The King of Fighters XIV Reviews

The King of Fighters XIV is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Aug 31, 2016

Overall for this being my first time playing a game in this franchise I felt the game was a pretty solid offering. It was pretty easy for me to pick up and play but it has that depth the more hardcore fighting game fan may be looking for. I prefer 1v1 fighting games but the 3v3 didn’t bother me too much and it works well with the huge roster on display here. I’m also not a big online player in fighting games so I wish there was more single player content as the story mode isn’t very long. I don’t think this is the king of fighters but I do think The King of Fighters XIV is worth checking out.

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Aug 23, 2016

Is King of Fighters XIV an impressive addition to the year of fighters, or is this an unwelcomed comeback to the ring?

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8 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2016

If you’re a fan of King of Fighters then King of Fighters XIV is a welcome new addition to the family. It’s a great fighting game that players of other fighting games can respect and get into quite easily.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 8, 2016

The King of Fighters XIV is an odd beast of a fighting game that has tons of depth and great character variety. It’s not much to look at and it does a terrible job at teaching you how to play, but once you get it down it’s one of the most satisfying fighting games out there to learn and destroy at. If you have the time to get over that brick wall, this will probably be one of your favorite fighting games.

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4 / 5.0
Aug 22, 2016

King of Fighters XIV has some rough edges, but is outstanding overall.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 25, 2016

A strong release for 2D fighting fans and an overall successful return for one of the genre's most legendary franchises.

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Aug 31, 2016

SNK's first mainline 3D King of Fighters title boasts an impressive roster, technical gameplay, and enough content to keep you brawling for a very long time.

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Aug 26, 2016

King of Fighters XIV is very much a new KOF game. It retains all of the hallmarks of the series, from the beautiful backgrounds and giant roster to the challenging combos and large amount to learn. If you’re into the genre and are looking for something that will reward you for putting in time, then SNK’s reputation for building fighting games that allow for that should speak for itself.

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GameCrate
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Aug 29, 2016

A fresh direction for the series that acknowledges the characters that made it what it is, while adding enough new characters to make this entry worth playing.

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Aug 22, 2016

Don't get thrown off by the new visual style — The King of Fighters XIV still offers solid fighting action for veterans and newcomers alike, and the slate of 19 new characters is a real treat.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2016

The King of Fighters XIV is a fully featured fighting game. It still feels like its classic predecessors, but it has been updated in some important areas to feel like a modern take. Its roster is both a celebration of the series that also signifies that this is a new step forward. I’m excited to see KoF back in the spotlight, and I hope to see SNK continue building on this great installment.

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Aug 23, 2016

Aside from some faulty matchmaking, the package is a fighting game worth playing. It looks good enough and runs smoothly, and even when lagging, the online play is nice and clean. And it doesn’t bring anything new to the table (besides Nakaruru from Samurai Showdown in her console KoF debut, along with one or two other new faces), but everything it’s doing is being done right. Finally, King of Fighters is beginning to summon that feel SNK had harnessed generations ago, and it feels damn good. It’s going to have to innovate further to reclaim its crown, but at least it’s back in the court.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2016

King of Fighters XIV falls somewhere between XII and XIII. It's not exactly bare-bones and the roster is mighty, but the gaudy presentation and by-the-book story is distracting, and takes away a lot of the uniqueness of the series.

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Aug 22, 2016

With 50 fighters (17 of whom are all-new), 19 stages, and a host of gameplay modes, SNK is coming out swinging with King of Fighters XIV. The roster is diverse and interesting and the game is easy to get into. The game could definitely use a boost in the visual department, as the art style can come across as safe and bland, but the game itself is solid. As the beginning for a whole new era of SNK, King of Fighters XIV is a win.

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8 / 10
Aug 22, 2016

The King of Fighters XIV may not impress you with its visuals, but the accessible-yet-complex mechanics make it a well-executed fighter worth your time.

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Metro GameCentral
Top Critic
8 / 10
Aug 24, 2016

A successful soft reboot for the venerable fighting game series, and a great jumping on point for those dissatisfied by Street Fighter V.

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IGN
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Aug 24, 2016

King of Fighters XIV offers an astonishing amount of content, with nearly double the playable characters of most other games available on day one. The fighters themselves are interesting and well designed, both visually and mechanically, and they push limits with an execution ceiling higher than perhaps any other fighting game. King of Fighters XIV’s netcode and technical shortcomings are itis biggest stumbling blocks, but mastering its characters and leveraging what you’ve learned remains satisfying regardless. There are no shortcuts to becoming the new King of Fighters, but the journey to the top is well worth taking.

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4.1 / 5.0
Sep 18, 2016

A more than viable alternative to Street Fighter V, King of Fighters XIV offers up a refined combat system, an incredibly deep and responsive mechanical experience and a huge roster of characters, each with their own subtle martial arts discipline and varied approaches to fighting.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
8.2 / 10.0
Aug 24, 2016

The King of Fighters XIV is a solid entry that’s sure to be played in tournaments for the next couple of years and establishes a foundation for newcomers to pick up a controller and learn what the hype is about.

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8.2 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2016

While offering only discrete graphics and gameplay still be refined, The King of Fighters XIV is an excellent starting point for the rebirth of the brand. Content-rich, affordable and fun, the last SNK title is still far from its former glory, but the basis laid are so solid to ensure more than a hope for the future of the series.

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