The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match

[Dark_Geese]

We just got KoF98UM in Japanese arcades today. So for all those interested, here are some of my initial impressions of the game:

I’ve been playing KOF XI since it came out so I’m very accustomed to the speed of that game. Before playing UM I figured it might be a lot slower. Surprisingly it’s not that slow at all, faster than I remember the original being.

I played about 10 matches all versus human competition and:

Grapplers/Grapple moves are still a bit overpowered.

For those used to KOF XI combos, unfortunately, combing once again requires timing.

Hops didn’t seem to have the same offensive force they use to. Seemed slower to me, very easy to see coming and counter. However, still pretty effective for corner-trap, wake-up games.

Ralf’s far C is an excellent poke; stuffs just about anything. And his c.D isn’t bad either.

Geese is very good. Great rush down character. He slides forward on his double repukin, which is annoying. His air repukin isn’t very useful. The ragging storm has a slow start up but covers about 1/5 of the screen.

Maybe I was a bit out of sorts playing with Krauser, but I had a very hard time playing him effectively. He seems to have low priority on all of his moves. In general he moves alot faster than his '96 version. I’ll have to play him some more to really see what he can do.

Eiji is a far cry from is KOF XI version, moves alot slower and can’t poke his way to victory.

Terry and Ryo are pretty much as I remember them and still very solid characters.

Played alot against O. Yashiro, but he didn’t seem as menacing and overpowered as I remember him being.

Yamazaki looks to be a very solid character

I managed to play about 3 matches against the computer and the setting was probably on the highest difficulty. The AI is cheap. It reads your joystick motions and instantly counters anything you throw out. Example: Krauser versus Goro, Whenever I tried to throw a Blitz Ball it was instantly countered by Goro’s earthquake move. I couldn’t get out a single Blitz Ball in two separate matches.

Graphically it’s kind of disappointing. When I first saw it I really had to double check the cabinet to make sure it was “UM” and not the “Orignal”. The animation looks dated and old. I don’t mind so much, because I really don’t put a lot of emphasis on graphics. But the machine right next to it was SSF2T, and well, comparatively that looked a whole lot better than KoF '98.

Thanks for the update…Reg. Geeses RS I know now is his Real Bout Fatal Fury one…thats the one that covers 1/5th of the screen.
I’d also bet his Jump C hits twice.

I have yet to see Krauser played effectively in beta tests…unless something broken comes out with him I think he may be mid tier…

oh and one more thing I forgot to add.

Dodging seems to be beefed up a bit. It’s incredibly useful, especially against rush-down which is the style I play. In fact, if timed correctly you can almost dodge back-to-back and avoid all attacks. I had human players and the computer do this to me.

This is good to know…good to see the tweaks.

[Endless]

Did they slow down Ralf’s Far C?
If they did, that would SUCK SO BAD

Also, I was thinking about UM Leona this morning…
She’s too good with her moving boomerang now.
She’s like Mature, but even better.

Throw boomerang=>
-Dash into dwn B, down A, Moonslash
-Dash into hyperhop D, into V-Slasher
-Go into A ver Baltic Launcher as anti air
-Down B pokes to stuff rolls

I wouldn’t be surprised if her whole gameplay changed now with that move. It’s like a mini, moving Aegis Reflector

[THE_ANSWER]

btw I saw on playasia.com that the release date for the game is 4/28 for the JAP version, has the US version date been determined yet?

[Dark_Geese]

btw I saw on playasia.com that the release date for the game is 4/28 for the JAP version, has the US version date been determined yet?

Oscar if this is the case then guess what?? That means 98UM at EVO World and ontop of that 98UM at MWC!! :woot:

[Dark_Geese]

BTW Oscar where are you getting your info from? This is all I have found on playasia.com

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-na-77-h-49-en-15-king+of+fighters+98+ultimate+match-70-2nbv.html

[K4ever]

btw I saw on playasia.com that the release date for the game is 4/28 for the JAP version, has the US version date been determined yet?

man check ur pms.

[FSgamer]

btw I saw on playasia.com that the release date for the game is 4/28 for the JAP version, has the US version date been determined yet?

Link please?

I couldn’t find anything about KOF98UM on Play-Asia.

[K4ever]

he got confused with the soundtracks I think

[Dark_Geese]

he got confused with the soundtracks I think

Well I also heard from Arstal that there’s a Japanese link that has said that’s the date as well…

[System_1]

man I hope this game comes out in america sometime soon. Unfortunately it’s not even out in japan yet so I see? Pretty lame I’ll import this as my first import game if I have to.

[THE_ANSWER]

Hmm I cant find it again, but it was in japanese and I translate it with google. I hope I got it right

[System_1]

Man I’m as patient as ever with this game coming out to the states; I haven’t even been playing any fighting games lately I’ve been so damn busy, plus whenever folks have gatherings I’m either working or have drill so I just gave up one day I’ll be back though…

[System_1]

what is MWC?

[OmegaDL50]

what is MWC?

Midwest Championships.

It’s a Tournament being held at Chicago, Il and also serving as qualifiers for the SBO (Super Battle Opera) Japanese Fighting game competition.

It takes place June 20-22, 2008

[arstal]

Another report from CF- said Krauser was difficult to fight when CPU controls, and Goenitz is SNK-style boss.

You fight Boss team, then Goenitz. Unsure where Orochi pops in.

Hopefully home version is improved, I still hold out hope for that. I’m just a little disappointed since I was expected a SSS title, and it’s falling short of that. My expectations for this game may have been insane.

[FSgamer]

man I hope this game comes out in america sometime soon. Unfortunately it’s not even out in japan yet so I see? Pretty lame I’ll import this as my first import game if I have to.

According to SNKP it will come out in US sometime at the end of the year.

[TheDarkPhoenix]

So when is this suppose to come out in japan?

[System_1]

If we get it at the end of the year, like december, japan will probably get it august/september or they could do a dual release which would be AWESOME.

[faiyez]

If we get it at the end of the year, like december, japan will probably get it august/september or they could do a dual release which would be AWESOME.

what the fuck are you talking about are you on fucking crack?

It’s supposed to be released next month in Japan.

[System_1]

nah man crack’s for chump’s AD all day baby baby!

well I figured if we get it at the end of the year it shouldn’t take more than 2 months to translate it into english. so we should have it by august or july.