The King of Fighters '96

n/a

The King of Fighters '96
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: SNK
Developer: TUG, Yumekobo
Original system(s): Neo Geo
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (32 tracks)
Peripherals supported: Extended RAM Cartridge (1MB only)
Genre: Fighting
Number of players: 1-2
Official in-game languages: 日本語 English Español Português
Release Date RRP Code JP 1996-12-31 ¥5,8005,800 T-3108G JP (1MB RAM Set) 1996-12-31 ¥7,8007,800 T-3109G
Non-Sega versions Arcade Game Boy Neo Geo Neo Geo CD PlayStation
Sega

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The King of Fighters '96 (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ’９６) is an entry in SNK's The King of Fighters series. It is the third in the series, and the sequel to The King of Fighters '95.

Among other systems it was brought to the Sega Saturn in 1996, though this version was released exclusively in Japan. Despite this fact, it supports all the languages of the Neo Geo versions (Japanese, English, Spanish and Portuguese). The Saturn version was extremely late, being released on the 31st of December - almost missing 1996 altogether.

The King of Fighters '96 requires a 1MB Extended RAM Cartridge in order to function correctly. The later 4MB cartridge is incompatible - while the game will boot, graphics will be corrupted.

Gameplay

Characters

The King of Fighters '96 ups the character count to 27, with two extra bosses. Not all fighters return from The King of Fighters '95, and some team members have been swapped around (although like KOF '95, the player can make a three-person team from any available characters).

As in previous games, characters are pulled from older SNK franchises; Garou Densetsu (Fatal Fury), Ryuuko no Ken (Art of Fighting), Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier.

Shujinkou Team

	Kyo Kusanagi
	Benimaru Nikaido
	Goro Daimon

Garou Densetsu Team

	Terry Bogard
	Andy Bogard
	Joe Higashi

Ryuuko no Ken Team

	Ryo Sakazaki
	Robert Garcia
	Yuri Sakazaki

Shin Ikari Team

	Leona
	Clark Still
	Ralf Jones

Psycho Soldier Team

	Athena Asamiya
	Sie Kensou
	Chin Gentsai

Shin Josei Kakutouka Team

	Kasumi Todo
	Mai Shiranui
	King

Kim Team

	Kim Kaphwan
	Chang Koehan
	Choi Bounge

Yagami Team

	Iori Yagami
	Vice
	Mature

Boss Team

	Geese Howard
	Wolfgang Krauser
	Mr. Big

Bosses

	Chizuru Kagura
	Goenitz

Versions

The Saturn version of The King of Fighters '96 stems from the Neo Geo CD and shares its arranged CD audio soundtrack. Loading times are faster on the Saturn than on the Neo Geo CD, though sound effects have been lowered in quality and some stage introduction special effects are missing. Animations on the character selection screen are missing in all CD versions of the game, as are team reactions when the player is slammed into the ground during a fight.

The Saturn compares favourably to its PlayStation counterpart, which in addition to the aforementioned cuts, lacks many character and background animations. The PlayStation port also manages to load slower than the Neo Geo CD at times, despite its disc drive being twice as fast.

Production credits

• Producer: T・Nishiyama
• Chief Director: Kuwayan
• System Director: Toyochan
• Sub Director: Toyochan, Haruo Tomita, Namaan-Hiroto, T.Hosokawa
• System Editor: K・Mac・Nagashima
• Front Designer: Tatsuru-Man, C・Yamasaki, Goro Hamada, Akihiko Nasu, Kyow!Iori?Hiraki, Shagiko Hagihara, Naisyo・・・・, M・Asakura, Joe・Terry Sato, Toba, ・・・・・, Miho Uematsu, Akiko Yukawa, S.Yamamoto, Kal-Mizuno, Mitsuru Kawasaki, Kohrin, (Mika) Nisida, I-no-u-e, 44Oka, Aska Tahara
• Back Designer: Etosan, Manoru, Bibidebabidebu, Tsugumi.A, Eri Koujitani, [214 Kusu], Souji Takamori, M.Yokoyama, Raishi
• Program: Shinchan-R32, S・Fujinuki, Cyber・Kondo
• Sound: Sha-V, Konny, Papaya, Shimizm, Yamapy-1, Tate-Norio, Brother-Hige, Ackey, Miwa
• Voice: Masahiro Nonaka, Monster Maetsuka, Masaki Usui, S・Hashimoto, Keiichi Nanba, Nobuyuki Hiyama, Koichi Mantaro, Kaori Horie, Masae Yumi, Yoshinori Shima, Tamao Sato, Eiji Yano, T・Nishimura, Hiroyuki Arita, Harumi Ikoma, Akoya Sogi, Kunihiko Yasui, Yuko Tuji, Kong Kuwata, BJ Love, Masaru Naka, Akiko Saito
• Special Thanks to: Y・Inui, Team Pow, Team Syunsuke 96, M.Yasuda, Kazu,Takinaka, and All SNK Staff
• Produced by: SNK

Source:

In-game credits

The King Of Fighters '96 サターン版移植スタッフ

• (有)TUG
  • プログラマー: 林 高志, 小島 卓也, 村岡 敬, 黒川 昌昭
• (株)夢工房
  • 赤池 光雄, 井上 和俊, 近藤 和夫, 渋谷 麻紀夫
• ミュージックスタジオ: ファースト・サークル
• サウンド: 藤田 靖明

Source:

In-CD-ROM credits (HT_BIB.TXT)

Magazine articles

Main article: The King of Fighters '96/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-20: "1996-20 (1996-11-22)" (1996-11-08)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-21: "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (1996-11-22)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-22: "1996-22 (1996-12-27)" (1996-12-13)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-01: "1997-01 (1997-01-17)" (1996-12-27)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source Computer & Video Games (UK) 100 Famitsu (JP) 78 №422, p31 GameFan (US) 90 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) 90 Sega Saturn Magazine (readers) (JP) 87

	89
Based on 5 reviews

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Computer & Video Games (UK) 100 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 78 GameFan (US) 90 MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J 85 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 76 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 76 Saturn Power (UK) NTSC-J 90 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 90 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 87

	86
Based on 9 reviews

The King of Fighters '96

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc Manual

Saturn, JP (1MB RAM Set)
Cover
Disc

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
✔	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1	578,594,352	1996-12-11	CD-ROM (JP)	T-3108G, T-3109G V1.001

Track list

1. Data track

2. IN 1996 (00:38)
From: Title

3. ESAKA? (02:02)
From: Heroes Team Theme 1

4. ESAKA? (01:22)
From: Heroes Team Theme 2

5. Big Shot! "Zyaku" (02:02)
Big Shot! "寂"
EN: Big Shot! "Mellow"
From: Fatal Fury Team Theme

6. Kamikirimushi (02:02)
かみきり虫
EN: Long-horned Beetle
From: Art of Fighting Team Theme

7. Rumbling on the City (02:02)
From: New Ikari Team Theme

8. Psycho Soldier REMIX'96 (02:03)
From: Psycho Soldier Team Theme

9. Seoul Road (02:02)
From: Kim Team Theme

10. Roulette (00:49)
From: Player Select

11. ORAORA (00:09)
From: Victory Demo

12. HERE COMES CHALLENGER (00:33)
From: Intrusion Player Select

13. Game Over (00:06)
From: Game Over

14. Get'n Up (02:02)
From: New Women Fighters Team Theme

15. Arashi no Saxphone 2 (02:02)
嵐のサキソフォン2
EN: Stormy Saxophone 2
From: Yagami Team Theme

16. Requiem in D Minor K.626 Dies Irae (02:02)
レクイエム ニ短調 K.626 ディス･イレ
From: Krauser Theme 1

17. Requiem in D Minor K.626 Dies Irae (01:26)
レクイエム ニ短調 K.626 ディス･イレ
From: Krauser Theme 2

18. Geese ni Katakori (02:02)
ギースに肩こり
EN: Stiff Shoulders for Geese
From: Geese Theme 1

19. Geese ni Katakori (01:26)
ギースに肩こり
EN: Stiff Shoulders for Geese
From: Geese Theme 2

20. Dust man (02:09)
From: Mr.BIG Theme 1

21. Dust man (01:25)
From: Mr.BIG Theme 2

22. Mamorisi Mono (01:13)
護りし者
EN: Protector
From: Demo 1

23. Fairy (02:13)
From: Chizuru Kagura Theme 1

24. Fairy (01:26)
From: Chizuru Kagura Theme 2

25. Kaze (01:41)
風
EN: Wind
From: Demo 2

26. TRASH HEAD (02:02)
From: Goenitz Theme 1

27. TRASH HEAD (01:26)
From: Goenitz Theme 2

28. Sora e (01:35)
空へ
EN: To the Sky
From: Demo 3

29. Den! (01:27)
でん！
From: Ending 1

30. Den! Den! (01:33)
でん！でん！
From: Ending 2

31. Den! Den! Den! (01:24)
でん！でん！でん！
From: Ending 3

32. SELF (01:59)
From: Heroes Team Ending

33. RISING RED (02:17)
From: Staff Roll

► Running time: 50:40

Extra content

This game has extra content which can be viewed when accessing the disc on a PC.

Saturn (JP) Extra files

Folder / File	Type	Size	description
HT_ABS.TXT	TXT (Abstract)	26	Title
HT_BIB.TXT	TXT (Bibliographiced)	294	Production credits
HT_CPY.TXT	TXT (Copyright)	40	Copyright