Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 31 Ratings

  • Summary: With a roster featuring over 30 hand-drawn fighters, a number of detailed stages bursting with life, over a half dozen play modes, a refined fighting engine built for speed and complete with new moves and supers, a vastly improved Online mode, and a host of other additions, tweaks, and enhancements, THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIII represents a rebirth for one of gaming's longest tenured franchises and one of the most popular fighting brands ever. Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 31
  2. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Dec 15, 2011
    90
    The King of Fighters XIII is an awesome fighting game. The fast paced fights granted by the deep combat system are both technical and entertaining, and the gorgeous graphics and sounds are the final touch for a perfect fighting experience.
  2. Dec 12, 2011
    85
    After the dissapointment of the previous KOF XII, we were skeptical with this new entry, but things have changed. With King of Fighters XIII the great gameplay the series has been famous for returns, and this is great news.
  3. Jan 3, 2012
    85
    The best thing I can say about The King of Fighters XIII is that-mentally and emotionally-it took me back to the era of the NeoGeo and reminded me of why I fell in love with SNK's fighting games in the first place. Forget KOFXII-this is the company's true first step in trying to remind the world that it continues to be royalty in the genre it once ruled over. I just hope enough players out there are still ready to listen.
  4. 70
    Still doesn't have the breadth necessary to reach those who haven't been following the series for years, and still limps along when it comes to the vital online component. King of Fighters XIII is certainly a step in the right direction, but not quite the definite version of the series.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. 10
    i loved kof98um and 2002um, but 13 seems to be far better because of its new systems... the ex moves are really a big improvement, and the neomax move are really satisfying when you manage to pull them off during an actual fight. movesets are also far more expanded compared to kof12, and the story mode is packed with old characters like heidern or vanessa and brings the story of ash crimson to closure. the online mode seems to be on the same level as super street fighter 4 or marvel vs capcom 3, and the experience on live was similiar to that on psn (i bought both versions since my friends are split on different consoles) Expand
  2. King of Fighters XIII is probably the best 2d fighting experience you can have in the current generation, and one of the best 2d fighters ever created. Not only has the overall package been extremely improved in both quantity and quality, with tons of modes, new characters, beautiful stages that will remind you of the best SNK games on NeoGeo, new systems that actually add a lot of depth to the game (drive cancel, extra versions of special and desperation moves, and many other things) but the game has also a good netcode that, so far, hasn't let me down a single time. KoF13 has already been a favorite in the competitive scene for some time, and it's likely to gather a decent following in order to build a sizeable community in the future. The 4 CD soundtrack provided by Atlus USA surely helps to improve the value of an already exceptional game. Expand
  3. 10
    while i was burned by kof12's lack of contents and poor online, i must say that kof13 is really different, to the point of being completely different both regarding gameplay and available modes. if kof12 had practically nothing aside from arcade, versus and practice, here we have a great story mode with multiple paths, a nice arcade mode with dialogues between matches, versus, time attack, survival, tutorial, training, missions, a great color edit mode and a competent online mode that is surely on par with most other beat'em ups.

    the new features, like special versions of moves and supers are also welcome additions, and i think anyone remotely interest in this genre should buy this gem asap
    Expand
  4. absolute best NEW fighting game i've played in LONG time. usually the only good fighting games anymore are tekken, and capcom games from the old school. this has all the features you want plus more, plus more. buy it now. Expand

See all 10 User Reviews