Burning peak of the series with Advanced and Extra modes and the Orochi arc in apotheosis. Unforgettable visuals, cult soundtrack. For many the perfect KOF, hard to argue with.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
The Orochi story arc reaches its climax with two distinct Advanced and Extra gameplay modes in this KOF '97. Published by SNK, released in Japan in October 1997. Team combat with distinct Advanced and Extra modes, Orochi storyline conclusion, new boss Orochi, Orochi Team characters. Japanese edition.
King of Fighters '97, The review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Hand-drawn high-resolution sprites of exceptional finesse: SNK brings fighting pixel art to a peak of refinement. The silky animation and detailed backgrounds overflow with life and character. This graphic virtuosity, sleek and warm, illustrates the peak of hand-drawn 2D.
The climax of the Orochi saga, the entry deploys themes of a new dramatic intensity, between tense rock and darker flights. The CD version underlines the tension of the story with a striking power. This musical maturity, worthy of the narrative stakes, marks a turning point for the series.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
A climax of the Orochi saga, this entry offers two play styles, Advanced and Extra, that reinvent gauge management and strategy. The plethoric roster and the burning story give the fights an unprecedented dramatic weight. Deep, balanced and intense, it rewards mastery without putting off the curious. A peak of 2D versus, dense and gripping.
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾0,55 GB📅02/10/1997
Published by SNK
King of Fighters '97, The (Neo Geo CD) price, value & rarity
SNK Japanese October 1997 edition of the Neo Geo CD port of KOF '97, which closes the Orochi saga with separate Advanced and Extra modes, a first for the franchise. The CD port adds extended Orochi-arc ending cinematics, restoring the narrative completeness that the MVS board condenses. Desirability rests on that CD-specific narrative extension, on the rarity of the Japanese run in the mid-to-late Neo Geo CD cycle, and on the preservation of the original Japanese voices.
Better with friends
An expanded iteration of the team fighter, richer in modes and offensive options, ideal for three-on-three. The competition gains depth: managing your gauge, varying your approaches and reading your opponent become decisive. Dense yet gratifying, it rewards regular rivals with matches of delicious tension and feeds stubborn rivalries settled evening after evening.
Is King of Fighters '97, The still worth playing in 2026?
King of Fighters '97 confirms SNK's mastery of its three-on-three engine. The summit of the Orochi saga, the dual Advance and Extra system, narrative writing at its peak and one of the hardcore favourites. On Neo Geo CD, between-match and between-round loading is the classic trade-off, but the CD soundtrack genuinely lifts the atmosphere. For 2D fighter veterans and SNK golden-age fans, the cart still holds defensible weight today, especially in local multiplayer. An essential step in a decade of 2D fighting with no real equivalent.
