This is probably the greatest work in stages from SNK’s NeoGeo era. And reminds me why I loved KOF '99 so much 
I find looking at the animated GIF of that stage to be pretty calming.
Something about this stage always got me jazzed.
Or even Monaco in 97
In my opinion It defiantly ranks 2nd out of all kofs for aesthetics, cant think of a shit stage or tune in 99, i dont know what it is but i really enjoyed 99’s graphics, everything felt so colorful and bright
I think most people would agree with you, some 3s stages looked very washed out/grainy, makoto/dudley/necro/remy/elena, seans
But i do think it had some really good ones to
http://64.19.142.10/www.arcadequartermaster.com/kof97/bg_monaco.png
I wish they’d go back there again, using the modern look of the Rascasse corner alongside the newly renovated La Rascasse pub (sitting where the palm tree is in the 97 stage).
http://www.cityoutmonaco.com/userfiles/images/Entertainment/rascasse.jpg
I tell you what game does have good stages
fatal fury 3, i completely forgot about it
http://032705b.netsolhost.com/snk/ff3/bg_yamazaki2.png
This stage is very impressive, especially when the train rumbles by
http://032705b.netsolhost.com/snk/ff3/bg_terry.png
This one is defiantly in my top 10, really is beautiful, picture does not do it justice, only problem is that you have to play the game to see them, but there really is a few more that i really like, like bashes, andys, mais, geeses
Not to mention the best art style ever for in-game artwork
I miss this '95 stage, where before fighting, you jump to the water:
I miss stages with intro animation so much 
Korea had always great stages on the classic Orochi Saga:
And Samurai Shodown was the best shit back in the day.
I remember Wan Fu throwing a stone pillar while lightning fell in the background; the moody music, the voice effects, the slowdown effect… A whole experience!! ___
I re-played the game recently on PS2, it still gave me the chills
The Pit in the original Mortal Kombat is one of the best stage ever. Then if you ever got to face Reptile in the arcade version, I think that stage was even more badass because of all the heads and bosdy parts down there on the spikes.
SFA2:
Ryu
Akuma
Ken
Gen
Chun Li
Sagat
Vega
SFA3:
Adon
Ryu
Akuma
Another fave
The colors really look good in that field stage above! And Neo Geo spelled out in the moon is pretty slick too.
CvS2:
Osaka Castle rooftop.
Barentsburg.
New York.
MvC2:
Giant clown head.
Mmmh, I only liked this one.
The other ones don’t make sense.
I always found this one amusing:
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120527151948/mugen/images/c/c9/Tower-of-arrogance.gif
Tekken 6 Noh Theater
MvC2 Training Stage
Hsien-Ko DS3 Stage
Tekken Tag 2 School Stage
UMvC3 Daily Bugle
http://videogamewriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/MVC3-Daily-Bugle.jpg
Makoto’s 3rd Strike Stage
It’s actually Cambodia, which is not the same thing at all lol.
As for me, I like picking these stages a lot:
CvS1’s Geese Stage
They’re all kinda blue… Yeah, I think I really like blue.
CVS no, not 2, but the original will always be my favorite
I love this game, everything about it, including the stages
Bonus Capcom Fun
Never played CvS1. But I dig that Son-Son konbini that’s been appearing in Capcom games since Alpha.
@d3v a bit off topic, but here is a match showing off a great gameyoutube.com/watch?v=f1lB-7SDtz4
and now back on topic with another stage from an underappreciated fighting game KOF XII
