The King of Fighters XII Ignites Your PS3 this Week

Greetings and salutations, PlayStation Blog readers!

The fighting game gurus at SNK PLAYMORE have finally put the finishing touches on the PLAYSTATION 3 release of The King of Fighters XII, the long-awaited next-generation rebirth of this revered arcade fighting franchise. The game will be available at retail tomorrow, July 28th, and we here at Ignition Entertainment are thrilled to help bring this all-new hand-drawn 2D fighter to the North American market first. That’s right; U.S. gamers will get their hands on the game before their counterparts in Asia and Europe…so early adopters can train for a few days to hone their skills before facing online challengers from KOF’s Japanese homeland.

Series veterans likely already know the franchise’s unique history—back in 1994, characters from classic Neo Geo series including Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and Ikari Warriors were brought together to create a unique and revolutionary three-on-three fighting game known simply as The King of Fighters ’94. For the next decade, KOF reigned as one of the most beloved fighting game franchises ever, with annual updates satiating fans’ desires for updated rosters and gameplay evolution. But in 2004, KOF mysteriously went on hiatus and fans knew SNK PLAYMORE had to be planning a massive overhaul for the venerated fighting series. It’s now been nearly half a decade since The King of Fighters was last seen, and The King of Fighters XII arrives just in time to celebrate the franchise’s 15th anniversary.

King of Fighters XII has taken the next evolutionary step with radically reworked gameplay, glorious high-resolution 2D graphics, and silky smooth animation. SNK PLAYMORE has spared no effort lovingly hand crafting each of the 22 characters to forge the most gorgeous 2D fighting game ever seen, coupled with a selection of lively, intricately detailed stages spanning the globe. The idea that 2D sprite graphics that could be compared to animated films was once an inconceivable dream, but that promise has been fulfilled with KOF XII’s fluidly moving fighters.

PS3 pugilists looking for a single-player experience can challenge the traditional Arcade Mode, change focus with the Time Attack Mode, or even unlock a wealth of attractive artwork in the Gallery. But as usual, the game truly shines in a Versus setting—grab a buddy, plug in a second controller (or even better, a joystick), and watch the hours melt away (and the thumb blisters build). You can also battle head to head via the Playstation Network to engage players online all over the world. With 8-player online lobbies, KOF XII simulates the arcade experience of days long past—prospective fighters can be spectators during other players’ fights and then “quarter up” and play the winner.

KOF XII players can also experience the revolutionary, PLAYSTATION 3-exclusive Clan Mode, a unique feature that allows players with a common goal to band together as a members-only club in order to create the most dominant online Clan possible. You’ll be able to send out a Clan newsletter, kick out members who aren’t carrying their weight, and challenge other Clans to move up the international Clan leaderboard. PS3 players will also be able to download an exclusive theme featuring sultry female fighters Elizabeth and Mature, and should look forward to a slew of upcoming downloadable content that will be made available on PSN. And don’t forget about full Playstation 3 Trophy support, allowing players to be rewarded for their skill and to flaunt their accolades as true badges of honor.

Don’t miss out. History is being made and you can be a part of it with The King of Fighters XII – the ultimate fighting game for the ultimate fighting game fan.

And as a little gift from us at Ignition, we’ve got some Mercury Meltdown PSP vouchers to give away. Keep an eye out on the Sony PlayStation Twitter feed today at 3PM Pacific for deets.