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THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2001 Mini-FAQ
By Orochi K <kof_2k@hotmail.com>
For Arcade
Version 1.10 on October 8, 2001

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(c) 2001, Ashvin "Orochi K" Sawmynaden

This FAQ is meant for non-profitable purposes only and
is the sole property of its author.

If you wish to post this guide on your website, please
e-mail me first.

The King of Fighters (c) 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,
1999, 2000, SNK of Japan

                   & (c) 2001, Eolith and SNK of Japan


This is only a mini-FAQ for KOF 2001 which is due out
soon in its full version. In here, you'll only find
the basics of the game along with all the teams
and characters and a brief explanation of what is new
in Episode 8.

The latest version of this FAQ may be found at 
www.gamefaqs.com.

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OK, let's get things started and get ready once more to 
re-enter the biggest tournament ever.

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 ==========
  CONTROLS 
 ==========

 There are only 4 buttons in the game:

          A        B


          C        D

 Here's what each button represents:

 A - weak punch
 B - weak kick
 C - strong punch
 D - strong kick

 Further notations:

 P - A/C
 K - B/D

 AB - Escape
      Press right or left to choose direction
 The trademark Escape system of Garou Dentetsu and KOF
 that also allows you to cross-over your opponent.

 CD - Attack
 This is an attack that will always knock the opponent 
 down if it connects. It is however possible to follow
 with an attack for some characters.

 BC - Call Striker (costs 1 power stock)
 Depending on the number of strikers you chose, they will
 come out and perform their action once you press BC.

 Press AB as soon as you touch the ground when you fall
 for the recovery roll. If it succeeds, your character
 will say something and get up quicker.

 Press CD while blocking to perform your guard cancel
 attack. This costs 1 power stock.

 Press a direction and AB to guard escape while blocking.
 This costs 1 power stock.

 When your opponent attemps to throw you, you can press
 Direction (left/right) + C/D (depends on which button
 your opponent has used) to break the throw and to escape.

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 =============
  INNOVATIONS
 ==============

 While you could only play with 1 Striker in KOF 2000, the
 system has now changed. In KOF 2001, you can play with
 up to 3 Strikers and only one character. Of course, this
 affects other features like your power gauge if you 
 prefer to use 2 characters and 2 strikers or something
 else. 4 characters only is now even possible.

 Here's what you may end up with:

 - 4 characters
 - 3 characters and 1 striker
 - 2 characters and 2 strikers
 - 1 character and 3 strikers

 Now, I will explain how the choice of your number of
 characters and strikers affect the game and any other
 features if necessary.

 (i) Length of Power Gauge
     The length of the power gauge depends on how many
     characters you use. If you use only 1 character
     along with 3 strikers, the gauge will fill up
     very quickly while it takes much longer if you
     are using 4 characters.

     This should help you understand how the length
     of the power gauge varies. This list is in
     descending order, i.e. the first arrangement
     takes the most time for the power gauge to be
     full and the time decreases as you go down the
     list.

     - 4 characters
     - 3 characters + 1 striker
     - 2 characters + 2 strikers
     - 1 character + 3 strikers


  (ii) Number of Power Stocks
       The greater the number of fighters, the
       smaller the number of power stocks
       you can store. If you chose only 1 fighter,
       you can store up to 4 power stocks while 
       you may store only 1 power stock if you are
       playing with 4 characters.


  (iii) Defensive Level
        You character's defensive level decreases as
        you use more characters. This means that 
        the fighter will take less damage every time
        he's hit if he has 3 strikers to back him
        up.


 ==========
  STRIKERS
 ==========

 The Striker Bombs have been abandoned. Instead, you 
 now use Power Stocks to call your strikers.

 Strikers can be called anytime just like in KOF 2000.
 There is however a new feature known as the Striker
 Cancel Attack. This is done under certain conditions:

 I. The opponent is on the ground. It remains to be
    known if this applies even when the opponent 
    uses recovery roll though.

 II. The opponent is hit and cannot move (like he's
     dizzy but not quite!).


 ===========
  INFINITES
 ===========

 Since you may now call 3 strikers, there still remains
 to be seen whether there still are infinites. But my
 friend Dark Raptor (who's done some translations
 for this FAQ), who has played the beta version,
 has been able to call strikers thrice and this makes
 me assume that infinites should be possible if only
 1 striker is being used.

 Since the 3 strikers come out at the same time, I don't
 see how infinites can be pulled with all 3 of them
 on-screen and each of them pulling their own striker
 action and eventually getting in each other's way.


 ====================
  WIRE DAMAGE ATTACK
 ====================

 This is a completely new feature in KOF 2001.

 This Wire Damage Attack applies to certain moves
 only. If the opponent is hit with such an attack, he
 will be thrown to the side of the screen and when he
 touches the end, he'll rebound on the impact and you'll
 be able to place in more hits while he's still in the 
 air.


 =====================
  SUPER ATTACK CANCEL
 =====================

 Using the Super Attack Cancel, players can cancel their
 super attack into other attacks for new combos that seem
 to have been included in KOF 2001. But this seems to be 
 rather hard to perform.


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 =======
  TEAMS
 =======

 Well, like all its predecessors, KOF 2001 comes with new
 characters and new teams. Some characters seem to have changed
 teams too. Here's the final list of the teams and characters
 as tested in the playable version and translated from the 
 Japanese KOF 2001 page.

 The Heroes Team : K', Maxima, Lin, Whip

 Kyo's Team : Kyo, Goro, Benimaru, Shingo

 Iori's Team: Iori, Seth, Vanessa, Ramon

 The Ikari Warriors Team: Heidern, Ralf, Clark, Leona

 The Art of Fighting Team: Takuma, Robert, Ryo, Yuri

 The Fatal Fury Team: Terry, Andy, Joe, Blue Mary

 The Psycho Soldiers Team: Chin, Athena, Kensou, Bao

 The Korean Team: Kim, Choi, Chang, Mei Li

 The Gals Team: King, Mai, Xiang-Fei, Hinako

 The N.E.S.T.S. Team: K9999, Kula, Angel, Foxy

 Mid-boss: Original Zero


 Further notes:
 Well, not much! As you have seen, Yuri and King have
 swapped place again and Xiang-Fei is back. However,
 Jhun is out. And a couple of characters from '98 are
 back.

 Original Zero has 3 strikers: Krizalid, Ryuu and Lion.

 And K9999 seems to belong to the main cast along
 with Angel. (Note: K9999 is pronounced "Kfour9")


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 =======
  MOVES
 =======

 This section focuses on the changes in the existing moves and
 how they are now different.

 * It seems that K' has a new deadly combo where he can do
   2 Iron triggers against a cornered opponent with both
   follow-ups.

   Here's the combo (only against cornered opponents!):

   qcf + P -> f + D -> qcf + P -> f + B

   Thus, the second Iron Trigger will get the opponent up
   again and will give you enough time to pull the Second
   Shoot.


 * Kyo has a new super desperation move and it's a throw
   move. This is a bit weird because Kyo was never a 
   grappler, must be due to the return of Goro! Anyway,
   here's the command: Close, hcbx2 + AC.


 * Lin has a new super desperation move which is performed
   thus: d,d,d + AC.


 * Shingo has a new desperation move.
   Command: qcb, hcf + P.


 * Heidern is no longer a charging character like in
   KOF '98. He still has the same moves but they
   are now performed differently which is just the
   better for us players.


 * Robert Garcia is no longer a charging character
   too and he seems to be just the same as in '98.
   Will he be as cheap too?! Probably...


 * Kula has a new move: qcb + K.


 * Vanessa's command move (f + A) will now knock the
   opponent down on the second hit. No more 10 hits 
   combos! :)


 * He's got back his projectile: qcb + P.
   It appears to be just the same with no changes.


 * Choi has a new desperation move.


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 Well, that's all there is to this small FAQ for now! The info 
 contained in this FAQ comes from translations from Eolith's 
 and SNK's respective webpages, from The Madman's Caf, and
 from The King of Fighters Online. Well, some of the info
 because they may have more but I haven't really checked
 since Dark Raptor has played the game when it was available
 in Japan and he did some translations too! There may be more
 that I have missed but if it's the case, don't worry since
 it'll be up fairly soon.

 Anyway, more will be added as...err...more will be known!


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 =========
  UPDATES
 =========

 Version 1.00 on October 7, 2001
 - First release! Not much though!

 Version 1.10 on October 8, 2001
 - Corrected some stuped mistakes. I actually put that you'll take 
   more damage if you play with only 1 character which is just the
   opposite of what I meant. Sorry about that!
 - Added mid-boss Original Zero in TEAMS section and more info about
   his strikers. That cheapo has 3 strikers, would ya believe it?!


 =========
  CREDITS
 =========

 Big things in the making of this mini-FAQ go to:

 - SNK & Eolith
   For making this game, for releasing a beta version and for
   some info translated from their website. I know people are
   saying they're deceived with what they've seen and heard
   so far but I know KOF-freaks too well to believe them. Didn't 
   this happen with 2000?! I have no doubt they will spend all
   thier bucks on 2K1 too whether they're hesitant or not! :)

 - Dark Raptor
   For being such a great friend (although I've never met
   him) and for sharing his 2K1 gaming experience with me
   over the net. He also did the translations from SNK's
   and Eolith's homepage and I do feel he should be listed
   as co-author in my opinion but he doesn't want to.
   Anyway, big thanks, pal!! :)

 - The Madman's Cafe and The King of Fighters Online
   For a lot of info contained in this FAQ and for allowing
   me to check some stuff when I wasn't sure. Like I've said 
   earlier, they may have more info now. So, just go there and
   they have the latest screenshots too!

 - Jeff "CJayC" Veasey
   For hosting this guide on his site and for providing us
   gamers with wonderful message boards.

 - You
   Stop saying that 2K1 doesn't interest you! Nobody believes
   you because you're a KOF-freak! Besides, why are you reading
   the guide?! :)


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 (c) 2001, Ashvin "Orochi K" Sawynaden.