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==Reception==
The original ''The King of Fighters'' games were well received for their use of team battles and the number of characters.<ref>Robert Workman, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100824054612/http://www.gameplaybook.com/news/keeping-it-old-school-the-best-2-d-fighting-games-ever-made/ Keeping It Old School: The Best 2-D Fighting Games Ever Made], GamePlayBook, August 5, 2010.</ref><ref name="GPro66">{{Cite magazine|title=ProReview: The King of Fighters '94|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=66|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=January 1995|pages=84–85}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2004/10/06/fighters-history-king-of-fighters-94?page=2|title=Fighter's History: King of Fighters '94|website=IGN|author=Dunhan, Jeremy|date=October 6, 2004|access-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref> Some games were often listed as the best fighting games from their release.<ref name="award">{{Cite magazine |title=The Best of '96|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=92|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=March 1997|page=86}}</ref><ref name="egmbuyersguide1996">{{Cite magazine |year=1996 |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide |magazine= Electronic Gaming Monthly|issn=1058-918X}}</ref> The four reviewers of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' declared the Neo Geo AES version a solid improvement over the previous ''King of Fighters'', particularly applauding the addition of the team edit feature which remained in all of the following games.<ref name="EGM76">{{Cite magazine|title=Review Crew: King of Fighters '95|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=76|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=November 1995|page=50}}</ref> Critics noted they often served as rivals to [[Capcom]]'s ''[[Street Fighter]]'' series based on some character designs and moves.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 25, 1996 |access-date=March 11, 2009|url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/152/152072p1.html|title=The King Of Fighters '95|website=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502054019/http://psx.ign.com/articles/152/152072p1.html|archive-date=May 2, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3112498|title=History Of... The King of Fighters, SNK's classic team-based 2D fighting series|website=[[1UP.com]]|access-date=August 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004214749/http://www.1up.com/features/history-ofthe-king-fighters|archive-date=October 4, 2015}}</ref> While ''KOF '96'' was felt to be unbalanced due its usage of projectile moves, its updated graphics impressed reviewers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.consoleob.com/kofc.html|title=The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga Review|date=December 16, 2008|author=Wigham, Chris|publisher=Consoleob.com|access-date=March 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325200930/http://www.consoleob.com/kofc.html|archive-date=March 25, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.entdepot.com/ps2/article_3759.php|title=King of Fighters: Orochi Saga|publisher=entdepot.com|author=Damilas, George|date=November 26, 2008 |access-date=March 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218115652/http://www.entdepot.com/ps2/article_3759.php|archive-date=December 18, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> SNK's constant use of 2D sprites across multiple games has been criticized by reviewers who found them dated despite attempts to improve the graphics with the release of ''XI''.<ref name="ign">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/02/the-king-of-fighters-2000-import|title=THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2000 (IMPORT)|website=IGN|date=December 2, 2002 |access-date=October 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021065956/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/02/the-king-of-fighters-2000-import|archive-date=October 21, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="eurogame">{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/king-of-fighters-xi-review|date=July 14, 2007|title=The King of Fighters XI Review|website=Eurogamer |access-date=January 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122185101/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/king-of-fighters-xi-review|archive-date=January 22, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="meri">{{Cite web|url=http://www.meristation.com.mx/playstation-2/the-king-of-fighters-xi/analisis-juego/1518230?browserOutputType=mobile&p=4|title=Analisis -The King of Fighters XI|publisher=Meristation|access-date=November 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104051503/http://www.meristation.com.mx/playstation-2/the-king-of-fighters-xi/analisis-juego/1518230?browserOutputType=mobile&p=4|archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, the graphic overhaul in the two following games was met with high praise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-28-the-king-of-fighters-xiii-review|title=The King of Fighters 13 Review|author=Edwards, Matt|website=Eurogamer|date=November 28, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908043208/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-28-the-king-of-fighters-xiii-review|archive-date=September 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-the-king-of-fighters-xiii/ |title=EGM Review: The King of Fighters XIII|author=Patterson, Eric L.|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|date=November 21, 2011 |access-date=September 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716010158/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-the-king-of-fighters-xiii/ |archive-date=July 16, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="destructoid">{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-the-king-of-fighters-xiii-217185.phtml|author=Holmes, Jonathan|title=Review: The King of Fighters XIII|website=Destructoid|access-date=April 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425042842/http://www.destructoid.com/review-the-king-of-fighters-xiii-217185.phtml|archive-date=April 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
While the fighting system has been well-received, critics have had mixed feelings regarding the Striker system introduced in ''KOF '99''.<ref name="gamepro">{{cite magazine |date=December 21, 2000|access-date=March 12, 2009 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/10103/king-of-fighters-99/|title=The King of Fighters '99 Review|magazine=[[GamePro]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529090955/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/10103/king-of-fighters-99/|archive-date=May 29, 2009}}</ref><ref name="striker">{{cite web |date=December 13, 2000|author=Park, Andrew Seyoon |access-date=March 12, 2006|url=http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/action/kingoffighters99evolution/review.html?page=2|title=The King of Fighters '99: Evolution Review, page 2|website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> In ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s "The History of SNK" article, ''KOF '99: Evolution'' was described as one of the best fighting games on the Dreamcast, along with ''[[Garou: Mark of the Wolves]]''. However, because it was released during the PlayStation 2's launch and Dreamcast's ending, the game did not sell well.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=June 12, 2009|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6089278/p-22.html|title=The History of SNK, page 22|website=[[GameSpot]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531074723/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6089278/p-22.html|archive-date=May 31, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The boss character Rugal Bernstein, among others, has been described as one of the most challenging characters to defeat in fighting games; this feeling also led to some criticism.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/03/15-of-the-coolest-boss-battles-ever/rugal-bernstein|title=15 Of The Coolest Boss Battles Ever|magazine=Complex|access-date=October 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107034934/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/03/15-of-the-coolest-boss-battles-ever/rugal-bernstein|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=dreamcast&game=kof_evolution |title=King of Fighters '99- Evolution |author=Keely, Jeff |publisher=Gaming Age |access-date=April 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20021123223943/http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=dreamcast&game=kof_evolution |archive-date=November 23, 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/the-king-of-fighters-the-orochi-saga-review|title=The King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga Review|date=December 10, 2008|author=Edwards, Matt|website=[[Eurogamer]]|access-date=August 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219123246/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/the-king-of-fighters-the-orochi-saga-review|archive-date=December 19, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/neo/action/kingoffighters2001/review.html/|title=The King of Fighters 2001|website=GameSpot|access-date=September 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040415141540/https://www.gamespot.com/neo/action/kingoffighters2001/review.html/|archive-date=April 15, 2004|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=The News That Never Was|journal=GameAxis Unwired|publisher=[[Singapore Press Holdings]]|issn=0219-872X|page=29|date=April 2005}}</ref>
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