King of Fighters XIII for PlayStation 3 Reviews by Gamers

I will start off by saying that this is not a game you can just pick up and play and expect to be good at. If you don't already play fighting games, then KOF XIII may be a bit difficult to initially get into. Don't let that discourage you though, if you truly want to delve into a good fighter then this is it. Gorgeous sprite animations and stages, a great soundtrack, and challenging yet rewarding game-play mechanics all make this game a treat for old-school and new-school fighting game fans alike.

The only downside thus far has been the sub-par online experience. I have had quite a few good connections with people online, but overall it is kind of hit or miss. Hopefully there will be a netcode patch later on but even without it, KOF XIII is still the best 2D fighting game out right now.

-Update-
SNK recently sent out a statement saying that there will be a netcode patch released sometime soon. Great news for KOF fans.

This game looks a lot better than it plays.
it looks like plaster of paris meets 3d cel-shading.
it sounds and plays and you push the buttons at lighning speeds like an arcade machine (even online).

but,
it doesn't really play as well as most KOF from the old school. seems like the moves --especially supermoves-- all require the exact same commands. so, like super street fighter 4, you feel like you are simon-says-ing animations rather than fighting your opponent.
storyline is text and avatar style, and the characters aren't quite as fantastical as somesuch as NeoGeoBattleColliseum for PS2.

all presentation and little gameplay.