The King of Fighters '96

The King of Fighters '96 is a 1996 SNK arcade fighting game and the third entry in the KOF series, marking the opening chapter of the Orochi saga trilogy. The game introduced sweeping gameplay overhauls, including diverse jump mechanics and a guard-cancel counter system. New characters such as Leona made their debut, secretly connected to the bloodline of Orochi. The plot plants the first seeds of Orochi's resurrection conspiracy, establishing the overarching narrative direction that carries through the two installments that follow.