The King of Fighters ’95

The King of Fighters '95 is a 2D fighting game developed and published by SNK. It is the second game in The King of Fighters series and originally appeared in arcades in 1995. The game later received versions for Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Game Boy.

The tournament returns with a new threat. A mysterious invitation comes from "R", who appears to be connected to Rugal Bernstein. At the same time, Iori Yagami enters the tournament and becomes Kyo Kusanagi's main rival.

🥊 Build Your Own Fighting Team

The biggest gameplay change from The King of Fighters '94 is the Team Edit System. You are no longer restricted to the original fixed teams. You can select three characters and create your own combination.

The original roster includes fighters from several SNK series, including characters from Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting.

Some of the main teams are:

• Hero Team: Kyo Kusanagi, Benimaru Nikaido, Goro Daimon
• Fatal Fury Team: Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, Joe Higashi
• Art of Fighting Team: Ryo Sakazaki, Robert Garcia, Takuma Sakazaki
• Ikari Warriors Team: Heidern, Ralf Jones, Clark Still
• Psycho Soldier Team: Athena Asamiya, Sie Kensou, Chin Gentsai
• Women Fighters Team: King, Mai Shiranui, Yuri Sakazaki
• Korea Justice Team: Kim Kaphwan, Chang Koehan, Choi Bounge
• Rivals Team: Iori Yagami, Eiji Kisaragi, Billy Kane

🔥 Iori Yagami Makes His Debut

The King of Fighters '95 is particularly important to the series because it introduces Iori Yagami.

Iori is Kyo Kusanagi's sworn rival, and his arrival becomes an important part of the KOF storyline. SNK also identifies his debut as one of the major features of KOF '95.

The new Rivals Team consists of:

• Iori Yagami
• Eiji Kisaragi
• Billy Kane

The previous game's American Sports Team does not return.

⚔️ Three Fighters, One Battle

The standard KOF format uses teams of three.

You select your team and fight opposing teams one character at a time. The next fighter enters after the previous one is defeated.

The main arcade progression eventually leads to two major opponents:

• Saisyu Kusanagi
• Omega Rugal

Saisyu serves as the sub-boss, while Omega Rugal is the final boss.

💥 Special Moves and Power Gauge

The combat system builds on the mechanics of The King of Fighters '94.

You can use:

• Normal punches and kicks
• Throws
• Special moves
• Dodges
• Counterattacks
• Power attacks
• Super Special Moves

The Power Gauge is important because Super Special Moves become available when the gauge is full and flashing.

The game also includes a dodge system that lets you avoid attacks and counterattack your opponent.

🏆 A Major Step for the KOF Series

KOF '95 is important because the Team Edit System introduced here became a standard feature in later games.

Instead of simply choosing a predefined group, you can create a team based on the characters you prefer. This gives you much more control over how you approach the tournament.

The game also begins the storyline that later became known as the Orochi Saga.

🎮 Game Controls

Controls depend on the version you are playing.

Game Boy version

The Game Boy has only two action buttons, so the controls were adapted from the arcade version. Button combinations and the amount of time you hold a button affect different attacks.

• D-Pad — Move / crouch / jump
• B — Punch
• A — Kick
• A + B — Dodge
• D + A + B — Charge Power
• Forward + A/B — Throw when close to an opponent

💡 Tips for Playing

KOF '95 rewards learning each character's movement and special attacks rather than relying only on normal punches and kicks.

• Experiment with different three-character teams.
• Learn the special moves of your chosen fighters.
• Use the dodge mechanic when an opponent attacks.
• Watch your Power Gauge.
• Save Super Special Moves for useful situations.
• Learn when to use throws at close range.
• Try different team combinations through Team Edit.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is The King of Fighters '95 an official SNK game?

Yes. It was developed and published by SNK.

Who is the main rival in KOF '95?

Iori Yagami makes his first appearance in the series and becomes Kyo Kusanagi's main rival.

How many characters can you select for a team?

A team consists of three fighters.

Can you create your own team?

Yes. KOF '95 introduced the Team Edit System, which allows you to select your own three-character combination.

Who is the final boss?

Omega Rugal is the final boss, with Saisyu Kusanagi serving as the sub-boss.

What year was KOF '95 released?

The arcade version was released in 1995. SNK lists July 25, 1995 as the arcade release date.