The King of Fighters '97

The King of Fighters '97
Neo-Geo CD cover for The King of Fighters '97, displaying new characters Shingo Yabuki (forefront), Yashiro Nanakase, Shermie and Chris (background, from right to left).
Developer(s)	SNK
Publisher(s)	SNK
Director(s)	Toyohisa Tanabe
Producer(s)	Takashi Nishiyama
Series	The King of Fighters
Platform(s)	Arcade, Neo-Geo, Neo-Geo CD, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network, Virtual Console, iOS, Android
Release date(s)	Arcade JP: July 28, 1997 Neo Geo INT: September 25, 1997 Neo-Geo CD INT: October 30, 1997 Sega Saturn JP: March 26, 1998 PlayStation JP: May 28, 1998 PlayStation Network JP: May 30, 2007 Wii Virtual Console JP: September 6, 2011 PAL: February 9, 2012 NA: March 8, 2012 iOS, Android WW: November 13, 2013
Genre(s)	Fighting
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneously
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	Neo Geo

The King of Fighters '97 is a 1997 fighting game produced by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home console. It is the fourth game in The King of Fighters series. It was ported to the Neo-Geo CD, as well as the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn in Japan only. The Saturn requires the same 1MB RAM cartridge utilized by the previous game.

KOF '97 follows the same format as the previous KOF games, but introduces two distinct playing styles which the player can select before choosing their team: Advanced and Extra.

Advanced mode is based on the previous game in the series, KOF '96, but features a revamped Power Gauge. Instead of charging the Power Gauge, the Power Gauge is now filled whenever the player strikes the opponent or by performing Special Moves. The player can stock up to three Power Gauges. The player can use one stock of the Power Gauge to perform a Super Special Move or enter a "MAX" mode, in which the player's defensive and offensive strength are increased. Performing a Super Special Move while in MAX mode will make the player perform a more powerful Super Special Move.

Extra mode is based on the first two games in the series, KOF '94 and KOF '95. Like in those games, the player fills the Power Gauge by charging it or defending against the opponent's attacks. After the gauge is filled, the player enters MAX mode and like in Advanced, their character's offense and defense will increase. The player can only perform Super Special Moves in MAX mode or when the life gauge is near empty and flashing red. When the player performs a Super move in MAX mode while the life gauge is flashing red, then the Super move will be even more powerful. The Emergency Roll maneuver from KOF '96 used in Advanced mode is replaced by the side-step from KOF '94 and KOF '95.

Despite the events at the end of the previous game, the KOF tournament was a huge commercial success and sparked a worldwide fighting craze. Within a few months of the tournament ending, various large corporations had held smaller KOF tournament qualifiers and constructed special KOF stadiums around the world, building the excitement up for the next tournament. News of the tournament spread through every form of media and fans and new fighters from across the globe come to watch the preliminary matches.