Create a 3-on-3 dream team. View larger.

New "Critical Counter" system. View larger.

Redesigned character animation. View larger.

2 console exclusive characters. View larger.

More Than 20 Playable Characters
Although the more than 20 characters featured in The King of Fighters XII is only about half the numbers veteran players of the series may have grown used to selecting from in earlier releases, the characters that are included having each been recreated for the game are very much graphically superior to anything ever seen in franchise history. Going for an old school feel, the majority of these are pulled from early King of Fighters games. They also retain, as close as possible, their original move set and have been rendered in costumes either from their classic King of Fighters appearances, or in some cases that of their original game. In addition, two of the playable characters, Mature and Elizabeth Blantorche, are exclusive to the console releases of the game and are not found in the arcade version. Both are clad in new outfits. Aside from these two, a sampling of the playable characters includes:

	Ash Crimson Slender and effeminate, at first glance Ash does not seem like he would be much of a fighter, yet he is a first-class combatant full of hidden motives and tricks, and possesses the powerful ability to control a strange green fire.
	Athena Asamiya A Japanese high school student, powerful psycho soldier and part-time pop idol, Athena splits her time between Japan and her training under master Chin Gentsai in China. She has a strong sense of justice and a hatred towards wrongdoers.
	Kyu Kusanagi Successor to the Kusanagi clan's flame-wielding fighting style, Kyo is brash, self-confident and very powerful. He has been in the top tier at every KoF tournament he has entered and he and Iori Yagami are bitter enemies.
	Iori Yagami Iori is the successor to the Yagami clan's devastating Violet Flame fighting style. Although this style is similar to that of the Kusanagi, a hatred simmers between the clans which Iori takes nearly to the point of insanity.

• More than 20 playable fighters from The King of Fighters franchise history, specially redesigned for Next-Gen consoles, and including console exclusive characters Mature and Elizabeth Blantorche.
• Classic The King of Fighters 3-on-3 team fighting combat that now allows you to create a team with any mix of characters you want.
• The "Critical Counter" system which opens up the possibility of additional linked attacks and finishing moves when players land effective counter punches in response to an opponent's attack.
• "Clash Timing" break effect that separates combatants who land blows on each other at the exact same time.
• A return to the series' standard four button layout, with which players can not only attack, but also more easily dash, backstep, and perform rolls as they evade.