The King Of Fighters franchise redefined the fighting game genre and has spawned a cult-like following since its inception in 1994. With a new game set for a 2020/21 release, fans are eager for another chapter. Will it be able to exceed KOF XIV?
KOF boasts a plethora of colorful and iconic video game characters, some of which are stronger counterparts of rival titles such as Tekken and Street Fighter.
To celebrate 25 years of the series, here are 10 things everyone missed about some of King of Fighters' characters.
No One Knows If Geese Howard Is Actually Dead Or Alive
Geese's narrative has a continuity error. He was the final boss in the video game Fatal Fury in 1991, where after being defeated, falls to his death and meets a satisfying end. However, 3 years after, he appeared in the first-ever King of Fighters game alive and well.
The SNK development team actually had no idea about Geese's fate during production, according to Neo Geo Freak. KOF: Maximum Impact is the only game where they acknowledge Geese's death and SNK has yet to come up with an explanation regarding these alternate timelines.
Luise Meyrink's Design Was Based On A Real-Life Butterfly
Luise is a lepidopterist off-screen as evident with her butterfly aesthetic. From her fighting style, down to her clothes. The developers took her design from the Morpho. The blue butterfly is one of the largest in the world (wingspan can reach up to 8 inches) and is extremely rare.
In most cases, they can only be found in tropical rainforests if one is lucky enough. Luise is a one-of-a-kind character, one you might expect in a Mortal Kombat game.
King Of Dinosaurs Is The Evil Version Of Tizoc
Despite obviously looking like a reskin of Tizoc, SNK devs denied the claims, stating that he is a completely new character (having been introduced at KOF XIV) but a sarcastic cutscene between Terry and King proves otherwise. Fans have agreed that King of Dinosaurs is the old, heel persona of Tizoc and he even shares the moves with him.
His high flying, Lucha Libre style full of short combos are suitable for newbie players who just want to mash random buttons and he relies on devastating grabs just like Tekken's King.
Syo Kirishima Was Designed To Be The Main Protagonist
Before Kyo Kusanagi became the beloved protagonist of KOF, SNK designed Syo Kirishima who was the stereotypical tough pretty boy. Syo has appeared in some games as a running gag by the development team, made fun for being a rejected prototype like Jhun Hoon and Kang Bae Dal. While having the same voice actor, Syo also possesses the same moveset as Kyo and has made cameo appearances in some older games. SNK is open to crossovers with other franchises as well.
Najd Is A Fan-Made Character
On September 2017, SNK and Manga Productions announced a character design competition. Out of the 300 entries, Mashael Al Barrak's design was chosen. Hailing from Saudi Arabia, Najd the innocent student by day, patrols the streets during nighttime and has an arsenal of telekinetic and umbrakinetic powers as well as graceful staple combos that is enough to make short work of any opponent. The Masmak Fort, a Saudi Arabian themed stage was also chosen among the entries and was launched as DLC in 2019.
K9999 Just Disappeared Without A Trace
The NESTS character, K9999, debuted in the 2001 KOF and his origins remain unknown. SNK stated in the past that K9999 was their least favorite character, which led to his design thrown away completely possibly stemming from copyright concerns.
Later, a new character, Nameless, was introduced to the roster (in KOF 2001). Nameless was a watered-down version of K9999. According to polls, K9999 ranked 7th among fans, and the community is crying out for his return and with a tumultuous history with the character, the chances are slim to none.
Brian Battler Existed Long Before King Of Fighters
Brian, the muscle-head football player, was spawned years before KOF came into fruition. His earliest design was that of a traditional football player but the devs decided to scrap the helmet and gave him a more brutish look.
In 1992, Football Frenzy rose to popularity and decades after release, the game aged like fine wine and was even ported into modern systems like the PS4 and Xbox One, and possibly a Playstation 5 port. The timeless classic featured Brian Battler on the covers.
Lucky Glauber Is From A Bruce Lee Movie
Lucky is not just a parody but a direct copy from one of Bruce Lee's best movies, the Game of Death character Hakim. The real actor, however, is much more terrifying. Standing at over 7 feet tall, he is a martial arts legend and professional basketball player who took down Bruce with one kick. Lucky, on the other hand, is a much more overpowered incarnation of Hakim. His Super Speed can mow past opponents giving the player a better (but unfair) chance at winning.
Orochi, One Of The Final Bosses, Was Originally Naked
Orochi's early design in KOF 97 was different from the final one. He was planned to be butt naked but devs scrapped this and was instead replaced with the white pants and Chris' hairstyle. Orochi's true form was revealed to be a mythical serpent, a Half Christian Half Satanist, earning the slick nickname "God's Messenger". With the help of curious modders, fans can now enjoy the naked Orochi with pleasure.