Play Nettou King of Fighters '97 Online

Nettou King of Fighters '97 came out on the Game Boy in 1997, published by Takara. It was one of the few portable fighting games at the time that tried to bring a console-style experience to the handheld, with a roster pulled directly from the arcade version. The hardware limitations meant compromises, but it was a genuine attempt to fit King of Fighters into your pocket.

You control one of several fighters, like Kyo Kusanagi or Terry Bogard, and face opponents in one-on-one matches across different stages. The main goal is to defeat all challengers in the single-player arcade mode. Signature mechanics include performing special moves by inputting directional commands combined with attack buttons, and a team-based system where you pick multiple characters for sequential battles. The pacing is brisk, though the difficulty can spike sharply against certain CPU opponents. It feels surprisingly responsive for a Game Boy title, letting you pull off combos and supers with a little practice.