King of Fighters: Neowave, released in 2004, is a 2D fighting game that belongs to the renowned King of Fighters franchise. It's the first KOF game to be developed for Atomiswave arcade hardware, and later ported to Xbox. The game features a wide roster of characters from previous KOF titles and introduces new gameplay mechanics, including the Heat Mode, Guard Break, and Max2 move systems to enhance combat strategies. It's known for its competitive play and is a fan favorite for its deep fighting mechanics and character variety.