The King of Fighters: Kyo (1998 video game)

The King of Fighters: Kyo (Japanese: ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ 京, Hepburn: Za Kingu obu Faitāzu Kyo) is a 1998 video game developed by Yumekobo and SNK. It was released on August 27, 1998 in Japan for the Sony PlayStation console. The game is presented as a visual novel set with fights arranged in a similar fashion to turn-based role-playing games. The plot follows the titular character, Kyo Kusanagi, who prepares to participate in the next worldwide fighting tournament and learn about the origins of his lineage and his rival's, Iori Yagami. The two were originally rivals until being cursed by the demon Yamata no Orochi. The player primarily controls Kyo Kusanagi, though several allies often side alongside him to form a team against other AI controlled ones.

Based on Masato Matsumoto's manga with the same name, the game is a spin-off from SNK's fighting games The King of Fighters . Unlike the manga which was based on the end of The King of Fighters '95 and its next days of Kyo's life, this game focuses primarily on prelude and development of The King of Fighters '97. The game was never released outside Japan, leading to a poor legacy. While the story and presentation were praised for its visuals, voice acting and expansion of Kyo's life, the gameplay was criticized for making fights confusing.