History Awesome / TheKingOfFighters

** Being [[TropeCodifier the face of]] [[SNKBoss merciless boss beatdowns]] he is, Rugal gets an absolutely spectacular Climax to show off his hellacious power. After launching a short-range projectile with vaccuum qualities, Rugal Genoicde Cutters his victim and sends them to the floor for the main part of the attack; An absolutely massive version of the Kaiser Wave. The opponent barely has enough time to [[OhCrap realize just how screwed they are]] before it hits them, rupturing the ground and turning the ''entire arena'' into a fiery inferno.

*** Their team theme, [[https://youtu.be/kTEfbotFnIg "Liberty"]], is also a tearful tribute to the era they debuted from as well as a very [[FridgeBrilliance brilliant]] MeaningfulName on two fronts: the fact that K9999 is, from a meta standpoint, finally free from [[PutOnABus existential limbo]] (sorry, Nameless) ''and'' that the three members of Team Krohnen are free from NESTS.

*** Yashiro also gets to really display his power as a Heavenly King with his Orochi form's Climax. He counters his opponent's attack by uprooting the ground beneath them (think [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom Hulk's Gamma Wave]]), sending them skyward so that he can grab them and deliver a vicious, ground rupturing [[WrestlerInAllOfUs powerbomb]].

*** Yashiro also gets to really display his power as a Heavenly King with his Orochi form's Climax. He counters his opponent's attack by uprooting the ground beneath them (think [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom Hulk's Gamma Wave]]), sending them skyward so that he can grab them and deliver a vicious, ground rupturing powerbomb.

** Being [[TropeCodifier the face of]] [[SNKBoss merciless boss beatdowns]] he is, Rugal gets an absolutely spectacular Climax to show off his hellacious power. After launching a short-range projectile with vaccuum qualities, Rugal Genoicde Cutters his victim and sends them to the floor for the main part of the attack; An absolutely massive, UpToEleven version of the Kaiser Wave. The opponent barely has enough time to [[OhCrap realize just how screwed they are]] before it hits them, rupturing the ground and turning the ''entire arena'' into a fiery inferno.

* Any time Ralf's [[MegatonPunch Galactica Phantom]] succeeds in hitting the opponent. Even more so against human opponents, since they are ten times less likely to fall for it than the AI. (For those needing further clarification, the Galactica Phantom is absurdly powerful [to the point that it had to be toned down from its [[OneHitKill OHKO]] status in ''[='98=]''], but also has an ungodly [[ChargedAttack charge time]]; a fully-powered one requires seven or eight seconds. It is, essentially, a DeathOrGloryAttack cranked UpToEleven.)

** Clone Zero can catch his opponent into a black hole, where he apparently does a [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Raging Demon]] on him.
** Original Zero starts stunning his opponent on place, then, his striker Ron whacks his opponent's soul out of its body, then all the strikers gang up and completely beat it up. The awesome part is, when Ron pushes the soul back to its body, it's when the whole damage is registered.

** Being [[TropeCodifier the face of]] [[SNKBoss merciless boss beatdowns]] he is, Rugal gets an absolutely spectacular Climax to show off his power. After launching a short-range projectile with vaccuum qualities, Rugal Genoicde Cutters his victim and sends them to the floor for the main part of the attack; An absolutely massive, UpToEleven version of the Kaiser Wave. The opponent barely has enough time to [[OhCrap realize just how screwed they are]] before it hits them and turns the ''entire arena'' into a fiery inferno.

It wouldn't be a fighting game like ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'' if it ''wasn't'' awesome.

** SNK has announced a new "boss challenge" mode will be coming to the game with a free update, allowing players to test their skills against the franchise's signature SNKBoss himself, '''Omega Rugal''', making his grand return to the franchise with his first canonical appearance in a quarter of a century.

** SNK has announced a new "boss challenge" mode will be coming to the game with a free update, allowing players to test their skills against the franchise's signature SNKBoss himself, '''Omega Rugal''', making his grand return to the franchise.

** And just to seal the deal, Ash is not only BackFromTheDead, but he's also partnered with his former {{Rival}}-turned-Teammate (and ChildhoodFriend/[[CoolBigSis Adoptive Sister]]), Elisabeth! ...[[MyFriendsAndZoidberg And Kukri]].

!! Moment pages are Administrivia/SpoilersOff by default, so all spoilers were removed. Proceed with caution. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.

* The [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof97sp.htm "Sacred Treasures Team"]] ending in KOF 97 is made of pure, unadultered WIN.
** If you play as Team Japan and defeat Orochi with Kyo, [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof97hero.htm this happens]]. Also made of RuleOfCool.
* Kensou has two in the NESTS saga. If you use him [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof99psy_2.htm to beat Krizalid in 99]], he awakens the Dragon Spirit to save Athena and himself. [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof2kpsy.htm In 2000]], he saves Bao's life after he takes a massive beam from the NESTS KillSat and ''again'' releases the Dragon Spirit, recovering his powers.
** Come to think of it, for someone who's actually TheScrappy, Bao going BadassAdorable via [[TakingTheBullet fearlessly jumping and taking the hit to protect his teammates and Kaoru]] is pretty awesome in itself.
** Also, Takuma [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof2kart.htm using a single Haoh Shoko Ken]] to save King via ''deflecting the same energy beam from the same KillSat''.
** If you don't fight Kula Diamond, you will see Heidern kick ass and take names via disabling Zero.If you do, Diana and Foxy disable him instead. And in Kula's own ending, she ''succeeds'' into dismantling the Zero Cannon... which prompts Candy's own CMOA with her HeroicSacrifice.
* When Ash Crimson saves the day and our timeline, revealing his benevolent true intentions ''and'' getting himself {{Ret Gone}}d, it's pure awesome. [[DyingMomentOfAwesome And pure]] [[TearJerker tears]].
* And [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/c/kof2k1hero.htm in 2001]], when K' saves Kula in the Hero Team ending.
* ''The King Of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match'', the remake of the classic ''KOF 2002'' (and after the deception that was ''Neowave'') is considered a Crowning Moment Of Awesome per-se in the KOF franchise:\\

It brought back not only all characters from KOF 2002 from the Arcade and console versions (Except for K9999, who was PutOnABus and replaced by Nameless, a brand new character), but in general, it brought back ''all'' characters who appeared during the NESTS chronicles, resulting in the biggest roster in the franchise so far with 52 different characters. (Though you if you want to get technical, it's actually 66 characters, including EX characters, hidden characters (which have been banned), and the final bosses (which have also been banned).)\\

It also includes colorful stages with a lot of cameos, contrasting [[RealIsBrown the gray, desaturated stages]] from the classical ''KOF 2002'' and the lacking stages from ''Neowave''; stages including [[BeachEpisode a beautiful beach in Italy]] (For the Fatal Fury and 97 Special Team, and '''Geese'''), The [=NeoGeo=] World (An amusement park for K's Team and Pretty Girls Team), a station in Korea (For Kim's Team and the new Edit Team), some ancient ruins in Cambodia (perfect for the Ikari and Father Teams), a Chinese Restaurant (Fitting for the Psycho Soldiers), a New York street in front of a concert hall (For the Agents and Woman's team [[note]]there are even cameo apprarances by [[IKnowMaddenKombat Lucky Glauber]] and [[WrestlerInAllOfUs Brian Battler]], members of the [[EnsembleDarkhorse American Sports Team]] from [=KOF=] 94, with [[BoxingBattler Heavy D!]] appearing in the beach stage[[/note]]), [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting The Kyokugen Gym]], located in Taiwan (Where you can even spot Gato and Hotaru from ''VideoGame/GarouMarkOfTheWolves''), a spectacular battle arena in Greece (For Iori Team, the New Faces Team, and '''Goenitz'''), a colorful High School in Japan (For Kyo and company), an ominous yet awesome AbandonedLaboratory (for Kyo clones and NESTS lackeys), and probably the best of them all, remastered versions of the stages for the bosses (Including the Skynoah stage for Omega Rugal); Clone Zero's and Igniz's stages are particularly gorgeous and well detailed, specially with their new music.\\

Speaking of music, the stages have several remixed versions of old songs, as well as new music for some teams. See ''AwesomeMusic/{{SNK}}'' for more details.\\

** Finally, Igniz's Disintegrational Universe: He catches his opponent insde a small galaxy and explodes it, glorious and lethal.
* Some of the [=MAX2=] of the normal characters are visually impressive as well:
** Nameless, for example, Encases his opponent in a huge fire column, while an image of his beloved Isolde appears behind him.
** Kasumi performs an enhanced version of her Chou Kasane Ate super, the amazing part is that she's assisted by her father Ryuhaku for extra power. Once the move is complete, Ryuhaku quickly jumps away as Kasumi looks back in disbelief.
** Mai sets her opponent on fire, all while looking as provocative and sexy as ever before, and sometimes she appears clad in a white wedding dress when completing the move.
*** The very best part, if you finish the duel with any of these moves, you get a special picture on the victory screen: Nameless stands there with Isolde near him, Kasumi stands in place smiling as Ryuhaku is behind her, hidden under a bush; and Mai appears in her wedding dress. Awesome, funny... and heartwarming if you think about it.

* The previous DreamMatchGame, ''The King Of Fighters 98: Ultimate Match'' also deserves a special mention, starting with the fact that it's the remake of what some gamers consider it's the best [=KOF=] in the franchise!\\
\\
It brought back not only the whole roster of the original ''KOF 98 Slugfest'', but in general, it brought back ''all'' characters appearing during the Rugal and Orochi sagas, which adds up to 43 different characters. (Not including extra versions and the final bosses, which brings it it up to a grand total of 64, technically speaking). Aside of the already known stages, it also included new stages, such as a train station in Hong Kong, the Great Wall in China, and even the dark arena from 96, where you fight Geese Howard and his cohorts Wolfgang Krauser and Mr. Big, the coliseum where the battle with Goenitz takes place; and the Different Dimension stages from 97, where you engage the New Faces Team in their Orochi versions, as well as Orochi himself. Beware, as this time, the bosses really mean business.\\
\\
Aside of the already known Advance and Extra modes, ''KOF 98 UM'' adds a third mode, named Ultimate, which enables the player to combine aspects from the former two modes into something players feel is more comfortable to them (You can choose between Emergency Evade or Sidestep, Dash or make a long step, Charge the power bar by attacking and taking damage, or charging it manually). The Final Edition for PC even made a huge rebalance of all characters, so no, Krauser, you no longer are the lonely Top Tier.\\
\\
It also took it out of the park by including 3D versions of the stages, as well as an arranged soundtrack for the [=PS2=] (These features were removed in the Final Edition for PC, but that doesn't reduce its awesomeness).
* Krizalid's IAmNotLeftHanded moment. So you beat the first form of Krizalid pretty easily right? Now to show that he isn't messing around anymore, he burns his coat WHILE HE'S STILL WEARING IT! Rugal Bernstein, eat your heart out!
* Ladies and gentlemen, [[CueTheFlyingPigs the unthinkable has actually happened]]. '''Rock Howard is finally becoming playable in KOF XIV. In a ''canon game'', to boot.'''
* Any time Ralf's [[MegatonPunch Galactica Phantom]] succeeds in hitting the opponent. Even more so against human opponents, since they are ten times less likely to fall for it than the AI. (For those needing further clarification, the Galactica Phantom is absurdly powerful [to the point that it had to be toned down from its [[OneHitKill OHKO]] status in ''[='98=]''], but also has an ungodly [[ChargedAttack charge time]]; a fully-powered one requires seven or eight seconds. It is, essentially, a DeathOrGloryAttack cranked UpToEleven.)

** Yashiro's Climax, like Kyo, has him hurl a ''full-screen'' projectile (albeit one that's a result of ''punching the air so hard'') before wailing on them with a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown in the dark and then [[CameraAbuse punching through]] [[BarrierBustingBlow the screen]], with a ShrugTake at the end, feeling very satisfied with himself.

** Kyo's Climax Super, Yakumo, has him hurl a Yamibarai at the opponent before wailing on them with some well-placed punches and ''[[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill incinerating]]'' [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill them with a spiral of fire]], with his clan's symbol (the sun) serving as the finishing garnish on top. If used on the Sacred Treasures, he'll even say his trademark BadassBoast, as pictured above.
** Not one to be outdone by his rival, Iori lunges at the opponent, grabs them by the face, slams them onto the floor (with his moon symbol serving as a neat flourish much like Kyo's super as stated above), and promptly [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill burns them to smithereens with a]] [[ScreamingWarrior blood-curdling scream!]] Like Kyo, if performed on the Sacred Treasures, he'll forgo the [[RedEyesTakeWarning ominous red eyes]] (that are a result of the Riot of the Blood) that he typically has and carry on with incinerating Chris/Shermie/Yashiro with the viciousness that he's known for.

** Not one to be outdone, Iori lunges at the opponent, grabs them by the face, slams them onto the floor (with his moon symbol serving as a neat flourish much like Kyo's super as stated above), and promptly [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill burns them to smithereens with a]] [[ScreamingWarrior blood-curdling scream!]] Like Kyo, if performed on the Sacred Treasures, he'll forgo the [[RedEyesTakeWarning ominous red eyes]] (that are a result of the Riot of the Blood) that he typically has and carry on with incinerating Chris/Shermie/Yashiro with the viciousness that he's known for.

[[caption-width-right:350:Welcome back, Esaka!]]

** And just to seal the deal, Ash is not only BackFromTheDead, but he's also partnered with his former {{Rival}}-turned-Teammate (and ChildhoodFriend/[[CoolBigSis Adoptive Sister]]), Elisabeth! ...[[MyFriendsAndZoidberg And Kukri]].

*** Their team theme, [[https://youtu.be/kTEfbotFnIg "Liberty"]], is also a tearful tribute to the era they debuted from as well as a very [[FridgeBrilliance brilliant]] MeaningfulName on two fronts: the fact that K9999 is, from a meta standpoint, finally free from [[PutOnABus existential limbo]] (sorry, Nameless) ''and'' that the three members of Team Krohnen are free from NESTS.

It brought back not only all characters from KOF 2002 from the Arcade and console versions (Except for K9999, who was PutOnABus and replaced by Nameless, a brand new character), but in general, it brought back ''all'' characters who appeared during the NESTS chronicles, resulting in the biggest roster in the franchise so far with 52 different characters. (Though you if you want to get technical, it's actually 66 characters, including EX characters, hidden characters, (which have been banned,) and the final bosses. (Which have also been banned.))\\

** After their absence for ''25 years[='=]'' worth of canon installments[[note]] Their only other appearances were in ''[='=]98'' and ''2002'', both of which are non-canon {{Dream Match game}}s. ''NeoWave'' is basically ''2002''… but [[ObviousBeta worse]]. [[/note]], Chris, Yashiro, and Shermie finally make their triumphant return to a canon installment (no) thanks to Verse's destruction at the end of ''XIV'', something that was foreshadowed in ''[[VideoGame/SNKHeroinesTagTeamFrenzy SNK Heroines]]'' with Shermie's inclusion in that game. The very fact that the latter's [[https://youtu.be/rbXDQND5EmU character trailer]] was the first to reach a million views on Website/YouTube says quite a lot about how sorely missed they were.

* Any time Ralf's [[MegatonPunch Galactica Phantom]] succeeds in hitting the opponent. Even more so against human opponents, since they are ten times less likely to fall for it than the AI. (For those needing further clarification, the Galactica Phantom is absurdly powerful [to the point that it had to be toned down from its [[OneHitKill OHKO]] status in ''[='98=]''], but also has an ungodly [[ChargedAttack charge time]]; a fully-powered one requires seven or eight seconds. It is, essentially, a DeathOrGloryAttack cranked UpToEleven.)

* Kensou has two in the NESTS saga. If you use him [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof99psy_2.htm to beat Krizalid in 99]], [[spoiler: he awakens the Dragon Spirit to save Athena and himself.]] [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof2kpsy.htm In 2000]], [[spoiler: he saves Bao's life after he takes a massive beam from the NESTS KillSat and ''again'' releases the Dragon Spirit, recovering his powers.]]
** Come to think of it, [[spoiler: for someone who's actually TheScrappy, Bao going BadassAdorable via [[TakingTheBullet fearlessly jumping and taking the hit to protect his teammates and Kaoru]] ]] is pretty awesome in itself.
** Also, Takuma [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof2kart.htm using a single Haoh Shoko Ken]] to save King via [[spoiler: ''deflecting the same energy beam from the same KillSat'']].
** If you don't fight [[spoiler: Kula Diamond]], you will see [[spoiler: Heidern]] kick ass and take names via [[spoiler: disabling Zero]].If you do, [[spoiler: Diana and Foxy disable him instead.]] And in [[spoiler: Kula]]'s own ending, [[spoiler: she ''suceeds'' into dismantling the Zero Cannon... which prompts Candy's own CMOA with her HeroicSacrifice]]
* When [[spoiler: Ash Crimson saves the day and our timeline, revealing his benevolent true intentions ''and'' getting himself {{Ret Gone}}d]], it's pure awesome. [[spoiler: [[DyingMomentOfAwesome And pure]] [[TearJerker tears]].]]
* And [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/c/kof2k1hero.htm in 2001]], [[spoiler: when K' saves Kula in the Hero Team ending.]]

* The [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof97sp.htm "Sacred Weapons Team"]] ending in KOF 97 is made of pure, unadultered WIN.

It also includes colorful stages with a lot of cameos, contrasting [[RealIsBrown the gray, desaturated stages]] from the classical ''KOF 2002'' and the lacking stages from ''Neowave''; stages including [[BeachEpisode a beautiful beach in Italy]] (For the Fatal Fury and 97 Special Team, and '''Geese'''), The [=NeoGeo=] World (An amusement park for K's Team and Pretty Girls Team), a station in Korea (For Kim's Team and the new Edit Team), some ancient ruins in Cambodia (perfect for the Ikari and Father Teams), a Chinese Restaurant (Fitting for the Psycho Soldiers), a New York street in front of a concert hall (For the Agents and Woman's team [[note]]there are even cameo apprarances by [[IKnowMaddenKombat Lucky Glauber]] and [[WrestlerInAllOfUs Brian Battler]], members of the [[EnsembleDarkhorse American Sports Team]] from [=KOF=] 94, with [[BoxingBattler Heavy D!]] appearing in the beach stage[[/note]]), [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting The Kyokugen Gym]], located in Taiwan (Where you can even spot Gato and Hotaru from Garou: Mark Of The Wolves), a spectacular battle arena in Greece (For Iori Team, the New Faces Team, and '''Goenitz'''), a colorful High School in Japan (For Kyo and company), an ominous yet awesome AbandonedLaboratory (for Kyo clones and NESTS lackeys), and probably the best of them all, remastered versions of the stages for the bosses (Including the Skynoah stage for Omega Rugal); Clone Zero's and Igniz's stages are particularly gorgeous and well detailed, specially with their new music.\\