Brace for KOF: Maximum Impact

SNK NeoGeo USA Consumer Corporation announced today that King of Fighters: Maximum Impact, the first original PlayStation 2 installment of the decade-old fighting game series, has shipped to retail. The first 3D version of SNK's flagship martial arts brawler will be available in stores this week.

The publisher will be putting a heavy marketing push behind the title, which features myriad characters from many of the fighting games that appeared on SNK's classic NeoGeo arcade hardware. Customers who preordered the title will receive a replica of the hat worn by Fatal Fury main character Terry Bogard, who appears in Maximum Impact along with 19 other fighters.

For more on King of Fighters: Maximum Impact, check out GameSpot's hands-on impressions of the near-final English version of the game.