Where does The King of Fighters '97 fit in the story?
It is the third and final chapter of SNK's Orochi Saga, continuing the storyline from KOF '95 and KOF '96.
The King of Fighters '97
The King of Fighters '97 is SNK's 1997 three-fighter team arcade game and the final chapter of the Orochi Saga. This page runs the arcade version with Advanced and Extra mode choices; Game Rerun confirmed the desktop title sequence and full Player 1 key map.
Play Now
- Plays
- 4,000
- Views
- 6,165
Game Rerun review
Overview
SNK's official series history presents KOF '97 as the third and final Orochi Saga chapter. The MVS arcade board became available in July 1997 and retained the series' team-based format.
The game offers Advanced and Extra modes. SNK describes them as drawing from KOF '96 and KOF '94/'95 respectively, so players can choose the movement and meter style that feels more familiar.
Cheat Codes
Arcade/Neo Geo MVS version: Select classic Kyo: On the character-select screen, highlight Kyo, hold Start, and press any attack button to select his classic move set.
Arcade/Neo Geo MVS version: Select Orochi Iori: On the character-select screen, highlight Iori and hold Start. While still holding Start, enter Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, then press A+C together.
Arcade/Neo Geo MVS version: Select Orochi Leona: After making Orochi Iori appear, highlight Leona and hold Start. Enter Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down, then press B+D together while still holding Start.
Arcade/Neo Geo MVS version: Select the Orochi New Face Team: After making Orochi Iori and Orochi Leona appear, hold Start and enter Up, Left, Down, Right, Up, Down, then press B+C together.
Controls
- W / A / S / D
- Move up, left, down, and right
- J / K
- Use the player's mapped B / A attack buttons
- U / I
- Use the player's mapped Y / X attack buttons
- Shift
- Select or insert coin
- Enter
- Start
Before you play
- Press Shift to insert a coin, then Enter to start. Use the first match to confirm how J, K, U, and I map to the four arcade attacks.
- Start with one team and learn a small set of safe normal and special moves for each fighter before practicing longer combos.
- Team order matters across the full match. Keeping your most familiar fighter for the final position gives you a reliable closer.
Known limitations
- Special-move commands differ by fighter, so this page keeps the operation section focused on the verified player keys.
FAQ
How do I insert a coin and start KOF '97 online?
Press Shift to insert a coin and Enter to start. Player 1 uses WASD for directions and J, K, U, and I for the four attack buttons.
Are both Advanced and Extra modes included?
Yes. SNK's official information confirms both modes, drawing from KOF '96 and KOF '94/'95 systems respectively.