The King of Fighters XII

 Xbox 360
Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 57
  3. Negative: 5 out of 57
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  1. Planet Xbox 360
    84
    King of Fighters XII is a balanced, beautiful game to witness and a fun start for the franchise's next generation, but it absolutely is a case of unfulfilled potential, especially considering it's supposed to be "the year of the fighter."
  2. Destructoid
    80
    The core game is spectacular, even if the presentation framing it is awful, and it's got the potential to be well worth the money. So should you buy it? That depends on what's most important to you, but I'm going to say you most certainly should.
  3. My Gamer
    80
    There is a definite lack of content, which leaves the game feeling like a $60 downloadable title. Still, this is King of Fighters, the fun incarnate. The way it works out, the game is a good pickup for fighting game fans.
  5. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    80
    A great series addition for fans and newcomers. [Sept 2009, p.79]
  6. XboxAddict
    80
    All in all, SNK PLAYMORE has more than fulfilled expectations of what would be expected from this series.
  7. GameTrailers
    79
    Though the game is lacking from a strictly consumer perspective, there's lots of value is in the fighting itself.
  8. Games Master UK
    79
    A superb fighter, but it's too easy and there just isn't enough to do to recommend this. [Oct 2009, p.71]
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  9. Da Gameboyz
    76
    Sadly, while King of Fighters XII shows shades of brilliance now and then the game manages drops the ball a few times too many.
  10. GamingXP
    75
    The arcade mode gets a bite boring after a while and the game generally offers few gameplay options. The online mode is nothing more than a small addition.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2009
52
#52 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 43
  3. Negative: 20 out of 43
  1. NathanK
    Sep 19, 2009
    5
    After I played this game, I cried on the inside. Not because of the lack of Mai, not because of the lack of Story Mode, NOT because of the After I played this game, I cried on the inside. Not because of the lack of Mai, not because of the lack of Story Mode, NOT because of the lack of a final boss, but that SNK is going dowhill and it's taking KOF with it. The graphics are great and the gameplay has that solid, classic feel to it. But seeming as There's no final boss at the end of the 5 level Arcade mode, the gallery has barely any pictures in it, and every Character has only 1 SUPER MOVE, it ruined it. The online lags like a motherf**ker . The roster cut all of KOF's cast down to size. Plus there's a lack of a certain MAI SHIRANUI!!! I mean WTF? She's like the best female character in the game, boobage and ass aside. Anyways, I recommend this only for rental and not straight up buy.… Full Review »
  2. RodC
    Aug 13, 2009
    3
    The worst disappointment I've had in YEARS. They wasted a ridiculous amount of time drawing each frame of the characters' The worst disappointment I've had in YEARS. They wasted a ridiculous amount of time drawing each frame of the characters' animation, and even though animation itself looks fluid, the sprites look AWFUL on a decent HD screen. All that energy could've been better used into content for the game itself... I mean, what's wrong with modern animation techniques?… Full Review »
  3. Guy
    Aug 1, 2009
    4
    This has to an insult to any kof fan around. They've changed a fast-paced game into a touch-of-doom turtlefest because of critical This has to an insult to any kof fan around. They've changed a fast-paced game into a touch-of-doom turtlefest because of critical counters. Duo Lon became a zoning character and many characters lost at least one DM (which could be attributed to it being a throwback to kof 94-95). Playing most of these characters will make you feel like they've been raped from their older versions, like Leona from 2002 to 2003. Because of the lag, nobody would really want to be playing online, which then comes the offline mode. The computer is too easy to beat, throwing random moves and generally standing still, even if you chose "hard". For the first time in kof history there's not even a boss or a survival mode. They did what they could, but even hardcore kof fans will find it hard to pay so much for so little. Get 98 UM or XI or even the 02/03 bundle instead.… Full Review »
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