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King of Fighters Games
Fighter ID:
Password
King of Fighters '97, The
2D Fighter (Conventional) by SNK
Neo Geo
Japan
7/28/1997
Neo Geo CD
Japan
10/30/1997
Saturn
Japan
3/26/1998
Playstation
Japan
5/28/1998
The King of Fighters Orochi Collection (Playstation 2)
Compilation release
Japan
4/20/2006
Playstation Network
Japan
7/11/2007
The King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga (Playstation Portable)
Compilation release.
United States
10/28/2008
The King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga (Wii)
Compilation release.
United States
11/25/2008
The King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga (WiiWare/Virtual Console)
Emulation of Neo Geo version.
Japan
9/6/2011
iOS
United States
11/13/2013
Android
United States
11/14/2013
ACA NeoGeo: The King of Fighters '97 (PlayStation 4)
Worldwide
11/2/2017
ACA NeoGeo: The King of Fighters '97 (Xbox One)
Worldwide
11/2/2017
The King of Fighters '97: Global Match (PlayStation 4)
Worldwide
04/03/2018
The King of Fighters '97: Global Match (PlayStation Vita)
Worldwide
04/03/2018
The King of Fighters '97: Global Match (Windows)
Worldwide
04/03/2018
The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga (PlayStation 4)
Compilation release.
Worldwide
6/26/2018
ACA NeoGeo: The King of Fighters '97 (Switch)
Worldwide
7/26/2018

Fighters
Kyo Kusanagi
Benimaru Nikaido
Goro Daimon
Terry Bogard
Andy Bogard
Joe Higashi
Ryo Sakazaki
Robert Garcia
Yuri Sakazaki
Leona Heidern
Ralf Jones
Clark Steel
Athena Asamiya
Kensou
Chin Gentsai
Chizuru Kagura
Mai Shiranui
King
Kim Kaphwan
Chang Koehan
Choi Bounge
Yashiro Nanakase
Shermie
Chris
Yamazaki
Blue Mary Ryan
Billy Kane
Iori Yagami
Orochi
Shingo Yabuki
Orochi Iori
Orochi Yashiro
Orochi Shermie
Orochi Chris
Orochi Leona

Gameplay
Super Desperation Moves (Super Desperation Moves)
Super Meter (Super Meter)
Clark Steel
Clark Still
Throw Moves

Death Lake Drive
(in air)(close)backward/down/forward+cbtn/dbtn
Clark simply snatches his opponent out of the air and tosses them unceremoniously to the ground.

Fisherman Buster
(close)forward/backward+dbtn
A variant of the brainbuster technique.

Nage-panashi German / 投げっぱなしジャーマン
(close)forward/backward+cbtn
A partial german suplex in which the opponent is released and thrown backwards. Clark lies on the ground leisurely for a moment, afterwards.
Command Moves

Stomping
forward+bbtn
Somewhat exaggerated low kick.
Special Moves

Frankensteiner
(close)dp+anykick
Command throw with an extremely long whiff animation, owing to the elaborate nature of the frankensteiner. If not followed up with Flash Elbow, Clark will spread his arms and exclaim "HEY."

Napalm Stretch
dp+anypunch
Clark leaps up at a high angle in a cool pose. He locks up with the opponent and spins to the ground, slamming them. This move is in reference to Kinnikuman Soldier's technique of the same name.

Rolling Cradler
hcf+anypunch
Clark dashes forward with a grab attempt, then rolls backwards across the ground with his opponent in tow. Relegated to a Mount Tackle followup after the invention of that move.

Super Argentine Backbreaker
(close)hcf+anykick
Clark tosses the opponent into the air to land on his waiting shoulders. Starting in 1996, could be followed up with an elbow drop.

Vulcan Punch
m-anypunch
Rapid punches at an upward angle.
Desperation Moves

Running Three
hcfhcf+anykick
Clark poses with his arms in a V-shape, shouts "RUNNING THREEAGHH" and dashes forward. He lifts his opponent on his shoulders and performs a running powerbomb. In the SDM version, they are subjected to a series of three bombs.

Ultra Argentine Backbreaker
(close)hcbhcb+anypunch
Three successive Super Argentine Backbreakers are performed with different finishers over the years. 94-95: After the third drop, Clark ends with a shoulder buster. 96-98: Normally ends with a Death Valley Bomb. SDM version ends with "Clark Spark," Clark's take on Kinnikuman's Muscle Spark finisher.
Yamazaki
Throw Moves

Bun Nage / ブン投げ
(close)forward/backward+dbtn
Lift and unceremoniously toss backwards.

Strangle Lift / Shime Age, シメ上げ
(close)forward/backward+cbtn
Lift and slam.
Command Moves

Bussashi / ブッ刺し
forward+abtn
Straight punch downward.
Special Moves

Bomb Bopper / 爆弾パチキ
(close)hcf+anypunch
Yamazaki grabs his foe and gives them an exploding headbutt.

Double Return / 倍返し
qcf+anypunch
Ryuji swipes his arm upward. Hits opponents at close range. Generally the weaker version absorbs projectiles while the stronger version returns a bloody projectile.

Hydra's Judgment / 裁きの匕首
dp+anypunch
Yamazaki slashes with a concealed knife.

Sadomaso / サドマゾ
hcf+anykick
Ryuji taunts his opponent, if struck mid or high he counters with an energy fist.

Sand Scattering / 砂かけ
dp+anykick
A big kick spraying sand forward. Can be cancelled into Serpent Slash.

Serpent Slash / Snake Arm, Snake Tamer, 蛇使い
qcb+abtn/bbtn/cbtn(hold),(release)/dbtn
Dangles arm while button is held, then slashes out in a given direction. In some games, holding for an extended period of time causes Yama to slash three times rapidly.
Super Moves

Drill
(close)hcbhcb+anypunch,m-anypunch
A command throw followed by a period where the player can mash. The amount of mashing determine's Yamazaki's action and amount of damage. In many games, continuing to mash after the fact makes Yamazaki laugh hysterically.

Guillotine
qcfqcf+anypunch
A leaping uppercut followed by a downward strike. A successful Yamazaki drags his opponent across the floor before kicking them away.

Storyline
King of Fighters '97 / 1997
KOF '96 tournament drew to a close with an incident that occurred right after the tournament's end. The incident itself and the subsequent accident it caused were officially reported as the result of terrorist activity by an unknown group, but the details concerning the identity, motives, and subsequent whereabouts of the terrorists remained a mystery.

In spite of this incident, however, the KOF '96 tournament was an overwhelming commercial success. A few months after, the event triggered a fighting craze and various large corporations, expressing interest in the fad, offered to sponsor subsequent tournaments, leading to a demand for an eagerly awaited KOF '97. The fad reached all over the globe and in no time KOF '97 came into being.

With the decision to hold the tournament, fighters began to gather at various venues for the preliminary matches and approached the tournament with various motives. Some came to test their abilities while others entered for wealth and fame.

Word of the tournament came through all forms of the media, and fans from far and wide gathered to witness the white-hot preliminary battles. Concomitant to the preliminary matches, came the construction of various KOF stadiums throughout the world. Naturally the anticipation for the KOF '97 tournament exceeded historical precedent and it soon became obvious to everyone that the current tournament, as with the previous one, would reach a remarkable climax.

What team will win the tournament that the eyes of the whole world will look on and wear the KOF crown of victory? And does an incident similar to the unexpected accident of last year's tournament threaten to mar the festivities? All of the world's attention is focused on this year's tournament. KOF '97 is here!

Fun Facts
Japan's Next J-Pop Idol
One of @char=athena_kof@'s King of Fighters '97 intros dons an outfit similarly worn to that of the famous Chisato Moritaka, one of the most popular female Japanese Pop idols to emerge out of the late 1980's and mid 1990's, which whom to this day still has a very strong following of devoted fans in Japan.

The likeness of both along with the outrageous number of costumes worn by both women, it was obvious that SNK wanted to pay a great homage to Chisato by giving none other than SNK’s fictional pop star her push, and thus by the NESTS Saga her official given nickname became known as "The Psychic-Powered Idol".

Credits
Worldwide
Producer
A producer on a project can have varying responsiblities, from a token credit to being incredibly integral to the work.
Takashi Nishiyama
Voice Actor

Keiichi Nanba as Andy Bogard
Monster Maezuka as Benimaru Nikaido
Atsushi Yamanishi as Billy Kane
Harumi Ikoma as Blue Mary Ryan
Hiroyuki Arita as Chang Koehan
Akiko Saitō as Chizuru Kagura
Monster Maezuka as Choi Bounge
Rio Ogata as Chris
Yoshinori Shima as Clark Steel
Masaki Usui as Goro Daimon
Kunihiko Yasui as Iori Yagami
Nobuyuki Hiyama as Joe Higashi
Eiji Yano as Kensou
Satoshi Hashimoto as Kim Kaphwan
Harumi Ikoma as King
Masahiro Nonaka as Kyo Kusanagi
Masae Yumi as Leona Heidern
Akoya Sogi as Mai Shiranui
Rio Ogata as Orochi
Rio Ogata as Orochi Chris
Kunihiko Yasui as Orochi Iori
Masae Yumi as Orochi Leona
Hazuki Nishikawa as Orochi Shermie
Monster Maezuka as Ralf Jones
Mantarō Koichi as Robert Garcia
Masaki Usui as Ryo Sakazaki
Hazuki Nishikawa as Shermie
Takehito Koyasu as Shingo Yabuki
Satoshi Hashimoto as Terry Bogard
Kaori Horie as Yuri Sakazaki