The King of Fighters '95 (1996). Play online

Summary

When I slipped The King of Fighters ’95 into my Game Boy, I was instantly hit by a familiar four‑player showdown but with a fresh twist. The USA Team from KOF ’94 disappears, replaced by the Rival Team—headlined by the hot‑tempered Iori that deepens Kyo’s storyline. Gameplay sticks to the classic three‑fighter teams, yet the new Team Edit lets you mash any of the 24 characters together, and the revamped dodge‑and‑counter system feels snappier than ever. The final ladder pits you against a brain‑washed Saisyu Kusanagi before the ultimate showdown with a pumped‑up Rugal Bernstein.

What really makes the handheld version pop is the secret guest: Nakoruru from Samurai Shodown, a character you can only unlock on the Game Boy port. Takara handled the Japanese release while Nintendo published it stateside, and the cart even supports the Super Game Boy with a quirky cartoon‑style palette when you plug it into a Game Boy Color.

Storyline

The King of Fighters ’95 kicks off the series’ first Orochi‑Saga thread, though the only hints are Iori Yagami’s debut as Kyo’s rival and Rugal’s use of the snake‑demon Orochi power. Rugal Bernstein, presumed dead after the previous explosion, survived and mailed cryptic invitations signed simply “R” to the returning teams. The American Sports Team never shows up because their letters are stolen by the new “Rival Team,” composed of Iori, Billy Kane (from Fatal Fury) and Eiji Kisaragi (from Art of Fighting 2). Saisyu Kusanagi, Kyo’s father, appears 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, now called Omega Rugal, bringing the tournament to a climactic finish.