Play The King of Fighters '95 Online

Summary

The King of Fighters '95 on Game Boy is the series’ second entry, and it sneaks in a surprise guest: Nakoruru from Samurai Shodown, who appears nowhere else in the console versions. I’m always amused by how the portable title swaps the USA Team for the Rival Team, giving Iori a starring role that pushes Kyo’s story forward.

The core of the game still feels like the original KOF ’94 – you pick a three‑person squad and battle until all opponents fall. What sets this version apart is the Team Edit mode, which lets you cobble together any trio from a roster of twenty‑four fighters, opening up a ton of strategic combos.

Combat has been tweaked with sharper dodge and counter‑attack timing, and the final showdown pits you against a brain‑washed Saisyu Kusanagi before the ever‑menacing Rugal Bernstein. The cartridge even talks to the Super Game Boy, and the later Game Boy Color release dresses the graphics in a playful, cartoon‑like style.

Storyline

The King of Fighters '95 (often called KOF ’95) kicks off the series’ Orochi Saga, though the only hints of that larger plot are the debut of Kyo’s rival Iori Yagami and Rugal’s use of the snake‑demon Orochi power. Rugal Bernstein, presumed dead after the previous game’s explosion, actually survived and mailed out tournament invitations signed simply “R.”

The American Sports Team never shows up because their invites were stolen by the Rival Team— Iori Yagami, Billy Kane (from Fatal Fury) and Eiji Kisaragi (from Art of Fighting 2). Saisyu Kusanagi, Kyo’s father, appears as a playable fighter for the first time as a computer‑controlled sub‑boss; after defeating him in arcade mode the story reveals he’s been brain‑washed. The final showdown pits players against an upgraded Rugal, dubbed Omega Rugal.