The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match
The King of Fighters '98 is SNK's magnum opus. Subtitled "The Slugfest" in the West and "Dream Match Never Ends" in Japan, it strips away the series' ongoing saga storyline and focuses purely on what matters: the fighting. With a roster of 38 characters (plus hidden picks), three-on-three team battles, and two selectable fighting modes, it's the most complete KOF package of the classic era.
The team system is what sets KOF apart from Street Fighter and other one-on-one fighters. You pick three characters and fight in order, when one falls, the next steps in. This creates a meta-game of team composition, order strategy, and character matchups that adds layers of depth beyond any individual fight. Do you lead with your weakest character to build meter? Save your best for last? Counter-pick based on your opponent's team?
The two fighting modes, Advanced and Extra, give each character two entirely different playstyles. Advanced mode offers run, dodge roll, and charge-based super meter. Extra mode gives dash, sidestep, and a charge-hold super gauge. This effectively doubles the roster's strategic possibilities.
The sprite work is SNK at their peak. Characters are large, beautifully animated, and bursting with personality. Iori's wild flame attacks, Terry's powerful Buster Wolf, Kyo's fluid rekka chains, every character feels distinct and expressive. The Neo Geo hardware renders it all with characteristic sharpness and color depth.
The balance, while not perfect (Daimon and Iori are widely considered top tier), is remarkably good for a 38-character roster. Even lower-tier characters have tools to compete, and the team system allows weaker characters to be supported by stronger teammates.
Sound design is crisp and impactful. Hits feel powerful, special moves have iconic audio cues, and the announcer's voice calls add hype to every match. The soundtrack blends rock, electronic, and traditional Japanese elements.
KOF '98 is the fighting game that serious players return to. It's mechanically deep, visually stunning, and competitively immortal.
Score Breakdown
Pros
- +Three-on-three team system adds unmatched strategic depth
- +Massive roster with two fighting modes per character
- +SNK's finest sprite work and animation
- +Still played competitively decades later
Cons
- -High execution barrier for newcomers
- -Some balance issues with top-tier characters
- -Original Neo Geo hardware is expensive
- -No story mode (by design, but some miss it)
You Might Also Like
Fatal Fury Special
SNK's refined fighting sequel makes a surprisingly capable appearance on the PC Engine, delivering the core Fatal Fury experience with impressive faithfulness despite the hardware gap.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
My sibling's game that I barely touched in 2003, finished properly in 2026 on an original GameCube. Springfield still feels more alive than most modern open worlds, even if the last missions test your patience.
Sam & Max Hit the Road
I finished it once in 1993, aged seven, and it took most of a summer. I finished it again last Sunday in a day. The DOS original, on an AO486 core, still one of the best written games ever made.