintendo World Report|access-date=September 30, 2015|date=July 20, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001185636/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/preview/3507/king-of-fighters-ex-neoblood-gamecube|url-status=live|archive-date=October 1, 2015}} Despite issues with the presentation Nintendo GamerWeb claimed that Marvelous and Sammy did a good work in the gameplay, making it feel as good as the main series thanks to its "smooth controls".{{cite web|url=https://nintendo.gamerweb.com/reviews/gba/king_fighters.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040107032421/https://nintendo.gamerweb.com/reviews/gba/king_fighters.asp|title=King of Fighters EX - Neo Blood|website=Nitendo GamerWeb|access-date=June 2, 2025|archive-date=January 7, 2004|date=November 25, 2002}} The game was compared to Mortal Kombat Advance by Pocket Gamez and Guilty Gear X by Nintendo Power due to its level of appeal.{{cite magazine|magazine=Pocket Gamez|year=2002|issue=Summer 2002|page=22|publisher=Steel Media|title=The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Nintendo Power|year=2002|issue=June 2002|page=154|publisher=Nintendo of America|title=The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood}}

A sequel, The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood, was announced for a 2003 release in the same console and later for a N-Gage under the title of The King of Fighters Extreme.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/two-more-atlus-games-for-usa-gbas/1100-6077677/|title=Two more Atlus games for USA GBAs|website=GameSpot|date=October 30, 2003|access-date=June 2, 2025|author=Thorsen, Tom}}

{{reflist}}

{{King of Fighters games}}

Category:2D fighting games

Category:SNK Playmore games

Category:Game Boy Advance games

Category:2002 video games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:The King of Fighters games