10 years old and still kicking around? Hey, why not. We all like nostalgia and the game series was pretty good.

Ignition Entertainment Ltd., in conjunction with SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION, announced today that The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system will be shipping to retailers across North America come January 2009.

The King of Fighters franchise is considered one of the last great arcade 3-on-3 fighters. The series groups together fighters from many of SNK’s other hit games – like Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury and Ikari Warriors – into three-person teams to battle in a high-action martial arts tournament. By mixing characters from different teams, players can create an unstoppable force of various styles and abilities.

The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match, priced at $19.99 (M.S.R.P.), brings gamers an updated version of “The King of Fighters ‘98,” previously only seen in arcades, to North America for the very first time. The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match contains a grand total of 64 characters, 9 of which are new to the Ultimate Match version, showcasing the most characters ever included in a 2D fighting game!

Enhanced The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match Game Features Include:

• “Ultimate Mode”: Along with the features of Extra and Advanced Modes, gamers will find the newly added Ultimate Mode which allows players to choose any kind of movement, evasion action, and power gauge.
• New Characters: A total of 9 new characters including Eiji Kisaragi from KOF ’95, Kasumi Todoh, Geese Howard, Mr. Big, Wolfgang Krauser and Goenitz from KOF ’96 as well as Orochi Iori, Orochi Leona and Orochi from KOF ’97! Players will also find newly added characters like the King, Blue Mary, Ryuji Yamazaki, and Geese Howard to expand combat options.
• New Additions and Alterations to Graphics: Openings and Character Select screens have been redesigned.
• Includes the original NEOGEO version of The King of Fighters ’98