Play The King of Fighters EX2 : Howling Blood Online

I picked up The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood on Game Boy Advance back in 2003, a time when having a full fighting game in your pocket still felt like a novelty. It was developed by Marvelous Entertainment and published by Sammy, and it landed right in that sweet spot where developers were really starting to push what the hardware could do. You got a solid, portable version of a KOF experience without needing to be tethered to a console.

You control a team of three fighters, swapping them in and out as you battle through a series of one-on-one matches. The main goal is straightforward: win the tournament by beating every opponent that stands in your way. The game uses a four-button layout for punches and kicks, and it brings in mechanics like the striker system from earlier KOF titles, where you call an assist character to briefly join the fray. You can also execute super moves by building up your power gauge through attacks or blocks. The pacing is fast, matches are short, and the difficulty can spike unexpectedly against certain CPU teams. It feels responsive and surprisingly complete for a handheld title, letting you pull off satisfying combos even on the small screen.