Line #1 TearJerker/TheKingOfFighters


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9	Surprisingly, even a series such as this has a few gut-wrenching moments here and there.
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11	%% (ZCE) * ''KOF [='=]97.'' [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof97sp.htm The Sacred Treasures Team's ending.]] Two phrases: "Defeat Orochi and do with Yagami! And like 1800 years ago, protect Kushinada!" and "[[IWillWaitForYou I'm waiting for you]], [[FirstNameBasis Kyo]]!".
12	* The ending of [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof97face.htm the New Faces Team]] in ''[='=]97''. As Orochi still can't revive on its own, Yashiro [[ImpromptuTracheotomy rips Chris's throat with his bare hands and does the same to Shermie]]. The TearJerker comes when he [[DiedInYourArmsTonight comforts the dying Shermie]] as she dies, promising to [[TogetherInDeath follow her and Chris in death]]. And once she's a goner? [[DrivenToSuicide He fills his word]]. Sure, killing your own teammates and friends is a dick move, but when it's done like this you feel more sad than angry for [[JerkAssWoobie the culprit]]...
13	* ''KOF [='=]99''. What becomes of Kyo after the events of ''[='=]97'' is pretty depressing. After having saved the world from the wrath of Orochi alongside Iori, he ends up being rewarded for his troubles through unwilling cloning at the hands of NESTS. This is best reflected by his leitmotif, [[https://youtu.be/RVuon4OLtpE "Tears"]], which is one of the most somber themes in the series.
14	* ''KOF 2000'': While in other teams' endings Kula's just standing on Zero Cannon with intentions of destroying it, [[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/neogeo/b/kof2kula.htm in her ending]] she succeeds and promptly [[GravitySucks plummets from orbit]]. [[RobotBuddy Candy]] catches up to her and shields her. She survives and all that is left from Candy is her head calling her "Friend". Kula hugs said head and ''weeps''... [[TheWoobie and no one can blame her]].
15	* ''KOF XI'': The ending of Kyo & Iori's team. Many a player couldn't help but gasp and feel sorry after seeing [[NiceGuy Shingo]] [[KicktheDog beaten up]] by Orochi Iori to the point where he's almost UNRECOGNIZABLE. And this is the [[{{keet}} friendliest and most optimistic]] JokeCharacter ever to come from a fighting game! Granted, ''KOF XIII'' and ''XIV'' reveal that he [[MadeOfIron made it out alive]] (all the more impressive this is the same Orochi Iori that ''killed'' Mature and Vice - two of the [[BigBad Hakkeshu]] - back in ''[='=]96''), but it's still heartbreaking to see him like this nonetheless, especially when he had just fulfilled his lifelong goal of fighting on the same team as Kyo.
16	* ''XIII'' has [[http://youtu.be/TBXfNlbIONI the sacrifice]] of Ash Crimson. Elisabeth's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjEXLTx2N10 reaction]] to his erasure from time followed by the credits montage of his youth as any traces of his existence (save for [[TragicKeepsake his headband]]) are erased is pretty hard stuff to take without sorrow. Double when the credits also include [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pippa_Passes a certain poem by Robert Browning]], which finishes like this:
17	--> "God's up in his Heaven, all's right with the world"
18	** Even worse in the end of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu1MaJgor5E the VERY spoileriffic "long version" of the OP]]: Evil Ash turns to the screen, smiles sadly and whispers something as he disappears... then the scene changes and we see who is he actually talking to: Elisabeth, who is on her knees in a flower field not unlike the one seen in their childhood photos from her team's ending. She tearfully tries to reach for Ash, and when he's fully gone she breaks down sobbing as a petal-filled wind blows around her... and the infamous Door closes.
19	* With Rock being added into ''XIV'', players now get to actually see him canonically interact with Geese, and it's nothing short of heartbreaking. [[CallingTheOldManOut Rock openly calls him out on abandoning their family]]. Geese, on the other hand, [[IHaveNoSon doesn't even acknowledge Rock]], as evidenced by the fact that he has no special win quote against him.
20	** This was rectified in ''XV'' by virtue of Rock now canonically taking part in the events of the story as well as Geese, as shown by the fact that both have their own teams. They also have their own unique Story Mode cutscene and musical theme for rival battles. And as expected, their canon reunion in the ''KOF'' timeline is not a pleasant one, as Rock swears to make Geese pay for [[MurderByInaction abandoning his own wife and Rock's mother Marie to die]]. Geese's response is to snidely note how coincidental their meeting is and then suddenly remark in a rather cathartic and somber manner that maybe it's [[LaserGuidedKarma his fate]] to meet his end (in this timeline at least) at the hands of his own flesh and blood, indicating that perhaps after all this time and how far he's come in his never-ending quest for absolute power, Geese still did care for Marie on some level.
21	--> '''Rock:''' You abandoned my mother...I will have my revenge!\
22	'''Geese:''' Quite a coincidence meeting you here. Perhaps this, too, is fate.
23	* For a musical TearJerker, there's the vocal version of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPpvntmPv84 "Tachi bou ke"]], the Psycho Soldier Team's theme in ''XIV''. The lyrics are sung from Kensou's perspective, and are about the many times he's tried to confess his feelings to Athena, yet fate seems to continue keeping them separate. LyricalDissonance at its finest.
24	* The Ash team's story for ''XV'' reveals Kukri's origin, and it's not a pleasant one. He grew up alone as a vagrant in an African desert city, fighting for his life every day until a mysterious woman (implied to be Dolores) took him in as a student. She taught him about the mystic powers he would eventually develop, which later manifested as a massive sandstorm. His teacher dove headfirst into the sandstorm to rescue young Kukri, but at the cost of her own life. Ever since then, he's been searching for a way to reunite with her.
25	* Unlike the Garou Team ending in ''XI'', where Hotaru gets sidetracked in the party, she finally did get to meet Gato. And as usual, either him trying to cover for her in his quest or being an utter jackass, Gato rejects her and outright said she's not his sister. No slaps this time unlike [[VideoGame/GarouMarkOfTheWolves the original]], but it still felt like a slap to the face of poor Hotaru.
26	* Nameless's fate in ''KOF All-Star'''s 2002 Story ending. Knowing full well that [[HeroicSacrifice he'll most likely die]] aborting Igniz's attempted self-destruction of the Deimos base and subsequent destruction of the world, he rips off his PowerLimiter and does it anyway. He then quietly gives both his thanks and apologies to Isolde as he [[TogetherInDeath succumbs to his wounds]]. The music accompanying it does ''not'' help.
27	* The Orochi team's motivations for carrying out their lord's will are heavily called into question in ''XV'', especially with their Awakened selves' story and interactions. It starts when a man, who is steadily revealed to be none other than a resurrected Goenitz, receives a call from Yashiro about how the Four Heavenly Kings have suddenly come back to life. Goenitz correctly deduces that Yashiro is undergoing emotional turmoil over both his resurrection and his purpose, as it's clear that he and his teammates have grown to enjoy aspects of human life even though their ultimate mission will lead to humanity's destruction. Though the conversation ultimately ends with Goenitz and Yashiro agreeing that their destiny is forever tied to Orochi and their duty to the clan is still important, the post-credits scene of the Awakened Orochi team's questionably-canon ending implies that even if they succeed in their mission, the three [[AndThenWhat are left]] [[VictoryIsBoring somewhat empty]] [[TragicVillain inside]] due to the loss of human culture.

Context TearJerker / TheKingOfFighters