History VideoGame / TheKingOfFighters2000

* BonusBoss: Kula Diamond is fought if the player has enough [[GameplayGrading Battle Ability points]] before a specific point.

The seventh game in ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'' series, and the second chapter of the ''NESTS Chronicles''. The game was released on July 26, 2000 in arcades, and for UsefulNotes/NeoGeo on December 21, 2000. It was the last game released by the original Creator/{{SNK}} before their bankruptcy.

The game would eventually be ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Dreamcast}} and UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. The former adds new stages, while the latter adds new Maniac Strikers, an alternate mode known as [[ArrangeMode Party Mode]], and the ability to watch the openings of past ''KOF'' titles.

The game would eventually be ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Dreamcast}} and UsefulNotes/Playstation2. The former adds new stages, while the latter adds new Maniac Strikers, an alternate mode known as [[ArrangeMode Party Mode]], and the ability to watch the openings of past ''KOF'' titles.

[[folder: Teams In This Version]]

** ''Burning Fight'': Duke Edwards

** ''Robo Army'': Rocky

* '''Team ''[[VideoGame/IkariWarriors Ikari]]'':''' [[ReiAyanamiExpy Leona Heidern]], [[BashBrothers Ralf Jones, Clark Still]] and [[WhipItGood Whip]] officially begin their mission to bring the NESTS organisation to justice.

Another notable change in ''KOF 2000'' is that, in addition to some buffs to Counter/Armor Mode, it splits up the Super Moves between the normal version and the MAX version, dropping the rule of all Super Moves having their upgraded "MAX" variation. Some Super Moves still keep both normal and MAX versions (like Iori's Ya Otome), but now each character has a Super that only works as either a normal move (costing one Power Gauge stock) or a MAX move (costing all three stocks like in ''[='99=]''). This mechanic change was one thing that would stay in the series for a while, up until ''KOF XIII''.

* '''Team ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'':''' Once again comprised of [[HeirToTheDojo Ryo Sakazaki]], his father [[OldMaster Takuma]] and [[RichIdiotWithNoDayJob Robert Garcia]]; with [[{{Bifauxnen}} King]] replacing Yuri this time around.

* PracticalTaunt: Taunting with at least one bar of meter adds one stock to the Striker gauge.

Continuing from ''[='99=]''[='s=] [[AssistCharacter Striker system]], ''KOF 2000'' expands it into the Active Striker system; instead of having to stand still to summon a Striker, ''2000'' lets the players to summon them under almost any situation, allowing massive combo opportunities. In addition, each character has an alternate Striker known as "Another Striker" and a select few have a third Striker, known as a "Maniac Striker"; if they count as individual characters, this puts ''KOF 2000'' as the installment to have the biggest roster in the entire main series, as well as having the most SNK game representation in a single game (with some surprise guest appearances like ''Burning Fight'' and ''Quiz Daisousa-sen'').

The game would eventually be ported to the UsefulNotes/{{Dreamcast}} and UsefulNotes/Playstation2. The former adds new stages, while the latter adds new Maniac Strikers, an alternate mode known as [[ArrangeMode Party Mode]], and the ability to watch the openings of past KOF titles.

* '''Team Hero:''' [[NinetiesAntiHero K']] and [[{{Cyborg}} Maxima]] are still looking for answers as to who they are and what NESTS are after; perhaps the aid of secret agents [[EyepatchOfPower Ramon]] and [[BoxingBattler Vanessa]] will be of use to them?

** Mid-Boss: [[AnIcePerson Kula Diamond]], a female agent of NESTS; genetically modified with ice powers to counter K' and his flames.

** Mid-Boss: [[AnIcePerson Kula Diamond]], a female creation and agent of NESTS deemed the "Anti-K'" who uses ice powers.

* '''Fatal Fury Team''': [[LivingLegend Terry Bogard]], [[HighlyVisibleNinja Andy Bogard]] and [[HotBlooded Joe Higashi]] as always, with [[FairCop Blue Mary]] replacing Mai as their fourth.

* '''Team ''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'':''' Same as always: [[MagicalGirl Athena Asamiya]], the still depowered [[TheIdiotFromOsaka Sie Kensou]], [[DrunkenMaster Chin Gentsai]] and [[KidAppealCharacter Bao]].

* The '''Ikauri Warriors''', '''Psycho Soldiers''' and '''Korea Justice Team''' are still the same setup as in '99.

** Boss: Zero (aka Clone Zero as he's later dubbed), the sponsor and mastermind by this year's tournament plot. However, unlike Krizalid, he turns against NESTS for his own ploy for world domination.

* '''Hero Team''': K', Maxima and newcomers, wrestler Ramon and secret agent Vanessa.
* '''Benimaru Team''': Benimaru, Shingo, and newcomers, ninja Lin and secret agent, Seth.
* '''Fatal Fury Team''': As always Terry, Andy and Joe, but this go around, Mai is replaced by Blue Mary.
* '''Art Of Fighting Team''': Ryo, Robert and Takuma, with King replacing Yuri this time out.
* '''Women Fighters Team''': Now consisting of Mai, Yuri, Kasumi and newcomer, Hinako Shijou, a girl who uses sumo wrestling moves.
* '''Single Entries''': Kyo and Iori.

** Mid Boss: Kula Diamond, a female creation and agent of NESTS deemed the "Anti-K'" who uses ice powers.

* Ikauri Warriors, Psycho Soldiers and Korea Justice Team are still the same setup as in '99.

* '''Women Fighters Team'': Now consisting of Mai, Yuri, Kasumi and newcomer, Hinako Shijou, a girl who uses sumo wrestling moves.

** Mid Boss: Kula Diamond, a female clone of Kyo and agent of NESTS who uses ice powers.

The [[AssistCharacter Striker system]] introduced in KOF '99 is heavily revamped in this game. This new "Active Striker" system allows them to be summoned during almost any situation. In addition, each character has an alternate Striker known as "Another Striker", and a select few have a third Striker, known as a "Maniac Striker".

* MultipleEndings: Of a sort. The ending cutscene changes depending on whether or not the player fought Kula. If so, her handlers appear to subdue Zero, and she prepares to destroy the Zero Cannon. If the player didn't fight Kula, Heidern is seen subduing the Ling clone, preventing them from pressing a button that was presumably connected to the Zero Cannon.

* ActionizedSequel: From a gameplay perspective, at least. While touch-of-death combos and infinites are not new to the series, the Active Striker system makes them much easier to pull off than in previous games.

* BittersweetEnding: Zero is defeated, but the Zero Cannon's malfunctioning causes it to reduce Southtown to rubble.

* FreakyFridayFlip: In Team Korea's ending, Chang and Choi end up switching bodies after taking a direct hit from the malfunctioning Zero Cannon. [[RuleOfFunny Yeah...]]
* KillSat: The Zero Cannon is an orbital laser weapon powered by combat data.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: Kula destroying the Zero Cannon is depicted as this in other characters' endings. Averted in her ending, where it's seen in detail.

* BigBad: Zero, a traitorous NESTS agent who plans to use KOF participants' data to power the Zero Cannon.

* GameplayGrading: Your performance in Arcade mode is judged with Battle Ability points, which go up or down based on how well you do in any given match. If you have at least 300 Battle Ability points after the third match, [[BonusBoss Kula]] appears afterwards.
* KillSat: The Zero Cannon is an orbital laser weapon powered by combat data. One blast is enough to reduce Southtown to rubble.

* BigBad: Zero, a traitorous NESTS agent who plans to use KoF participants' data to power the Zero Cannon.