History Videogame / TheKingOfFighters

* DreamMatchGame: One of the TropeCodifiers is KOF98, featuring every character from the Orochi saga including the ones that were meant to be dead, such as Vice, Mature and Rugal (Including a buffed version of his Omega mode). Some characters such as the Boss Team from 96 and the other two bosses didn't make the cut...[[UpdatedRerelease until 98 Ultimate Match]] which re-added Eiji, Kasumi, Geese (And gave him a toned down Nightmare mode as his EX move set) Krauser, Mr. Big, Goenitz and Orochi, as well as a few new EX versions of various other characters.
** 2002 is one for the NESTS saga as well, including bringing back the 97 New Faces team and Rugal. Then came [[UpdatedRerelease 2002 Unlimited Match]] which brought back ''everyone else that didn't get in'', making for a HUGE cast of characters.

* AnnouncerChatter: In the ''Maximum Impact'' series. This might be the only announcer in the series to rival those of ''Franchise/StreetFighter'', ''[[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom Marvel vs. Capcom]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/CapcomVsSNK2MarkOfTheMillennium Capcom vs. SNK 2]]''. And ''[[LargeHamAnnouncer that's]]'' saying something.

* AssistCharacter:
** ''2000'''s Another Striker cameos.
** The cameos in ''[='99=]: [[UpdatedRerelease Evolution]]''.

* CreepyChild: The two kids that appear in the Ikari Team's ''XI'' ending. They (Shroom and Rimello) reappear during a handful of cutscenes in ''XIII'' with the creepy factor arguably toned down.
** Actually, only Rimello is you8ng enough to evoke the trope. Shroom is an older teenager. Then again the saga has 14-year-old Chris, who turns the trope ''UptoEleven''.

** "Iori with the Power of Flames" is Iori as he used to be, using his old moveset from other ''KOF'' games before Ash stole his powers. He also claims the SDM version of his Ya Otome from ''KOF '99'', his Yamisogi DM from ''KOF 2000'', and his Neomax is the Homurahotogi HSDM from ''2002'' with a much, MUCH larger explosion.

* GameMod: No matter which NeoGeo installment of the series you pick, there's always a hack of it. Primarily they tend to make bosses playable though some add new arenas, graphics and bump up character's attacks to ludicrous levels.

* IdleAnimation: K''s is notable in that it doesn't loop, which is unique for a sprite. The only way to see him in his fighting stance again after he's put his hands in his pockets is to move him from his spot and to add to that his eyes close progessively slower till he's outright fallen asleep.

[[Characters/TheKingOfFighters This is the character sheet]]. Be warned, the gross [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters amount of characters]] in this series is taken to ''an extreme degree''.

* CursedWithAwesome: The Orochi bloodline, which has ElementalPowers and blade-fingers by default for most members. Then the [[UnstoppableRage Riot of]] [[SuperpoweredEvilSide the Blood]] happens and things get a little messy for everyone nearby. Also an example of HereditaryCurse.

** Specifically, mixed bloodlines (i.e. Leona and Iori) can't fully control the power of Orochi, making it easy for Orochi or one of Four Heavenly Kings (Goenitz, Yashiro, Shermie, or Chris) to induce a violent, mindless rampage.

* DifficultySpike: Several games in the series suffer from this, but the three most {{egregious}} examples would probably be in ''[='94=]'', ''[='96=]'', and ''XI''. If you reach the first cutscene (in ''[='94=]''), face the Boss Team (in ''[='96=]''), or make it to the [[MiniBoss sub boss]] (in ''XI''), expect things to take a turn for the worse.
* DistractedByTheSexy: Only in the comical, non-serious "ending" of ''2002'', though: Shermie makes several suggestive poses and many male characers (including [[CelibateHero Andy Bogard]]!) run around trying to get a good look. Clark just runs up and tackles her.

Although the first game was merely intended to be a MascotFighter, the series became more popular than the others that inspired it, and [[ContinuityCreep an overreaching plot soon developed that took the other SNK fighters along for the ride]].

* AudioAdaptation: There are numerous drama [=CDs=] for the series, usually one or two per game, with individual characters sometimes getting their own [=CDs=]. They go from [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/Neo_Geo_DJ_Station_Special very cracky skits]] bordering on {{Gag Dub}}s, to [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/The_King_of_Fighters_%2794_%28Dengeki%29 pretty]] [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/The_King_of_Fighters_2000_%28drama%29 interesting]] [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/The_Sun_and_The_Moon_~_Prologue characterization-wise]] (i.e. ''Dengeki Bunko'' explains how both the Japan Team and the Women's Team came to be among other things, ''The Sun and The Moon'' chronicles Iori Yagami's life outside KOF and the Yagami/Kusanagi feud at an unspecified time in the past, and '''KOF 2000'' gives more background on K' and his group [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment while also featuring Athena's misadventures through the world]]).

** The original intent was to only aim at men with the female fighters as obvious [[LoveInterests interests]] for the average Player Character, but the series proved to worthy of their time and SNK Playmore started to whore out male fighters for female fans of the franchise as well. The initial roster for girls was composed of: '''Athena Asamiya, Kasumi Todoh, B. Jenet, King, Mai Shiranui, Yuri Sakazaki, Leona Heidern''' and '''Kula Diamond''', and the men were: '''Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, K', Ash Crimson, Terry Bogard, Rock Howard, Alba Meira''' and '''Ryo Sakazaki''', eventually after all the seven installments the choices grew to arguably as many popular guys and girls as any ''KOF'' "fan" would like to date.
** Of course massive doses of AlternateContinuity, HandWave, and {{Retcon}} were shoehorned in the games for the characters whom were already in a relationship, had love interests of their own, or just wasn't up to start a relationship with anyone in the first place, to suddenly open their hearts for the average player character to succeed at conquering their love.

** Before all of this, there was Orochi in ''[='97=]'', who could rip your soul out of your body, and crush it in the palm of his hand. ''Your soul''.

** Leona skipped ''XI''.

* TheMovie: There's one, starring Ray Park as Rugal... and let's leave it at that.

* NoKoreansInJapan: Averted.

* WorldOfSnark: It's been heading this way since Day 1, but ''XIII'' firmly cements this with all of the pre-fight intros. Comes complete with LampshadeHanging and LeaningOnTheFourthWall, too!

* OverTheShoulderMurderShot: Iori does this in one of his desperation moves.

** K' usually has a (relatively) normal hairstyle, disheveled with a fair amount of bangs. This is consistent throughout most of the series in terms of sprites and most artwork, but his hair will sometimes appear thick and bushy like a miniature afro, slicked, or even straight-up ShonenHair.

* IWasYoungAndNeededTheMoney: When SNK Playmore was in dire need for some quick profit in 2005, they pulled a desperate gamble, make a game to gather many as fans as they could, but another fighting game wasn't their aim, seeing how many Bishoujo and MsFanservice girls they had in ''The King of Fighters'' and other [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting fighting]] [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown games]] [[FuunSeries as]] [[VideoGame/FatalFury well]], a series of {{dating sim}}s were made for mobiles and later ported over for the NintendoDS. The series was called ''Days of Memories'' with a subtitle for each new installment, it proved to be rather successful as seven ''mobile'' games and two [[UpdatedRerelease rereleases]] for NintendoDS were made until 2008.

* LeftHanging: The ''Maximum Impact'' series seems to be heading this route. ''2'' ended on a SequelHook, ''Regulation A'' was simply an UpdatedRerelease, and ''Regulation A2'' was cancelled.

* ObviousBeta: ''XII''[='s=] home version was released with very spartan single-player features (only five fights and no boss), a poorly regulated and hastily-patched online mode (to the point of being unplayable,) and massive {{Game Breaking Bug}}s. Studious crackers have found files on the game disc regarding DummiedOut characters.

* AllMythsAreTrue: They damn well might as be where the ''KOF'' verse is concerned; in fact, it's hard to tell where this trope ends and OneMythToRuleThemAll begins. Yamata no {{Orochi}}, the legendary serpent dragon of {{Japanese myth|ology}}, is the progeny of [[ClassicalMythology Gaia]], the primordial Greek goddess and [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personification of Earth]] by which all was created (this holds true here as well); not only does ''KOF'' lore revolve around a version of the tale of Susanoo, Orochi, and Kushinada-hime (with the Kusanagi, Yasakani, and Yata clans--the bearers of the [[PublicDomainArtifact Three Sacred Treasures]], the Imperial Regalia of Japan imparted by the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu--in the place of Amaterasu's brother Susanoo), but Orochi is her earthly agent and enforcer, and a KnightTemplar at that (Gaia, for all intents and purposes is TheGhost, having yet to directly appear in any form, so whether she's a {{Neglectful Precursor|s}}, an [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen unseen]] BigGood, or [[HaveYouSeenMyGod just plain missing]] is up in the air). That blurb is from ''KOF alone''; [[ContinuityCreep including the other SNK series implied to be connected to this one infinitely complicates things]]. [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Athena Asamiya]] is the reincarnation of [[VideoGame/{{Athena}} Princess Athena]], SNK's interpretation of the Greek goddess (whose great-grandmother is the aforementioned Gaia); Athena lives in the Kingdom of Victory, which has alternatively been referred to as Olympus, the Elysium World, and even [[Literature/TheBible Heaven]], is aided by an unnamed [[OurTitansAreDifferent Titanness]], uses items and weapons pertaining to other figures in classical mythology, and her game's BigBad is an evil emperor modeled after Cerberus whose name is [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante]]. In the sequel, ''Athena: Full Throttle'', Athena is instead joined by her dutiful maid Helene, who is loosely based off of [[Literature/TheTrojanCycle Helen of Troy]]. To twist the knife further, she explicitly resides in Heaven in ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos SVC Chaos]]'', serving as the realm's guardian; her superior is a deity known as "Lord" and he is ''clearly'' the Judeo-Christian {{God}}. [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Eiji Kisaragi]]'s ancestor Zantetsu is from [[VideoGame/TheLastBlade a series]] featuring the Four Gods of {{Chinese mythology}} (with the Yellow Dragon of its respective Japanese counterpart myth joining them in ''[=LB2=]'') and their human avatars who must guard over [[{{Hellgate}} Hell's Gate]]. If [[VideoGame/FatalFury Kim Kaphwan]] is descended from [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Kim Rae-Hyeong]], then that opens up [[FantasyKitchenSink an entirely different bag of supernatural occurrences]], such as Nakoruru, an Ainu priestess who fights on the behalf of MotherNature (most likely one in the same with Gaia) and eventually [[spoiler:[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence becomes one with nature]]]], and various other demons of Makai (which may link right back into ''The Last Blade'', ''[=SamSho=]''[='s=] {{spiritual|Successor}} and probable historical successor). On another front, the notion of IfJesusThenAliens has already been killed in cold blood thanks to the Zoan in ''Maximum Impact'', whose known members (Alba, Soiree, Luise, Jivatma, and Judeim) are outed as having extraterrestrial origins in ''[=MI2=]''. And let's not even get started on the [[VideoGame/MetalSlug Mars People]]. Confused? You should be.

* TornadoMove: Joe Higashi's moves set includes multiple attacks of this nature. Beginning with his "Hurricane Upper" and "Twin Hurricane", which are two of his basic attacks. Followed by his [=HDMs=] "Screw Upper", and "Exploding Screw Upper". He first gained "Malestrom", which unleashes two Screw Uppers at once, in CapcomVsSNK2. And last, but certainly NOT least, there's his [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcK49AnQ8cA NEO MAX, "Screw Straight"!]] They call him [[RedBaron "The Human Storm"]] for a reason.

* WorldOfSnark: It's been heading this way since Day 1, but ''XIII'' firmly cements this with all of the pre-fight intros. Comes complete with LamshadeHanging and LeaningOnTheFourthWall, too!

* TheArtifact: It's what happens when [[DemotedToExtra you're not]] the protagonist]], regardless of whether or not you've been a mainstay. The biggest cases of this are probably [[TheHero Terry Bogard]], [[MsFanservice Mai]] [[JigglePhysics Shiranui]], and [[JusticeWillPrevail Kim Kaphwan]]. While they are still around more than the others whom are generally DemotedToExtra or [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome just mysteriously disappear]], but they are generally just simply around to only appease older fans.

* TheArtifact: It's what happens when [[DemotedToExtra you're not]] [[SpotlightStealingSquad the protagonist]], regardless of whether or not you've been a mainstay. The biggest cases of this are probably [[TheHero Terry Bogard]], [[MsFanservice Mai]] [[JigglePhysics Shiranui]], and [[JusticeWillPrevail Kim Kaphwan]]. While they are still around more than the others whom are generally DemotedToExtra or [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome just mysteriously disappear]], but they are generally just simply around to only appease older fans.

* AllMythsAreTrue: They damn well might as be where the ''KOF'' verse is concerned; in fact, it's hard to tell where this trope ends and OneMythToRuleThemAll begins. Yamata no {{Orochi}}, the legendary serpent dragon of {{Japanese myth|ology}}, is the progeny of [[ClassicalMythology Gaia]], the primordial Greek goddess and [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personification of Earth]] by which all was created (this holds true here as well); not only does ''KOF'' lore revolve around a version of the tale of Susanoo, Orochi, and Kushinada-hime (with the Kusanagi, Yasakani, and Yata clans--the bearers of the [[PublicDomainArtifact Three Sacred Treasures]], the Imperial Regalia of Japan imparted by the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu--in the place of Amaterasu's brother Susanoo), but Orochi is her earthly agent and enforcer, and a KnightTemplar at that (Gaia, for all intents and purposes is TheGhost, having yet to directly appear in any form, so whether she's a {{Neglectful Precursor|s}} or an [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen unseen]] BigGood is up in the air). That blurb is from ''KOF alone''; [[ContinuityCreep including the other SNK series implied to be connected to this one infinitely complicates things]]. [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Athena Asamiya]] is the reincarnation of [[VideoGame/{{Athena}} Princess Athena]], SNK's interpretation of the Greek goddess (whose great-grandmother is the aforementioned Gaia); Athena lives in the Kingdom of Victory, which has alternatively been referred to as Olympus, the Elysium World, and even [[Literature/TheBible Heaven]], is aided by an unnamed [[OurTitansAreDifferent Titanness]], uses items and weapons pertaining to other figures in classical mythology, and her game's BigBad is an evil emperor modeled after Cerberus whose name is [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante]]. In the sequel, ''Athena: Full Throttle'', Athena is instead joined by her dutiful maid Helene, who is loosely based off of [[Literature/TheTrojanCycle Helen of Troy]]. To twist the knife further, she explicitly resides in Heaven in ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos SVC Chaos]]'', serving as the realm's guardian; her superior is a deity known as "Lord" and he is ''clearly'' the Judeo-Christian {{God}}. [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Eiji Kisaragi]]'s ancestor Zantetsu is from [[VideoGame/TheLastBlade a series]] featuring the Four Gods of {{Chinese mythology}} (with the Yellow Dragon of its respective Japanese counterpart myth joining them in ''[=LB2=]'') and their human avatars who must guard over [[{{Hellgate}} Hell's Gate]]. If [[VideoGame/FatalFury Kim Kaphwan]] is descended from [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Kim Rae-Hyeong]], then that opens up [[FantasyKitchenSink an entirely different bag of supernatural occurrences]], such as Nakoruru, an Ainu priestess who fights on the behalf of MotherNature (most likely one in the same with Gaia) and eventually [[spoiler:[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence becomes one with nature]]]], and various other demons of Makai (which may link right back into ''The Last Blade'', ''[=SamSho=]''[='s=] {{spiritual|Successor}} and probable historical successor). On another front, the notion of IfJesusThenAliens has already been killed in cold blood thanks to the Zoan in ''Maximum Impact'', whose known members (Alba, Soiree, Luise, Jivatma, and Judeim) are outed as having extraterrestrial origins in ''[=MI2=]''. And let's not even get started on the [[VideoGame/MetalSlug Mars People]]. Confused? You should be.

* AllMythsAreTrue: They damn well might as be where the ''KOF'' verse is concerned; in fact, it's hard to tell where this trope ends and OneMythToRuleThemAll begins. Yamata no {{Orochi}}, the legendary serpent dragon of {{Japanese myth|ology}}, is the progeny of [[ClassicalMythology Gaia]], the primordial Greek goddess and [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personification of Earth]] by which all was created (this holds true here as well); not only does ''KOF'' lore revolve around a version of the tale of Susanoo, Orochi, and Kushinada-hime (with the Kusanagi, Yasakani, and Yata clans--the bearers of the [[PublicDomainArtifact Three Sacred Treasures]], the Imperial Regalia of Japan imparted by the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu--in the place of Amaterasu's brother Susanoo), but Orochi is her earthly agent and enforcer, and a KnightTemplar at that (Gaia, for all intents and purposes is TheGhost, having yet to directly appear in any form, so whether she's a {{Neglectful Precursor|s}} or an [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen unseen]] BigGood is up in the air). That blurb is from ''KOF alone''; [[ContinuityCreep including the other SNK series implied to be connected to this one infinitely complicates things]]. [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Athena Asamiya]] is the reincarnation of [[VideoGame/{{Athena}} Princess Athena]], SNK's interpretation of the Greek goddess (whose great-grandmother is the aforementioned Gaia); Athena lives in the Kingdom of Victory, which has alternatively been referred to as Olympus, the Elysium World, and even [[Literature/TheBible Heaven]], is aided by an unnamed [[OurTitansAreDifferent Titanness]], uses items and weapons pertaining to other figures in classical mythology, and her game's BigBad is an evil emperor modeled after Cerberus whose name is [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante]]. In the sequel, ''Athena: Full Throttle'', Athena is instead joined by her dutiful maid Helene, who is loosely based off of [[Literature/TheTrojanCycle Helen of Troy]]. To twist the knife further, she explicitly resides in Heaven in ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos SVC Chaos]]'', serving as the realm's guardian; her superior is a deity known as "Lord" and he is ''clearly'' the Judeo-Christian {{God}}. [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Eiji Kisaragi]]'s ancestor Zantetsu is from [[VideoGame/TheLastBlade a series]] featuring the Four Gods of {{Chinese mythology}} (with the Yellow Dragon of its respective Japanese counterpart myth joining them in ''[=LB2=]'') and their human avatars who must guard over [[{{Hellgate}} Hell's Gate]]. If [[VideoGame/FatalFury Kim Kaphwan]] is descended from [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Kim Rae-Hyeong]], then that opens up an entirely different bag of supernatural occurrences, such as Nakoruru, an Ainu priestess who fights on the behalf of MotherNature (most likely one in the same with Gaia) and eventually [[spoiler:[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence becomes one with nature]]]], and various other demons of Makai (which may link right back into ''The Last Blade'', ''[=SamSho=]''[='s=] {{spiritual|Successor}} and probable historical successor). On another front, the notion of IfJesusThenAliens has already been killed in cold blood thanks to the Zoan in ''Maximum Impact'', whose known members (Alba, Soiree, Luise, Jivatma, and Judeim) are outed as having extraterrestrial origins in ''[=MI2=]''. And let's not even get started on the [[VideoGame/MetalSlug Mars People]]. Confused? You should be.

* AllMythsAreTrue: They damn well might as be where the ''KOF'' verse is concerned; in fact, it's hard to tell where this trope ends and OneMythToRuleThemAll begins. Yamata no {{Orochi}}, the legendary serpent dragon of {{Japanese myth|ology}}, is the progeny of [[ClassicalMythology Gaia]], the primordial Greek goddess and [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personification of Earth]] by which all was created (this holds true here as well); not only does ''KOF'' lore revolve around a version of the tale of Susanoo, Orochi, and Kushinada-hime (with the Kusanagi, Yasakani, and Yata clans--the bearers of the [[PublicDomainArtifact Three Sacred Treasures]], the Imperial Regalia of Japan imparted by the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu--in the place of Amaterasu's brother Susanoo), but Orochi is her earthly agent and enforcer, and a KnightTemplar at that (Gaia, for all intents and purposes is TheGhost, having yet to directly appear in any form, so whether she's a {{Neglectful Precursor|s}} or an [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen unseen]] BigGood is up in the air). That blurb is from ''KOF alone''; [[ContinuityCreep including the other SNK series implied to be connected to this one infinitely complicates things]]. [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Athena Asamiya]] is the reincarnation of [[VideoGame/{{Athena}} Princess Athena]], SNK's interpretation of the Greek goddess (whose great-grandmother is the aforementioned Gaia); Athena lives in the Kingdom of Victory, which has alternatively been referred to as Olympus, the Elysium World, and even [[Literature/TheBible Heaven]], is aided by an unnamed [[OurTitansAreDifferent Titanness]], uses items and weapons pertaining to other figures in classical mythology, and her game's BigBad is an evil emperor modeled after Cerberus whose name is [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante]]. In the sequel, ''Athena: Full Throttle'', Athena is instead joined by her dutiful maid Helene, who is loosely based off of [[Literature/TheTrojanCycle Helen of Troy]]. To twist the knife further, she explicitly resides in Heaven in ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos SVC Chaos]]'', serving as the realm's guardian; her superior is a deity known as "Lord" and he is ''clearly'' the Judeo-Christian {{God}}. [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Eiji Kisaragi]]'s ancestor Zantetsu is from [[VideoGame/TheLastBlade a series]] featuring the Four Gods of {{Chinese mythology}} (with the Yellow Dragon of its respective Japanese counterpart myth joining them in ''[=LB2=]'') and their human avatars who must guard over [[{{Hellgate}} Hell's Gate]]. If [[VideoGame/FatalFury Kim Kaphwan]] is descended from [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Kim Rae-Hyeong]], then that opens up an entirely different bag of supernatural occurrences, such as Nakoruru, an Ainu priestess who fights on the behalf of MotherNature (most likely one in the same with Gaia) and eventually [[spoiler:[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence becomes one with nature]]]], and various other demons of Makai (which may link right back into ''[=SamSho=]''). On another front, the notion of IfJesusThenAliens has already been killed in cold blood thanks to the Zoan in ''Maximum Impact'', whose known members (Alba, Soiree, Luise, Jivatma, and Judeim) are outed as having extraterrestrial origins in ''[=MI2=]''. And let's not even get started on the [[VideoGame/MetalSlug Mars People]]. Confused? You should be.

* AllMythsAreTrue: They damn well might as be where the ''KOF'' verse is concerned; in fact, it's hard to tell where this trope ends and OneMythToRuleThemAll begins. Yamata no {{Orochi}}, the legendary serpent dragon of {{Japanese myth|ology}}, is the progeny of [[ClassicalMythology Gaia]], the primordial Greek goddess and [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personification of Earth]] by which all was created (this holds true here as well); not only does ''KOF'' lore revolve around a version of the tale of Susanoo, Orochi, and Kushinada-hime (with the Kusanagi, Yasakani, and Yata clans--the bearers of the [[PublicDomainArtifact Three Sacred Treasures]], the Imperial Regalia of Japan imparted by the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu--in the place of Amaterasu's brother Susanoo), but Orochi is her earthly agent and enforcer, and a KnightTemplar at that (Gaia, for all intents and purposes is TheGhost, having yet to directly appear in any form, so whether she's a {{Neglectful Precursor|s}} or an [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen unseen]] BigGood is up in the air). That blurb is from ''KOF alone''; [[ContinuityCreep including the other SNK series implied to be connected to this one infinitely complicates things]]. [[VideoGame/PsychoSoldier Athena Asamiya]] is the reincarnation of [[VideoGame/{{Athena}} Princess Athena]], SNK's interpretation of the Greek goddess (whose great-grandmother is the aforementioned Gaia); Athena lives in the Kingdom of Victory, which has alternatively been referred to as Olympus, the Elysium World, and even [[Literature/TheBible Heaven]], is aided by an unnamed [[OurTitansAreDifferent Titanness]], uses items and weapons pertaining to other figures in classical mythology, and her game's BigBad is an evil emperor modeled after Cerberus whose name is [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante]]. In the sequel, ''Athena: Full Throttle'', Athena is instead joined by her dutiful maid Helene, who is loosely based off of [[TheTrojanWar Helen of Troy]]. To twist the knife further, she explicitly resides in Heaven in ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos SVC Chaos]]'', serving as the realm's guardian; her superior is a deity known as "Lord" and he is ''clearly'' the Judeo-Christian {{God}}. [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Eiji Kisaragi]]'s ancestor Zantetsu is from [[VideoGame/TheLastBlade a series]] featuring the Four Gods of {{Chinese mythology}} (with the Yellow Dragon of its respective Japanese counterpart myth joining them in ''[=LB2=]'') and their human avatars who must guard over [[{{Hellgate}} Hell's Gate]]. If [[VideoGame/FatalFury Kim Kaphwan]] is descended from [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Kim Rae-Hyeong]], then that opens up an entirely different bag of supernatural occurrences, such as Nakoruru, an Ainu priestess who fights on the behalf of MotherNature (most likely one in the same with Gaia) and eventually [[spoiler:[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence becomes one with nature]]]], and various other demons of Makai (which may link right back into ''[=SamSho=]''). On another front, the notion of IfJesusThenAliens has already been killed in cold blood thanks to the Zoan in ''Maximum Impact'', whose known members (Alba, Soiree, Luise, Jivatma, and Judeim) are outed as having extraterrestrial origins in ''[=MI2=]''. And let's not even get started on the [[VideoGame/MetalSlug Mars People]]. Confused? You should be.

The ''King of Fighters'' series started out as a crossover fighting game, featuring some of the most popular characters from {{SNK}} Playmore's (known as ''SNK'' back then) fighting game franchises: ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' and ''VideoGame/{{Art of Fighting}}'', as well as classic SNK games such as ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'' and ''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', splitting them up into teams of three (four in the NESTS Saga), duking it out in one-on-one battles similar to its major competition at the time, ''Franchise/StreetFighter''.

* ThreeRoundDeathmatch: One of the first notable aversions in the genre. The team-based gameplay of '''94'' ensured fights always lasted at ''least'' three rounds and can stretch to five. ''2003'' and ''XI'', being tag-team games, do not use rounds at all and simply have the fighters battle until one team has no more characters it can field.

* AnnouncerChatter: In the ''Maximum Impact'' series. This might be the only announcer in the series to rival those of ''Franchise/StreetFighter'', ''[[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom Marvel vs. Capcom]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom Capcom vs. SNK]]''. And ''[[LargeHamAnnouncer that's]]'' saying something.

* AudioAdaptation: There are numerous drama [=CDs=] for the series, usually one or two per game, with individual characters sometimes getting their own [=CDs=]. They go from [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/Neo_Geo_DJ_Station_Special very cracky skits]] bordering on {{Gag Dub}}s, to [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/The_King_of_Fighters_%2794_%28Dengeki%29 pretty]] [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/The_King_of_Fighters_2000_%28drama%29 interesting]] [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/The_Sun_and_The_Moon_~_Prologue characterization wise]] (i.e. ''Dengeki Bunko'' explains how both the Japan Team and the Women's Team came to be among other things, ''The Sun and The Moon'' chronicles Iori Yagami's life outside KOF and the Yagami/Kusanagi feud at an unspecified time in the past, and '''KOF 2000'' gives more background on K' and his group [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment while also featuring Athena's misadventures through the world]]).

* ContinuityCreep: What was envisioned as a relatively story-less MascotFighter began to kick into overdrive starting in ''[='95=]''. The story has since become more and more complex, to the point that you'd be lost if you currently jumped into the games without knowledge of ''at least'' the first and third sagas (i.e. the arcs revolving around Orochi and the Three Sacred Treasures). And that's not even counting all of the plot elements and allusions carried over from ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/{{Art of Fighting}}'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'', ''VideoGame/TheLastBlade'', ''[[FuunSeries Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter]]''... A few more titles and we might very well approach full-on ContinuityPorn[=/=]ContinuityLockout.
* CreepyTwins: The two that appear in the Ikari Team's ''XI'' ending. They (Shroom and Rimello) reappear during a handful of cutscenes in ''XIII'' with the creepy factor arguably toned down.

** ... but that's not the case with Vice and Mature, who not only appeared in ''98'' and ''2002'', but also ''XIII'' [[note[[DontExplainTheJoke which is actually a canonical installment[[/note]] as full-fledged members of Iori's team [[spoiler:only for the duo to fade into darkness again after they become champions.]]

* DifficultySpike: Several games in the series suffer from this, but the three most {{egregious}} examples would probably be in ''[='94=]'', ''[='96=]'', and ''XI''. If you reach the first cutscene (in ''[='94=]''), face the Boss Team (in ''[='96=]''), or make it to the SubBoss (in ''XI''), expect things to take a turn for the worse.

** Clark and Ralf used to be basically the exact same character; Little more than headswaps. Over time, they evolved to the point it was downright bizarre to think they were ever similar ([[RedOniBlueOni Ralf likes to punch things, Clark tosses you around]]). Fan reaction was '''''extremely''''' negative when Clark was brought back to the rank of "[[PaletteSwap Ralf 2]]" in ''XII''.

** This even extended to the characters on your team who waited their turn on the sidelines (from ''[='94=]'' to ''[='98=]'') as you fought. The combatants who had yet to fight would stand and react accordingly (positive gestures if you landed a hit, not-so-positive ones if you were getting your block knocked off); KO'ed fighters would sit there silently in a defeated slump, only acknowledging the ongoing fight if their teammate(s) managed to avenge them. If you got stunned nearby your teammates you could mash buttons and one of them could jump out and briefly attack your enemy.

*** [[Manga/{{Akira}} With the second being dead in a]] BusCrash. Or, to be more exact, [[RetCon replaced by Nameless]].

** It happened again with ''XI'', which added the likes of Gai Tendo and Silber from ''Buriki One'' and Sho Hayate and Jyazu from ''[[FuunSeries SavageReign/Kizuna Encounter]]'' as {{Secret Character}}s.

* VideoGameLongRunners: "It all began in ''[='94=]''..." All joking aside, the series includes twelve titles (not including {{Updated Rerelease}}s like ''[='98 Ultimate Match=]'', ''2002: Unlimited Match'', and ''Neowave''), with several portable {{Spin Off}}s, ''four'' [[AlternateContinuity separate continuities]] (''Maximum Impact'', ''EX'', ''R'', ''Days of Memories''), and various other titles like the RPG-styled ''KOF: Kyo'' and pachinko slot games. ''The King of Fighters XIII'' is currently the latest game.

The ''King of Fighters'' series started out as a crossover fighting game, featuring some of the most popular characters from {{SNK}} Playmore's (known as ''SNK'' back then) fighting game franchises: ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' and ''{{Art of Fighting}}'', as well as classic SNK games such as ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'' and ''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'', splitting them up into teams of three (four in the NESTS Saga), duking it out in one-on-one battles similar to its major competition at the time, ''Franchise/StreetFighter''.

* TheUnexpected:

These include ''Maximum Impact'', a 3D FightingGame series which takes place in an AlternateContinuity, right down to having characters not featured in the main ''KOF'' storylines; an RPG that ties the events of ''[='96=]'' with ''[='97=]''; a BulletHell spinoff called ''KOF Sky Stage'' for the Xbox Live Arcade; and ''The King of Fighters-i 002'', an iPhone game that ties into ''XIII''.