KOF 2001 on Dreamcast, owning divisive design choices yet opening fresh tactical avenues. The cast stays tasty and pacing intrigues. For series loyalists.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
World fighters clash in this new King of Fighters edition published by Eolith for Dreamcast. Published by SNK, released in Japan in April 2002. Fighting game with varied teams, new Korean team characters, enriched combat system. Japanese edition.
King of Fighters 2001, The review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The King of Fighters 2001 pushes the Striker system to its extreme, with modular teams mixing fighters and assists. Its still-expressive Neo Geo sprites move through colorful, teeming arenas enriched with newcomers. Crafted portraits and spectacular assist-call effects extend the saga's 2D identity. A dense, tactically bold versus.
KOF 2001's soundtrack extends SNK energy with varied team themes, between rock, funk and oriental melodies. Marked percussion and catchy hooks support the action, while the Strikers' calls punctuate the rounds with their jingles. A solid, eclectic score that keeps up the versus's high-voltage mood. A backing true to the saga's spirit.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Building your squad by balancing fighters and strikers to suit your strategy: this fresh freedom reshuffles the deck of team versus. The clashes stay snappy, readable and full of flair, with a generous roster to explore. For those who love tuning their line-up as much as their combos, a rich, deep entry in the SNK saga.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Choosing how many characters and strikers to field reshuffles the strategy and invites you to experiment with fresh configurations. The tension of the three-on-three clashes calls for the next match almost automatically. The presentation shows its limits in the finish, but the depth of team management and the swollen roster hold enthusiasts for the long haul.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,25 GB📅04/04/2002
Published by SNK
King of Fighters 2001, The (Dreamcast) price, value & rarity
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
KOF 2001 is the Japanese edition of SNK's fighter ported from Neo Geo to Dreamcast, exploiting the NAOMI hardware. Collector value comes from KOF's status in Japanese 2D fighting and from the progressive scarcity of SNK Dreamcast boxed pressings, a segment that ended with SNK's transition to Playmore.
Better with friends
A sequel in the team saga where you choose how to split your forces between fighters and strikers before the clash. That up-front management feeds a cerebral competition, where the right balance of attack and support often decides the winner. The balance divides purists, but among friends who know the roster the bouts stay genuinely electric.
Is King of Fighters 2001, The still worth playing in 2026?
The first post SNK KOF developed by Eolith, the 2001 entry wraps up the NESTS arc with a free Striker system that lets you field one, two or three active fighters. Visually poorer than the previous entries, it compensates with huge replay value and a story that closes the saga cleanly. The Dreamcast conversion stays decent. Best recommended to long time fans eager to finish the cycle, rather than newcomers, who should still favour 98 or 2002 first as their entry point.
