After a long wait, Netmarble has announced the Japanese release date for its new King of Fighters game, titled The King of Fighters Dot Battle. The game will arrive on September 4th for both iOS and Android.
Players will encounter an idle RPG that represents characters from The King of Fighters universe in pixel art. The aesthetic recalls the character designs from The King of Fighters R-2 for the NeoGeo Pocket Color handheld console, which in turn were a simplified version of the designs seen in the classic The King of Fighters ’98.
It was currently being tested in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Canada, but its final release in Japan has now been confirmed. In the meantime, the pre-registration phase continues, with various incentives awarded depending on the number of people who sign up before September 4th. Users who register early will receive 3,000 summon crystals and Vice instantly. Additionally, you’ll also have a guaranteed chance to acquire a Legendary-rank fighter.
Initial impressions from players who have tried it out say the gameplay is simple and intuitive, which helps make it a fun experience. It also includes a good number of fighters from the franchise, from classic fighters to characters from last KOF editions. Battles are held in 5-on-5 battles, and although they are automatic matches, players still have to manage their deck and team setup.
However, the only thing some users fear is that, sooner or later, we’ve seen from previous cases that there’s a good chance The King of Fighters Dot Battle will eventually disappear. This recently happened with the popular The King of Fighters All-Star, which closed its doors after many years and didn’t even have an offline version. In any case, its long-term availability will depend on its popularity. For now, its YouTube channel is already full of videos that are starting to generate buzz.
