The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match

The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match is a remake of The King of Fighters '98 which includes all characters that were present up to The King of Fighters '97. Additionally, new alternate versions of characters were added (such as EX Blue Mary and EX Yamazaki). New adjustments to stages (as well as new stages themselves) come along with adjustments to gameplay via re-balancing and new moves (such as Extra Mode now having a manual MAX Mode of its own and having a stock at full charge, thus no longer entering a MAX Mode automatically via this method).

A new and notable mode of play for this game is known as Ultimate Mode, where similar to the EX Grooves of Capcom vs. SNK 2, players are able to customize their gauge systems and the mechanics that go along with them, with it being able to select between Advanced or Extra (the gauge style, the method of dodging, and method of quick forward movement).

The game was released in Japanese arcades on March 18, 2008 and later on the PlayStation 2. Ultimate Match is also available on Xbox 360 Live Arcade. The American port was released by Ignition Entertainment March 3, 2009 and packaged with an extra DVD containing trailers and wallpapers for the game and King of Fighters XII.

The home version of the game, similar to The King of Fighters Neowave for its home version, uses full 3D-rendered versions of its backgrounds (though an option exists to convert them back into the classic-styled backgrounds in the original '98). The home version also comes with its own arranged soundtrack of the original '98 and most of the game's new soundtracks for UM, as well as a new Neo Geo mode, which allows for a demo of the original Neo Geo-port perfect version of the classic KOF '98.

A Final Edition of the game (containing various tweaks to the characters and game mechanics) has been released as well, initially for the arcades, and has been released to the PC through Steam in December 16, 2014. Also was released a version for Humble Bundle, in January 9, 2016.

An animated intro included with the Dreamcast port of the original can be accessed as an unlockable extra in Ultimate Match.

Characters

Playable Characters

Hero Team

Fatal Fury Team

Art of Fighting Team

Ikari Warriors Team

Psycho Soldier Team

Women Fighters Team

Korea Justice Team

New Faces Team

'97 Special Team

Yagami Team

Masters Team

American Sports Team

Edit Team

'98 UM Bosses Team

'96 Bosses Team

Hidden & Alternate Characters

Orochi Team

Alternate Versions

Special Edit Teams

Sacred Treasures Team

Kyo Kusanagi
Iori Yagami
Chizuru Kagura

Shingo Team

Shingo Yabuki
Kyo Kusanagi
Iori Yagami

Rugal Team

Rugal Bernstein
Mature
Vice

Assembled Heroes Team

Kyo Kusanagi
Terry Bogard
Ryo Sakazaki

No. 2 Team

Benimaru Nikaido
Andy Bogard
Robert Garcia

No. 3 Team

Goro Daimon
Joe Higashi
Yuri Sakazaki

Baseball Team

Ralf Jones
Blue Mary
Lucky Glauber

Father Team

Saisyu Kusanagi
Takuma Sakazaki
Kim Kaphwan

Button Mashing Team

Billy Kane
Chang Koehan
Joe Higashi

Serpent Wave Team

Kyo Kusanagi
Saisyu Kusanagi
Orochi Chris

Sakazaki Family Team

Takuma Sakazaki
Ryo Sakazaki
Yuri Sakazaki

Teen Team

Shingo Yabuki
Sie Kensou
Chris

Orochi Ladies Team

Shermie
Vice
Mature

Orochi Men Team

Yashiro Nanakase
Chris
Ryuji Yamazaki

Kusanagi Style Team

Kyo Kusanagi
Saisyu Kusanagi
Shingo Yabuki

Comedians Team

Robert Garcia
Sie Kensou
Choi Bounge

"Cute" Team

Choi Bounge
Chin Gentsai
Chang Koehan

Cap Team

Terry Bogard
Lucky Glauber
Clark Still

Fake Hero Team

Shingo Yabuki
Benimaru Nikaido
Goro Daimon

Other Ikari Team

Ralf Jones
Leona Heidern
Heidern

Neo Heroines Team

Athena Asamiya
Mai Shiranui
Yuri Sakazaki

Destructors Team

Ralf Jones
Brian Battler
Chang Koehan

April 8th Birthday Team

King
Mature
Shingo Yabuki

Former Art of Fighting Team (KOF '94 Mexico Team)

Ryo Sakazaki
Robert Garcia
Takuma Sakazaki

Former Ikari Team (KOF '94 Brazil Team)

Heidern
Ralf Jones
Clark Still

Former Women Fighters Team (KOF '94 England Team)

Mai Shiranui
Yuri Sakazaki
King

'95 Rival Team

Iori Yagami
Eiji Kisaragi
Billy Kane

Ninja Team

Andy Bogard
Mai Shiranui
Eiji Kisaragi

'96 Women Fighters Team

King
Mai Shiranui
Kasumi Todoh

Young Teenage Girls Team

Athena Asamiya
Kasumi Todoh
Leona Heidern

Skin Head Team

Chang Koehan
Choi Bounge
Mr. Big

Anti-Kyokugenryu Team

Eiji Kisaragi
Kasumi Todoh
Mr. Big

Shingo Detests Team

Iori Yagami
Yashiro Nanakase
Ryuji Yamazaki

Awaken Team

Orochi
Wild Iori
Wild Leona

Grown Arms Team

Ryuji Yamazaki
Mature
Vice

Orochi Heavenly Kings Team

Goenitz
Next two members can either be:
- Orochi Yashiro
- Orochi Shermie
- Orochi Chris

Stages

In addition to the original stages in a repaginated version in 3D (only in PS2 version), SNK Playmore also added the scenarios of the finals of KOF '96 (Bosses Team and Goenitz) and KOF '97 (Orochi Team and Orochi), besides some new stages:

Kof98um — Gameplay of Mai vs. Chin in one of the stages repaginated in 3D.

China Wall: Part of The Great Wall of China. The fight takes in one of the pillars, where can be seen a flag with words in Chinese and ruins of the wall, in the right, besides a vegetation all over the stage. Changes: in 1st round, he's empty and it's morning; in 2nd and 3rd rounds, people watching the fight in the background; and in the last rounds, can be seen a sunset.
Hong Kong: A commercial center in the Central District, with various vehicles. Changes: in the 1st and 2nd rounds, it's morning, with few people watching the fight, inside and outside the train; in the 3rd and 4th rounds, a crowd in the background in the afternoon; and in the last round, it's already night, and people can be seen only inside the train next to the characters. The batle takes next to the train tracks. Similar to the Hong Kong Stage of Real Bout Fatal Fury Special.
Taiwan: The Liberty Square, in Taipei. The fight takes in the middle of the sqaure and next to some statues. Can be seen flags and a temple, in the background. Changes: in the 1st round, people is cheering and holding a flag with words in Chinese, besides a woman sitting at a table with a sun umbrella, with a sunny climate; in the 2nd round, the stage is empty and cloudy; from the 3rd round, the stage gets full again, with the same people of the 1st round and in the light of the sunset.

Kof 98 — Gameplay of Kasumi vs. Ryo in one of the new stages.

Saudi Arabia: The Masmak Fort, in Riyadh. Can be seen palm trees, sheikhs and burkina women. Changes: in the 1st round, the weather is sunny; in the 2nd round, can be seen a sunset, and more sheikhs in the left and the right; from the 3rd round, it's already night and more sheikhs can be seen in the background, and bonfires on both sides.
China Village: The village of Xitang. Can be seen two bridges on both sides, and some houses in the background. Changes: in the 1st round, people and pandas are cheering with the fight, holding posters with the game's name, and the weather is sunny; in 2nd round, the stage is empty and the sky is cloudy; from the 3rd round, it's already night and few people are in the stage.
China Temple: The Famen Temple, in Xi'an. Can be seen some leafless trees, on both sides, a stone with Chinese writings, moutains and some ancient buildings, in the background. Changes: in the 1st round, can be seen some people next to the river, and the weather is sunny; in the 2nd round, can be seen a sunset; from the 3rd round, the stage is empty and it's already night; also can be seen some lights coming from the temple.
Bousou - Wild Iori & Wild Leona: The bloody version of China Village and Saudi Arabia, like in the stages in KOF '97.

Note 1: All the new stages, with excpetion of Mid-Bosses, Bosses Stages and Bousou Stages, doesn't appear in Team Play and Single Play.

Note 2: In this remake, a version of the famous cameo of the bicycle can be seen in the Japan Street stage, this time with a backpacking man in a lab coat and slippers carrying a mascot of SNK, Neo-Poke-Kun.