The King of Fighters 2002 (Arcade) - RetroAchievements/guides GitHub Wiki

The King of Fighters 2002 (Arcade)

Introduction

The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle is a 2002 arcade fighting video game developed by Eolith and published by Playmore, the spiritual successor to the original SNK, for the Neo Geo. It is the ninth title in The King of Fighters series.

Controls and Gameplay

The controls and overall gameplay function almost identically to other King of Fighters titles:

  • UP / DOWN / LEFT / RIGHT: Movement
  • A: Weak Punch
  • B: Weak Kick
  • C: Strong Punch
  • D: Strong Kick

Throughout this guide, these button names (A/B/C/D) will be used for inputs and combos.

RetroArch Retropad Equivalents

If you’re using RetroArch’s Retropad layout, the default button mapping is:

  • A β†’ B
  • B β†’ A
  • C β†’ Y
  • D β†’ X

Default RetroArch Hotkeys

RetroArch also includes several pre-bound multi-button shortcuts:

  • L3: Pause
  • L1: C + D
  • L2: B + C + D (rarely useful)
  • R1: A + B (Evade)
  • R2: A + B + C

Gauge System

The gauge system is conceptually similar to the KOF β€˜97/β€˜98 Advanced mode:

  • You can store up to 5 gauges

    • Maximum is 3 gauges if none of your characters have been defeated

    • Performing a Desperation Move (DM) consumes 1 gauge

    • Performing a Super Desperation Move (SDM) consumes 2 gauges

    • Entering MAX Mode uses 1 gauge, and the SDM itself consumes another

    • Performing a DM while already in MAX Mode does not consume an additional gauge

Hidden Super Desperation Move

If your remaining life is above 30%, you gain access to a unique Hidden SDM, which consumes the same amount of meter as a standard SDM.

Ideal Setup

Before starting the guide, the following settings are recommended. They’re not mandatory, but they will make the playthrough much easier:

  • Difficulty: 3 (Adjust if needed)
  • Play Time: Normal Power Gauge: 1P: Recovery, 2P: Normal
  • Single Point: 1
  • Flash: Off

Why?

  • Difficulty 3 is the minimum required for most achievements.
  • Normal Play Time ensures that fights can end by time-over if you’re having trouble, preventing long stalemates.
  • Recovery Power Gauge (1P) allows you to use DM/SDM attacks more frequently, helping you clear the game faster.
  • Single Point: 1 shortens Single Play mode, speeding up completion.
  • Flash Off removes brief flashing pauses, keeping the gameplay smoother.

Achievements

Miscellaneous

Badge Description How to Perform
Crossing the Line Tease your opponent 15 times during Arcade mode. Spam Start, this can be done in Level 1 difficulty

Eating Fast		 Eat 5 rice balls as Kensou in one round. ↓↙←↓↙← + A+C
Button Masher Beat the game as Chang, using only Tekkyuu Dai-Kaiten as his Special Move on Single Play (Level-3 difficulty, 3 rounds). Just spam A caring about not triggering another attack, you can safely move after the attack is on course
Fervent Blood As Leona, transform on Orochi form during the first 5 seconds and then win the round on Arcade mode. ↓↑↓↑ + B+D
Hit'n Run Win a round by a time-out on Arcade mode. Leave your enemy at low HP and then just do guard

Score

Just get the requested score, Losing all characters (Continue) resets score.

Basic KOF Moves

Badge Description How to Perform
Perform a Guard Cancel in body blow during Arcade mode. Press C+D while guarding and being attacked
Perform a Guard Cancel evade during Arcade mode. Press A+B while guarding and being attacked
Perform a Recovery Roll during Arcade mode. Press A+B mid-air when an attack is about to knock you down

Challengers

Defeat (Name) on Team Play (Level-3 difficulty).

Each challenger appear according to player score at Stage 6, to get more or less score, you can try/avoid perfects, life amount, time and powers used,

Challenger Score

Angel		 Less than 250000

K9999		 More than 250000

Kula		 More than 300000

In any of these fights, you can also get:

Without Losing Adrenaline

Get a perfect victory against any of the challengers (Level-3 difficulty).

Game beating

These achievements are related to beating the game or do something in mid-completion (see strategy below).

Achievement Description

Breaking Out in a Cold Sweat
 Get a perfect win against Rugal (Level-3 difficulty).

Hold Firm Partners
 Beat three teams without losing any partner (Level-3 difficulty).

The Path of a Lone Warrior
 Beat the game in Single Play mode (Level-3 difficulty or greater, 2-point matches).

My Legacy is My Clan
 Beat the game in Team Play using only one credit (Level-3 difficulty).

My Time to Show What I've Learned
 Beat the game in Team Play on the hardest difficulty.

Strategy

Just use any character who can spam the same high-damage attack (e.g., Joe’s SDM or Robert’s DM). This will give you a huge advantage against the CPU and will most likely result in a perfect on all stages. You can even complete four of the five achievements at the same time.

The Official 2002: [Team Name] Team

  • Beat the game with (Team Members) in (Level-3 difficulty).

Just Defeat Rugal with all these teams, please note that Neo Geo saving system will not trigger any achievement, so you need to do full playthroughs.

HSDM Achievements

Hit an opponent with (Character Name) Hidden Super Desperation Move during Arcade mode.

As Description says, do HSDM in Arcade (can be Team Play or Single Play).

A fast approach is to use Single play with 3 Single Points so you can try calmly with the same enemy, if a convenient enemy does not appear, just reset the game, the only setback is options are not saved.

You can follow any HDSM guide like strategywiki's one, despite that, there are some special cases:

Special Conditions:

  • Andy HSDM requires both parts (↓←↓← + A+C then B+C+D)
  • Choi HSDM may not trigger achievement at first glance, you need to try multiple times (this is also why Power Gauge: Recovery is recommended)
  • Vanessa HSDM need to be triggered with first punch
  • Rugal HSDM requires 3 hits or KO

Specific strategies (hard HSDMs):

Athena

Try to fight against a character that doesn't move too much or guard often (like Vice, Chang or Ryo) and press keys synchronized to Athena's voice

Daimon Try to fight against a character that not do guard often (like Chang, Ryo or Ramon)

Vice Try to fight against a character that jump often, (like Yuri, Mary or Chris)

Seth Try to fight against a character that doesn't jump often, (like Mature, Vice or Seth)

Angel: This is the hardest one.

  • First, set difficult level to 8 so enemy attacks more often
  • Then, Try to fight against an enemy that do aerial attacks often (like Athena, Andy or Ramon), you need to keep the fight and pay attention to possible aerial attacks
  • Try to not be defeated, Level 8 is hard to keep but also has more opportunities to this HSDM
  • When doing the attack, use [↓←→↓→ + B+C+D], holding B+C+D, so is more easy
  • As a tip, is also easier to do this HSDM on keyboard than on controller due to how weird is the execution

Combos

Combos achievements usually requires do a simple combo using current character SDM (With Clark, Daimon, Hero May lee and Kula being the only exceptions). They also can be done in Practice Mode.

I did a list of combos i used, they are easy and at first glance any newbie can do them with small practice.

A/C are interchangeable, also B/D. in combos, I suggest the most convenient one depending on the situation.

Almost all combos need to be done close to opponent

Kyo

[C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’ + D->D] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + C]

Benimaru

First do HSDM: [→↙↓←→ + B] -> [↓↙↓↙ + B]

  • Connect after the ball did at least 5 hits
  • B is required because place the ball on front of you

Daimon

(In air) [C] -> (On floor)[C] -> [β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

This is not a SDM, is a grab instead, so don't worry if you don't trigger any SDM

Terry

[C] -> [β†’ B+C] -> [(Get close again) β†’] -> [β†’ + C] β†’ [β†“β†™β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

Andy

[β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + A] -> [β†“β†™β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + D]

Joe

[β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + C]

This single DM does the 11 hit combo, but only if you are really close to your opponent

Kim

(MAX) [C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + D] -> [β†“β†™β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + D]

Chang

[D] -> [B+C] -> [β†˜+A][β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + A]

A on last command is mandatory because with C, Chang walks before jumping

Choi

(MAX) [A] -> [A] -> [A] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†™β† + B]

Athena

(MAX) [β†“β†˜β†“β†˜ + C] -> [β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

Kensou

(MAX) [C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + D]

You need to not be too close from the opponent so C gaves 2 hits.

Chin

(In Air) [C] -> [C] -> (On Floor)[C] -> [B+C] -> [(Get close again) β†’] -> [C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’+C]

You need certain timing so the combo connects properly

Leona

(MAX)[D] -> [β†’ + C] -> [β†—] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + C]

Ralf

(MAX)[↙+A] -> [β†’+C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† C]

Clark

(MAX) (In Air) [D] -> [C] (Cancel) ->[β†’ + B] -> [ β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

This is not a SDM, is a grab instead, so don't worry if you don't trigger any SDM

Ryo

(MAX) (In Air)[C] -> (On Floor)[C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† C]

Robert

(MAX) (In Air)[D] -> (On Floor)[C] -> [β†’ + B] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† C]]

Takuma

(MAX) (Crouch) [B] -> [B] -> [B] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†™β† + A]

Mai

(MAX) [C] -> [←↙↓ + C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™ ← + D]

Yuri

[↓ +A] -> [β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + C] (Cancel) -> [β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + A]

May Lee

(In Air)[β†’ + B] -> (On Floor)[D] -? [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + K]

First attack must be done almost near the floor, so it connects with the second attack

Hero May Lee

[A] -> [A] -> [β†’ + B+C] [ β†’ +C]

  • To enter Hero mode press A+B+C
  • This is an HSDM

Iori

[C] -> [↓↙←↓↙← + C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + A+C]

Last part is required to count the combo, so even if you do a different combo, make sure to do the second part of last attack.

Mature

[D][β†“β†™β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + D]

Vice

[D] -> [β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + D]

Yamazaki

(MAX)[β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + C] (Cancel) β†’ [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

First Attack should do at least 2 hits

Mary

[C] -> [β†’ + B] + [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + C]

Billy

(MAX)[C] β†’ [β†“β†˜β†’ β†“β†˜β†’ + A]

You should be really close to opponent so second attack does 3 hits

Yashiro

(In Air) [A] -> (On Floor) [↓+A] -> [↓+A] -> [↓+A] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + A]

Shermie

(In Air) [D] -> [B->B] -> [β†’β†˜β†“β†™β†β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + A]

First attack must be done almost near the floor, so it connects with the second attack

Chris

(Crouch)[B] -> [B] ->[β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + B]

K'

(In Air)[B] [C ->C] -> β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + C]

First attack must be done almost near the floor, so it connects with the second attack

Maxima

(Crouch)[A] -> [A] -> [β†“β†˜β†’ + A] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + A]

Whip

[B] ->[B] -> [↓ + B] -> [β†“β†™β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + A]

Vanessa (MAX)[↓+A] -> [β†’ + A] (Cancel) -> [[β†“β†˜β†’ + C] (Cancel) -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

Seth

[C -> C] -> [β†“β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + B]

Ramon

(In Air) [C] -> (On Floor) [C] -> [β†“β†™β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + D]

First attack must be done almost near the floor, so it connects with the second attack

Kula

(In Air) [C] -> (On Floor) [C] -> [β†’β†˜β†“β†™β†β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + A+C]

  • First attack must be done almost near the floor, so it connects with the second attack
  • This is an SDM

K9999

(MAX)(In Air) [C] -> (On floor)[β†™β†’β†˜β†“β†™β†β†˜ + C]

Angel

[D] -> [β†’ B] (Cancel)-> [←→ B] -> ←→ β†“β†˜β†’

Despite having a cancel, this does not requires MAX mode

Orochi Yashiro

[D] -> [β†’ + A] -> [ β†’β†˜β†“β†™β†β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + A]

Orochi Shermie

[B -> B] -> [ β†“β†˜β†’β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

Orochi Chris

[β†’β†“β†˜ + C] β†’ [β†“β†™β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

  • Your enemy must don't be in a corner
  • First attack need to do 3 hits

Rugal

(In Air)[C] (On Floor) [C] -> [β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + B] [β†˜β†’β†˜β†“β†™β† + C]

Kusanagi

[β†“β†˜β†’ + D -> D] -> [β†“β†™β†β†™β†“β†˜β†’ + C]

Conclusion

If you’ve completed all the achievements, congratulations! They require a lot of time, effort, and trial and error. Good luck, and try mastering another KOF game.

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