Overview
The King of Fighters XV (also stylized as KOF XV) is a 2.5D tag-team fighting game developed and published by SNK for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PC on February 17, 2022.
The fifteenth main installment of the King of Fighters series (and the sequel to The King of Fighters XIV), The King of Fighters XV builds on the predecessor's switch to 3D rendering with 2D gameplay with new cel-shading (reminiscent of their recent fighting game Samurai Shodown), new game mechanics (including the "Shatter Strike" counter-attack and a revamped MAX Mode), a new game mode ("Draft VS", where each player takes turns choosing characters and cannot choose the same one) and various roster changes. Cross-platform multiplayer was later added on June 2023.
The game's story continues the series' fourth major story arc, as the defeat of the mysterious entity known as "Verse" causes souls trapped inside it to release and become resurrected throughout the world, including former protagonist Ash Crimson (whose death formed the entity) and the antagonistic being Orochi (which is quickly sealed by the three "sacred treasures" Chizuru, Kyo, and Iori). A new King of Fighters tournament is held, with yet another mysterious sponsor and yet another mysterious calamity.
Characters
The game includes 39 playable characters at launch, split into 13 teams, with additional characters as DLC. Out of the 58 characters from the previous game, only 26 return to this installment (with 7 additional ones returning as DLC, as of the Fighter Pass). Returning from earlier entries in the series include Chizuru, Ash, Elisabeth, K9999 (as "Khronen"), Yashiro, Shermie, Chris, Gato, B. Jenet, Shingo, Duo Lon, Hinako, Rugal, and Goenitz.
The game's unplayable boss characters are Re Verse (sub-boss) and Otoma=Raga (final boss).
Base Game
Team Hero
Team Rival
Team Sacred Treasures
Team Ash
Team K'
Team Fatal Fury
Team Art of Fighting
Team Orochi
Team Super Heroine
Team Ikari
Team G.A.W. (Galaxy Anton Wrestling)
Team Secret Agent
Team Khronen
Bosses (non-playable)
Post-Release DLC
Team Pass 1
Team Garou [DLC 1, released on March 17, 2022]
Team South Town [DLC 2, released on May 17, 2022]
Team Pass 2
Team Awakened Orochi [DLC 3, released on August 8, 2022]
Team Samurai [DLC 4, released on October 4, 2022]
All three are guest characters from the Samurai Shodown series, with Nakoruru previously appearing in The King of Fighters XIV.
Fighter Pass
Unlike the Team Pass characters, each of these are Single Entry characters and can be purchased separately or as a full pack.
Post-Release Single Entry
These fighters were added for free post-release, and are not tied to any team.
Log in to comment