The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood

The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood is a 2D fighting game developed by Noise Factory and published by SNK for the Game Boy Advance in 2002.

In The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood, you select a team of up to three characters from a roster and face off against opponents in one-on-one rounds. The primary goal is to defeat the opposing team by depleting their health bars. Combat involves movement using the D-pad, striking with punch and kick buttons, blocking incoming attacks, and performing special moves by entering specific directional inputs combined with button presses. A power gauge fills up as you attack and take damage, allowing you to unleash devastating Desperation Moves when full.

This installment for the GBA introduces distinctive elements to the series, most notably the 'EX characters.' These are alternate versions of familiar fighters, such as EX Kyo or EX Iori, who possess entirely different special moves and fighting styles compared to their standard counterparts. The game also features a 'Link System,' which allows players to cancel the recovery frames of one special move into another, creating combo opportunities that can extend damage or set up follow-up attacks. Navigating through the tournament structure involves facing successive teams until you reach the final boss.

The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood provides a portable fighting experience that emphasizes team strategy and the execution of special techniques.