This is a playthrough using Omega Rugal in the Arcade version of The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. Read on below for more information...
Omega Rugal is one of the possible final bosses, and he is an unplayable character in this version of the game.
===== ABOUT OMEGA RUGAL =====
Rugal is an arms/weapons dealer who operates abroad his aircraft carrier called the Black Noah. He is an influential man and feared throughout the political and fighting world. Those who oppose Rugal would be defeated and slain by him, and he would have their bodies preserved in liquid metal to add to his trophy room. He has a pet panther called Rodem, which accompanies him and in KOF95 is seen in the background plane area (where the non-active team members would stand) in gameplay.
One of his eyes is bionic, which was the result of Leopold Goenitz blinding him in that eye with a single strike when a younger Rugal tried to channel Orochi's power to himself. At the time, Goenitz was surprised by how Rugal survived the attack and gave him some of the Orochi power, also warning him not to use the full extent of it.
After Rugal lost to Team Japan in the KOF94 tournament, he returned the following year (KOF95) and decided to use 80% of the Orochi power, causing his hair to turn white and his skin turning into a darkened-pale complexion. He also implemented some cybernetic enhancements to his body (most notably one of his arms) to better harness the Orochi power.
When Kyo, Benimaru and Goro defeated him he activated his full power but it was too much for his body to withstand and he exploded from inside.
===== OMEGA RUGAL KOF98UM =====
He remains the same as in the original KOF98, however there are some slight improvements made to him in 98UM (yeah as if he really needed that). Some of these improvements include: The ability to juggle the opponent after he/she is hit with his Vanishing Rush; and his Gigantic Pressure DM having much faster recovery if blocked.
===== OTHER INFORMATION =====
---- Despite being an unplayable character, he has multiple alternate colour palettes.
---- As he is a non-selectable character, his icon does not appear on the character select screen roster grid.
---- Despite being a non-selectable character, his icon and name appears perfectly in the Ranking screens. It's the same one as in the original KOF98.
---- He does not seem to be part of any special Teams.
---- He has a special pre-fight intro when facing Goenitz.
---- His prior and post match cutscenes from the original KOF98 are no longer here.
---- In gameplay, it actually displays his name as "Omega Rugal" on his lifebar, which wasn't the case in the original KOF98.
---- His stage background may be the only one in the game where the inactive members of Teams are not on the background plane.
===== ABOUT ARCADE KOF98UM =====
This is basically a remake of KOF'98 which features all the characters in the series from KOF94 to KOF97. As well as new artwork for the new (and some old) characters, it also has new/old stage backgrounds and new or extra music for certain events. The most "significant" feature is probably the addition of Goenitz and Orochi as possible final bosses. Changes are also made to the gameplay and mechanics obviously.
