The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood arrived on the Game Boy Advance in 2003, a period when the handheld was firmly in its prime and fighting games were a proven draw on the platform. It followed The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood (2002), also developed by Marvelous Entertainment, making EX2 the direct sequel in a GBA-exclusive sub-series that ran parallel to SNK's mainline KOF arcade and console releases. By this point, the GBA had already demonstrated it could host capable 2D fighters, and EX2 pushed that capability further with a larger roster and refined mechanics. The game features team-based combat in the classic KOF tradition: players assemble a team of three fighters and battle through a series of opposing teams in a tournament bracket structure, with each match requiring the player to defeat all members of the opposing squad. Controls are mapped thoughtfully to the GBA's limited button layout — the A and B buttons handle punches and kicks, while the L and R shoulder buttons are used for stronger attacks and evasion maneuvers, preserving the feel of the series' four-button system as faithfully as the hardware allows. Special moves are executed with the familiar quarter-circle and charge motions that KOF veterans will recognize, and the game includes Super Desperation Moves that can be unleashed when a fighter's health is critically low, adding a comeback mechanic that keeps matches tense until the final moment. EX2 introduces an original character named Moe Habana, created specifically for this GBA sub-series, which gave the game a distinct identity separate from the arcade canon. The story mode pits the player's team through a series of increasingly difficult opponents culminating in a boss encounter, with brief narrative vignettes providing context between bouts. A two-player versus mode is supported via a Game Boy Advance link cable, allowing head-to-head matches and extending the game's longevity considerably. The roster draws from across the KOF universe, including fighters from the Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and Ikari Warriors teams, giving the game a broad appeal for fans of SNK's fighting game legacy. Visually, the sprites are compact but recognizable, and the game runs at a smooth frame rate that keeps the action readable on the small screen. The soundtrack adapts iconic KOF themes to the GBA's sound chip with reasonable fidelity. In its era, EX2 was received as a solid portable fighting game that delivered a genuine KOF experience on the go, appreciated particularly for its roster depth and the inclusion of the original character, even if the compressed controls meant that the full complexity of the arcade games could not be entirely replicated.
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King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood
拳皇：EX 2, The - Howling Blood
King of Fighters EX 2: Howling Blood is a fighting game for the Game Boy Advance developed by Marvelous Entertainment and released in 2003. The game features one-on-one combat where players select from a roster of fighters and engage in head-to-head matches across multiple stages. Combat involves executing special moves, combos, and defensive actions using the GBA's buttons. Each fighter has unique fighting styles and signature techniques. The progression follows an arcade-style tournament structure, with players advancing through increasingly difficult opponents. Core mechanics include energy management, move timing, and tactical positioning during fights. The portable format brings the fighting game experience to the GBA while maintaining standard competitive gameplay. Players can face off against the computer in story mode or challenge another human player in versus mode.
- Developer
- Marvelous Entertainment
- Released
- 2003
- Platform
- GBA
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 (7.3K)
- Last updated
About King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood
What makes it special
The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood is notable for featuring Moe Habana, an original character created exclusively for the GBA sub-series and not present in any mainline KOF arcade release at the time. This made EX2 one of the rare handheld fighting game spin-offs to introduce a new canonical fighter rather than simply porting an existing roster, giving collectors and series fans a concrete reason to seek out the GBA version specifically. The game also manages to implement Super Desperation Moves on the GBA hardware, a technical and design achievement that preserved a core tension mechanic from the home console and arcade entries.
Pro tips
- Build your team with one strong anchor character placed last — they will face the most opponents and need to handle pressure situations, so pick a fighter whose special moves you can execute reliably on the GBA's d-pad.
- Learn to use the evasion roll mapped to the shoulder buttons; it passes through many projectiles and repositions you for a counter-attack, which is especially useful against CPU opponents who spam fireballs.
- Save your Super Desperation Move for moments when you are at low health against the final member of an opposing team — the damage boost can turn a near-loss into a clean finish.
- Practice the quarter-circle motions in training or early matches before attempting the later tournament rounds; the GBA d-pad rewards deliberate, clean inputs over rushed motions.
- In two-player link cable matches, vary your approach between rushdown and defensive play — opponents who learn your patterns can punish predictable special move spam effectively.
King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood Controls — GBA Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood on our in-browser GBA emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Q | L | Left shoulder |
| W | R | Right shoulder |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood on GBA before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood" GBA longplay 2003
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood released?
King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood was released in 2003 for the GBA.
Who developed King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood?
King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood was developed by Marvelous Entertainment, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood support?
King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the GBA.
What type of game is King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood?
King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood is a Action game for the GBA, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood in the browser?
No. King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood streams from a public archive into a browser-side GBA emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original GBA cartridge supported.
Does King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood work on mobile devices?
Yes — the GBA emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of King of Fighters EX 2, The - Howling Blood. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
How long does it take to beat the story mode?
A single story mode run through the tournament bracket typically takes between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours depending on difficulty setting and how many continues are used. Completing the mode with multiple teams to see different endings adds several more hours of playtime.
Is the two-player mode worth using?
Yes, if you have access to a second GBA and a link cable. Head-to-head matches are where the game's depth shows most clearly, as the AI in single-player is predictable once you learn its patterns. Two-player versus significantly extends the game's replay value.
What is a common mistake new players make?
New players often neglect team order, placing their favourite character first and burning them out early. Putting a reliable, easy-to-control fighter second and your strongest character last gives you a safety net and ensures your best option is available for tough final opponents.
Is King of Fighters EX2 worth playing today?
For fans of SNK's fighting game history or GBA collecting, yes. It is a competent portable fighter with a broad roster and the exclusive character Moe Habana. Players seeking the full depth of the mainline KOF series will find it limited by the hardware, but as a handheld adaptation it holds up well.
