<s>
(	O
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
)	O
is	O
a	O
fighting	O
game	O
released	O
by	O
SNK	O
for	O
the	O
Neo	B-Application
Geo	I-Application
arcade	I-Application
and	O
home	O
consoles	O
in	O
1996	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
third	O
game	O
in	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
series	O
,	O
following	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
95	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
ported	O
to	O
the	O
Neo-Geo	B-Device
CD	I-Device
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	O
previous	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Saturn	B-Device
versions	O
were	O
released	O
only	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
language	O
setting	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
set	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
English	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
also	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
compilation	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
Collection	O
:	O
The	O
Orochi	O
Saga	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
and	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
February	O
15	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
July	O
12	O
,	O
2012	O
and	O
in	O
the	O
PAL	O
region	O
on	O
November	O
22	O
,	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
makes	O
significant	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
gameplay	O
of	O
previous	O
KOF	O
games	O
by	O
introducing	O
new	O
techniques	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Huge	O
corporations	O
transform	O
the	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
tournament	O
into	O
something	O
widely	O
televised	O
,	O
commercialized	O
,	O
and	O
celebrated	O
,	O
drawing	O
in	O
many	O
crowds	O
from	O
around	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Takumas	O
spot	O
in	O
the	B-Application
Art	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighting	I-Application
Team	O
is	O
taken	O
by	O
his	O
daughter	O
Yuri	O
Sakazaki	O
,	O
formerly	O
with	O
the	O
Women	O
Fighters	O
Team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
characters	O
include	O
Kasumi	O
Todoh	O
from	O
Art	B-Application
of	I-Application
Fighting	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
who	O
takes	O
Yuris	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
Women	O
Fighters	O
Team	O
;	O
Leona	O
,	O
who	O
joins	O
the	O
Ikari	O
Team	O
in	O
place	O
of	O
her	O
mentor	O
and	O
adoptive	O
father	O
,	O
Heidern	O
;	O
Mature	O
and	O
Vice	O
,	O
two	O
of	O
Rugal	O
's	O
assistants	O
who	O
join	O
Iori	O
Yagami	O
as	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
new	O
Yagami	O
Team	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
Boss	O
Team	O
,	O
composed	O
of	O
Geese	O
Howard	O
,	O
Wolfgang	O
Krauser	O
,	O
and	O
Mr.	O
Big	O
,	O
all	O
villains	O
from	O
the	O
Fatal	B-Application
Fury	I-Application
and	O
Art	B-Application
of	I-Application
Fighting	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
period	O
for	O
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
dragged	O
on	O
right	O
up	O
to	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
its	O
scheduled	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
is	O
the	O
second	O
game	O
to	O
break	O
the	O
technical	O
limits	O
of	O
the	O
Neo	B-Application
Geo	I-Application
platform	O
by	O
using	O
a	O
memory	O
footprint	O
of	O
362	O
mega	O
bits	O
(	O
which	O
is	O
roughly	O
46	O
mega	O
bytes	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Real	O
Bout	O
Fatal	B-Application
Fury	I-Application
,	O
which	O
released	O
in	O
1995	O
,	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
to	O
break	O
the	O
330	O
mega	O
bit	O
barrier	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kasumi	O
Todoh	O
was	O
added	O
to	O
the	O
cast	O
since	O
the	O
coinciding	O
release	O
of	O
Art	B-Application
of	I-Application
Fighting	I-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
increased	O
the	O
character	O
's	O
profile	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Geese	O
Howard	O
from	O
Fatal	B-Application
Fury	I-Application
was	O
first	O
meant	O
to	O
appear	O
in	O
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
95	I-Application
,	O
but	O
developers	O
abandoned	O
this	O
idea	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
began	O
development	O
,	O
the	O
staff	O
decided	O
to	O
make	O
Geese	O
become	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
Leona	O
's	O
introduction	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
team	O
,	O
the	O
developers	O
waited	O
until	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
99	I-Application
to	O
add	O
her	O
to	O
the	O
cast	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
Japanese	O
arcades	O
on	O
July	O
30	O
,	O
1996	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Neo	B-Application
Geo	I-Application
and	O
Neo	B-Device
Geo	I-Device
CD	I-Device
versions	O
were	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
27	O
,	O
1996	B-Application
and	O
October	O
25	O
,	O
1996	B-Application
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
port	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
December	O
31	O
,	O
1996	B-Application
and	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
port	O
on	O
July	O
4	O
,	O
1997	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
the	O
previous	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Saturn	B-Device
versions	O
were	O
released	O
only	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
language	O
setting	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
set	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
English	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
version	O
optionally	O
uses	O
a	O
1MB	O
RAM	O
cartridge	O
to	O
run	O
additional	O
animations	O
which	O
would	O
not	O
fit	O
in	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
internal	O
RAM	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Saturn	B-Device
Best	O
Collection	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
port	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
1	O
,	O
1998	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
version	O
was	O
a	O
best	O
seller	O
and	O
was	O
rereleased	O
in	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
the	O
Best	O
series	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
also	O
included	O
in	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
Collection	O
:	O
The	O
Orochi	O
Saga	O
in	O
2008	B-Application
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
and	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
previous	O
game	O
,	O
a	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
game	O
based	O
on	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
was	O
released	O
by	O
Takara	O
in	O
Japan	O
titled	O
Nettō	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
on	O
August	O
8	O
,	O
1997	B-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Europe	O
titled	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
:	O
Heat	O
of	O
Battle	O
in	O
1998	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
game	O
features	O
a	O
secret	O
code	O
called	O
"	O
Carnage	O
"	O
mode	O
,	O
which	O
allows	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
(	O
including	O
CPU	O
)	O
Power	O
Gauge	O
to	O
be	O
filled	O
automatically	O
without	O
charging	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Characters	O
exclusive	O
to	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
version	O
includes	O
Orochi	O
Iori	O
and	O
Orochi	O
Leona	O
from	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
97	I-Application
,	O
a	O
stronger	O
version	O
of	O
Chizuru	O
Kagura	O
,	O
the	O
final	O
boss	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Goenitz	O
,	O
and	O
Mr.	O
Karate	O
(	O
Takuma	O
's	O
persona	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
Art	B-Application
of	I-Application
Fighting	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
extensive	O
database	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
titled	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
Neo	B-Application
Geo	I-Application
Collection	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
February	O
14	O
,	O
1997	B-Application
to	O
promote	O
the	O
year	O
's	O
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
available	O
only	O
for	O
the	O
Neo-Geo	B-Device
CD	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
similar	O
version	O
of	O
this	O
game	O
,	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
Perfect	O
File	O
,	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	O
and	O
Macintosh	O
computers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
version	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
June	O
18	O
,	O
1997	B-Application
and	O
includes	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
features	O
found	O
in	O
its	O
predecessor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
Game	O
Machine	O
listed	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
on	O
their	O
September	O
1	O
,	O
1996	B-Application
issue	O
as	O
being	O
the	O
most-successful	O
arcade	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
month	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
four	O
reviewers	O
of	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
gave	O
the	O
Neo	B-Application
Geo	I-Application
AES	I-Application
version	O
a	O
7.5	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
citing	O
the	O
huge	O
roster	O
of	O
fighters	O
and	O
retention	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
strong	O
playability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Dan	O
Hsu	O
and	O
Sushi-X	O
both	O
criticized	O
it	O
for	O
failing	O
to	O
improve	O
graphically	O
over	O
the	O
previous	O
installment	O
and	O
thereby	O
keep	O
up	O
with	O
contemporary	O
2D	O
fighting	O
series	O
such	O
as	O
Street	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
he	O
noted	O
the	O
graphics	O
to	O
have	O
gone	O
through	O
a	O
big	O
improvement	O
in	O
comparison	O
to	O
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
95	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
praised	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
new	O
characters	O
to	O
the	O
cast	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
boss	O
Goenitz	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
easier	O
to	O
defeat	O
than	O
Rugal	O
Berstein	O
from	O
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
95	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
review	O
from	O
the	O
compilation	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
Collection	O
:	O
The	O
Orochi	O
Saga	O
,	O
George	O
Damidas	O
from	O
entdepot.com	O
commented	O
that	O
KOF	B-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
should	O
be	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
as	O
he	O
praised	O
the	O
graphical	O
improvements	O
and	O
the	O
new	O
characters	O
appearing	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
editors	O
named	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
96	I-Application
their	O
Neo	B-Application
Geo	I-Application
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
"	O
an	O
excellent	O
packaged	O
deal	O
for	O
any	O
fan	O
of	O
2-D	O
sprite-based	O
fighting	O
games.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
its	O
release	O
week	O
,	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
port	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
sold	O
109,752	O
copies	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
received	O
a	O
sequel	O
titled	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
'	I-Application
97	I-Application
a	O
year	O
following	O
its	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ryo	O
Takamisaki	O
also	O
wrote	O
The	B-Application
King	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
G	O
,	O
a	O
manga	O
that	O
retells	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
following	O
Athena	O
Asamiya	O
.	O
</s>
