| Chaos Code | |
| Developer: | FK Digital[1] |
| Genre: | Fighting, Visual novel |
| Creator: | Mickey Lin Michael Lin (until 2016) Tetsu[2] |
| First Release Version: | Chaos Code |
| First Release Date: | August 4, 2011 |
| Latest Release Version: | Chaos Code: Nemesis Experiment |
| Latest Release Date: | 2024 |
is a fighting game series developed by FK Digital.[1]
| Chaos Code: (New) Sign of Catastrophe / Exact Xeno Attack | |
| Developer: | FK Digital |
| Publisher: | FK Digital (Sign of Catastrophe) Arc System Works (NESiCAxLive and consoles) exA-Arcadia (2020s Arcade) |
| Director: | Mickey Lin |
| Producer: | Mickey Lin Michael Lin (until 2016) Tetsu |
| Designer: | Mickey Lin Michael Lin (until 2016) BAN A26 - Sakura ros kerbe god Aloner |
| Artist: | BAN A-Shian, MAKAI |
| Composer: | Mint Jam nekono Kou -45 |
| Genre: | Fighting |
| Modes: | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Arcade System: | RingWide (Sign of Catastrophe) NESiCAxLive (New Sign of Catastrophe) exA-Arcadia (Exact Xeno Attack) |
The first game known as Chaos Code: Sign of Catastrophe was released for Sega's RingWide arcade system board on August 4, 2011.[1] A port for the PlayStation 3 was first released on December 19, 2012, on Hong Kong's PlayStation Network, followed by subsequent home releases in both Japan and North America in 2013 and the PAL region in 2014. Additionally, it adds additional characters, balance adjustments, new game modes (such as training, versus and gallery modes), and has made the arcade version's last boss, Kudlak-Sin, a playable character [3]
A remastered version, Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe, was released on arcades on June 6, 2013, and on PlayStation 4 and Windows on March 15, 2017. It features a new online mode and two new characters. The game was ported to the Nintendo Switch and released on March 26, 2020. An upgraded version of New Sign of Catastrophe known as Chaos Code: Exact Xeno Attack was ported by FK Digital and exA-Arcadia in 2020. This version decreases input lag down to 2 frames, adds 16 color palette choices to each character and fixes the slowdown which occurs on certain stages of the arcade version of Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe.[4]
| Chaos Code: Nemesis Experiment | |
| Developer: | FK Digital |
| Publisher: | exA-Arcadia |
| Director: | Mickey Lin |
| Producer: | Mickey Lin Tetsu |
| Designer: | Mickey Lin BAN A26 - Sakura ros kerbe god Aloner |
| Artist: | BAN A-Shian, MAKAI |
| Composer: | Mint Jam nekono Kou -45 |
| Released: | Arcade |
| Genre: | Fighting |
| Modes: | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Arcade System: | exA-Arcadia |
The sequel title originally known as Chaos Code NEXT, was teased at Toushinsai 2016 as an in-work sequel title in Japanese arcades. The teasers were shown in Toushinsai 2017 and FKDCup 2018, and a character Kagari receives a new version which serves as a default variant for this game.[5] The tentative title was revealed during Evo Japan 2020. However, FK Digital confirmed on February 9, 2020, that the sequel has been postponed for one year, possibly due to COVID-19 pandemic and since the passing of the series' co-creator, Mickey's younger brother, Michael, on Christmas 2017, two months after Toushinsai 2017 teaser gameplay of Chaos Code NEXT was released.[6] A year later on February 18, 2021, the series’ producer, Mickey Lin confirmed on his Twitter that FK Digital has returned to the development of Chaos Code NEXT.[7] It was announced at Angels of Battle on April 2, 2022, that the Chaos Code Next demo will be exhibited at the same booth as soon as the latest update title of the first game is over at the KGP division of FK Digital on April 30, 2022.[8] During EVO Japan 2024, exA-Arcadia revealed that the newly titled Chaos Code; Nemesis Experiment will be released in arcades on exA-Arcadia in 2024.[9]
The game uses a standard 8-way lever and four button (weak punch, weak kick, strong punch, strong kick) system. Characters can be customized prior to the fight, such as selecting two "edit special moves" from four possibilities to go along with the character's built-in attacks. Players can also select between "run" and "step" modes, placing the focus respectively on speed and technical play.[10] The game makes use of a couple of systems that can quickly change the flow of battle, besides :[10]
Chaos Code NEXT adds new features:[11]
Metacritics scores PlayStation 3 version of Sign of Catastrophe at 61, as it is criticized for its unbalanced gameplay and the lack of online play.[13] Ultimately, in response, remastered version, New Sign of Catastrophe receives higher metascore at 66 than its previous counterpart, as the critics praises for the inclusion of the online play and balanced gameplay.[14]