History YMMV / TheKingOfFighters

** With everything mentioned immediately above in mind (as well as his interactions in ''KOF XV'') was Ash [[ManipulativeBastard running circles around]] the Sacred Treasures in his own saga because [[SmugSnake he didn't consider them to be worth his time]], is it because he [[GenreSavvy knows his limits enough]] to not bother engaging them directly, or because [[VillainRespect he secretly holds them in high regard]] to a certain degree?
** After nearly two decades of treating bKensou's relationship with Athena as a joke, ''XIII'' pokes at it with a stick, pointing out that Athena never actually turns Kensou down and that her feelings for him are actually quite ambiguous, since she spends all her time trying to dodge the subject--Yuri questions Athena's insistence that she and Kensou are JustFriends right to her face. ''VideoGame/SNKHeroinesTagTeamFrenzy'' goes so far as to make Luong their ShipperOnDeck, chastising Athena for leaving Kensou hanging and suggesting that she send Kensou pictures of herself in her cosplay outfit.

** Ash Crimson. The Japanese fanbase pretty much loves Ash. The West hates him with a passion (or is, at best, a [[BaseBreakingCharacter Base-Breaker]]) for coming across as an InvincibleVillain, if not an outright ''[[GambitRoulette sue]]'' (his end fate notwithstanding). However, [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap much of the hate has died down]] since ''XIII'', to the point his return in ''XV' ' was met with open arms. Nevermind that he isn't the main protagonist of the game anymore and his relationship with Elisabeth is one of the series' [[Heartwarming/TheKingOfFighters more touching moments]].

** One that extends to the entire [[NotSoHarmlessVillain New]] {{Face|OfAnAngelMindOfADemon}}s Team: were they generally nice and decent, unassuming citizens whose personalities were [[SplitPersonalityTakeover permanently overridden]] by [[SuperpoweredEvilSide their true selves]], or were they [[EvilAllAlong always that evil]], their [[BitchInSheepsClothing current persona being a ruse]] with the trio letting pieces of their malicious nature slip through the cracks every now and then [[note]](for example, [[NightmareFuelStationAttendant the songs CYS composed dealt heavily with blood and death]])[[/note]] until there was [[BrokenMasquerade no longer a need to keep up the charade]]? [[TakeAThirdOption Or, to take another route]], when their status as Heavenly Kings was revealed, did they go along with the plan to resurrect Orochi, not because of [[UndyingLoyalty their loyalty]] or [[EvilFeelsGood the pleasure that evildoing brought]], but because [[IgnoredEpiphany they couldn't]] [[DespairEventHorizon turn back]] and [[BecauseDestinySaysSo go against their fate]]? [[WildMassGuessing Or maybe]] did they ''start'' [[TheEveryman as nice and decent people]] [[note]](only with [[NightmareFetishist unusual tastes]] as mentioned above)[[/note]], but once they set in their places as Heavenly Kings, they decided [[EvilFeelsGood it was more fun/convenient to side with Orochi]] and [[FaceHeelTurn willingly threw themselves in their roles]]?

** With everything mentioned immediately above in mind (as well as his interactions in ''KOF XV'') was Ash [[ManipulativeBastard running]] [[InTheBack circles]] [[{{Troll}} around]] the Sacred Treasures in his own saga because [[SmugSnake he didn't consider them to be worth his time]], is it because he [[GenreSavvy knows his limits enough]] to not bother engaging them directly, or because [[VillainRespect he secretly holds them]] [[HiddenHeartOfGold in high regard]] to a certain degree?

** [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Dark]] [[DarkIsEvil Ash]]. Same deal as Clone Zero, except whereas C.Zero had a unique moveset, Dark Ash is just, well, [[LongRangeFighter Ash]], but with [[PaletteSwap black flames]] and enough fireball spam to put even Goenitz to shame. Like C.Zero, his AI is [[ArtificialStupidity dumber than a sack of peanuts]], being prone to sweeps or spam himself, particularly with Vice's [[DeathFromAbove Splash]] or Daimon's [[GroundPound Jiraishin]]. [[https://v.redd.it/1t14ryy2gc581 Observe.]]

** From a canon standpoint, [[spoiler:there's Saiki's VillainousBreakdown in ''XIII''. After having established himself as an even ''bigger'' [[SmugSnake smug]] {{Jerkass}} than his own descendant (which is saying something) who was more than willing to [[BadBoss off one of his own underlings]] [[DisproportionateRetribution simply for speaking up against him]], it's immensely satisfying to watch Saiki realize the inevitability of his impending demise... even if that also means going through [[{{Tearjerker}} Ash's own death]] [[TheHeroDies immediately afterward]]]].

** When he debuted in ''KOF 2003'', itself a ContestedSequel to this day, ''a lot'' of people weren't very fond of Ash. Whether it was [[{{Jerkass}} his]] [[SmugSnake personality]], his effortless defeat of Chizuru and Iori that made him come off as an InvincibleVillain, or even just [[DudeLooksLikeALady his mere physical appearance]], mentioning his name is enough to make most longtime ''KOF'' fans wince with disdain. An entire saga (as well as a [[{{Tearjerker}} heartbreaking]] [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIII sendoff]]) and a decade of being PutOnABus later and Ash went from near universally reviled to, at best, a bold example of a VillainProtagonist in a fighting game (something that was absolutely ''unheard of'' up until that point - the [[Franchise/{{Tekken}} Mishima Family]] notwithstanding, at least) that preferred using [[GuileHero Guile]] (heh) over brute force, or at worst, [[BaseBreakingCharacter a mixed bag]].

** Shermie/Shun'ei, entirely due to the fact her ''KOF XV'' reveal trailer had Shermie thrashing Shun'ei around. And given some of Shermie's [[MurderousThighs moves]] [[InterplayOfSexAndViolence and gimmicks]] made it looks like she was coming on to Shun'ei in her own way. This is mostly PlayedForLaughs within the ''KOF'' community, with Shermie being too eager to jump Shun'ei's bones while poor Shun'ei is scared for his life.

* CrossesTheLineTwice: One of Ash's win quotes in ''2003'' (which gets a callback in ''XV'') literally has him tell the opponent ''[[SuicideDare to kill themselves]]''. ''At best'', if that came from anyone else, it'd come off as edgy, but coming from someone like ''[[DudeLooksLikeALady Ash]] [[AgentPeacock Crimson]]''? Jarringly funny, especially given his ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure JoJo]]''-esque win pose in ''2003'' in particular.

** ''KOF XI'' is seen by many as one of the more underrated titles in the series. Such is the case with the above entries, it expands on and fine-tunes ''2003's'' mechanics by making character switching faster and more intuitive, bringing back the Blowback button[[note]] ''2003'' is, uniquely, the only game in the series that doesn't have the traditional C+D blowback at all - some characters have had their Blowbacks converted into normal Command Moves here. ''XI'' would re-introduce them by mapping them to their own button, being E. [[/note]], having the most unique character roster in the series (''on top'' of omitting staples like Mai[[note]] At least in the original arcade version, anyway. She's still present in the console release. [[/note]] and Leona), and one of the most acclaimed soundtracks in the series (with [[https://youtu.be/XW0R76zd5Ds tracks]] [[https://youtu.be/srAJKewWBaQ like]] [[https://youtu.be/c4EAoMi90OE these]], it's easy to see why). More than plenty of people are wishing for a proper port of the game with rollback netcode since this is one of the few titles in the series that, sadly, [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes is locked to the]] UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[[note]] Unless you use roundabout methods like emulation or Fightcade to play it. [[/note]] to this day.

** Orochi Leona's habit of popping up at the wrong time, as well as her pleasured-sounding screams. [[AllPeriodsArePMS Three]] [[NoPeriodsPeriod guesses]] [[InterplayOfSexAndViolence what.]]

** The ''Maximum Impact'' series is just rife with this. The series' cast features aliens with bizarre powers (even by ''KOF'' standards) among their ranks; [[BigBad main antagonist]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiva Jivatma]] is one of said aliens and controls one of the sub-syndicates of Addes, an organization whose seal is that of the GrimReaper, uses [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metatron Metatron]] as its public name, and whose known branches take their names from various corners of angelology and demonology (they're respectively named Children of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokabiel Kokaviel]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushiel Kusiel]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mephistopheles Mephistopheles]], and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belphegor Belphegor]]).

---> '''Yuri:''' Hey, why don't you join my team once in a while?
---> '''Kula:''' Will you give me [[TrademarkFavoriteFood ice cream]]? [[ComicallySmallBribe I'll do anything for ice cream!]]
---> '''Yuri:''' Huh? Does that mean if someone else offers you ice cream, you'll betray me just as fast!?
** One of K9999's alternate color palettes in ''2002'' is mostly red with white hair and his [[SphereOfDestruction "Moon..."]] special is green instead of the usual red. Not a year later and a certain [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2003 French(-raised)]] [[Characters/TheKingOfFightersAshCrimson young man]] with [[TechnicolorFire peculiar]] [[SailorEarth flames]] would emerge...

* ImprovedSecondAttempt: Krohnen is basically one big apology letter to [=K9999=] fans. Nameless was a brand new character created to [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute replace]] the [[CaptainErsatz legal minefield]] that was [=K9999=], but was considered bland and stuck in Dream Match or unofficial story limbo to boot. Meanwhile, Krohnen is introduced in a canon entry and retains most aspects of [=K9999=]'s appearance and personality while changing just enough to no longer be an overly blatant ripoff of [[Manga/{{Akira}} Tetsuo Shima]], such as having [[TheOtherDarrin a different]] [[Creator/{{KENN}} voice actor]], giving him Nameless's hairstyle, and exchanging [=K9999=]'s organic-based abilities for Nameless' mechanical ones. Fans found it a good compromise, and it showed to embittered [=K9999=] fans that even if SNK considered him a CreatorsPest, they did like him enough to try to salvage him (and the infamously messy NESTS AbortedArc in general) after all. For fans of the ''Maximum Impact'' games, his design also takes some inspiration from Alba Meira. [[spoiler:It certainly helps that Krohnen and [=K9999=] are one in the same, with the latter likewise getting some much-needed CharacterDevelopment compared to his ''2001'' days.]]

** Frankly, most of the {{SNK Boss}}es in the series can qualify, since a majority of them (except for maybe [[PunchClockVillain Krizalid]] or [[NobleDemon Original Zero]]) are already [[HateSink scummy as]] [[CardCarryingVillain it is]] that it makes feeding them a [[VideoGame/GarouMarkOfTheWolves Buster Wolf]] all the more [[CatharsisFactor satisfying]].
** Ash in particular has his fanbase not only because SNK were bold enough to introduce a VillainProtagonist ([[spoiler:at least [[VideoGame/TheKingOFFightersXIII initially]]]]), but also because he's a very ''entertaining'' villain protagonist at that, thanks to his unabashedly [[SmugSnake smug]] [[FrenchJerk demeanor]] and [[DeadpanSnarker smart-assed tendencies]]. [[Characters/FatalFuryTerryBogard Terry]], of all people, being the one to piss ''him'' off in ''XIII'' after spending his entire saga dancing circles around everyone is probably the highlight of Ash's tenure as the series lead.

** Ash. Seriously, most of his win quotes against anyone that doesn't happen to be [[MoralityPet Elisabeth]] (and even then, not even she is safe from [[EmbarrassingNickname his ribbing]] at times) pretty much have him take the piss out of ''everyone'', even '''[[Characters/FatalFuryGeeseHoward Geese]] [[TheDon Howard]]''', in ''KOF XV''.
** Terry, to a lesser extent. At least in ''XIII'', anyway. If only because he's the one character that managed to do something no other character in the franchise (besides maybe Saiki) ever could - ''[[InsultBackfire piss off]] [[{{Troll}} Ash Crimson]]''.

*** His [[spoiler:murder of Maki Kagura in front of her twin sister Chizuru]] is already bad, but in the ''KOF: KYO'' manga it's even worse because, in that particular continuity, [[spoiler:''[[WouldHitAGirl Chizuru and Maki]] [[WouldHurtAChild were little girls under the age of ten]] and he was [[TeensAreMonsters barely a teenager]]''.]]

** Ash. While he was a BaseBreakingCharacter at best, over the years he's gotten a much warmer reception, with him being one of the most interesting and outright different fighting game protagonists ever - being more of a GuileHero (no [[Franchise/StreetFighter pun]] intended) than, say, [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Kyo]] or [[NinetiesAntiHero K']] on top of being a [[ChargeInputSpecial charge character]] - as protagonists like Ryu, [[VideoGame/BlazBlue Ragna]], or [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Sol]] are typically motion input characters. His return in ''KOF XV'' has been met with open arms, as well as his [[BadassLongcoat new design]]. Also helps he's [[TookALevelInKindness noticeably nicer]] to most of the cast than he was in prior games. Granted, some of the [[{{Troll}} old]] [[TheGadfly Ash]] is still there, but he's nowhere near as bad as he was in, say, ''XIII'', for example.
** K9999 was, like Ash above, another Base-Breaker ''at best'' because of his [[AGodAmI obnoxious]] [[{{Jerkass}} personality]] and very [[CaptainErsatz blatant homage]] ([[SerialNumbersFiledOff if you can even call it that]]) to Tetsuo Shima. [[spoiler:Come his return as Krohnen [=McDougall=] in ''KOF XV'', however, and he's much more bearable. While he's still a bit of an asshole, he's also got his fair share of moments - whether it's [[PetTheDog giving away his prize money to Kula]] in his ending, being genuinely impressed with Ryo's old motorcycle in one of the game's Edit Team endings, or even providing some surprisingly hilarious moments through a FunnyBackgroundEvent in the game's prologue and a few other Edit Team endings, Krohnen is not at all the same character that he once was back in ''2001'' and ''2002''.]]

** So you have a character like [=K9999=] who, on top of being a legal liability for SNK, was enough of a CreatorsPest for them that they outright replaced him with a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute in Nameless. ''And then'' you replace ''that'' substitute with another one who is bit of an [[CompositeCharacter amalgamation of]] [[TakeAThirdOption both designs]] and you get Krohnen's reveal in ''KOF XV''. He is K9999 in the inside with just a slight redesign and some small cues from Nameless in gameplay and design.

** Igniz has two of them. His ''2001'' theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzFIg7zmrAs "Kare koso Saikyo" ("He Is The Strongest!"),]] [[BossRemix is a faster, rock-heavy version of]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OivRHzXUm2A Original Zero's theme.]] His new theme in ''2002UM'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy16dCouwc8 "Save The Universe,"]] sounds like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6cfOUgt0h4 "Save A Future,"]] fellow SNKBoss Mildred Avalon's theme from ''VideoGame/ArcanaHeart''.
** The Korea Team's theme in ''2000'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lrlut8oXZ0 "Wild Party,"]] has a few riffs indicative of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRbPWcLode0 "Crazy Train"]] by "The Prince of Darkness" himself, Music/OzzyOsbourne. In particular, compare the beginning of both songs.

** For those still not fond of Ash even after [[TookALevelInKindness his]] [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap redemption]] in ''KOF XV'', Rock Howard - the above-mentioned adoptive son of Terry Bogard - also gets his licks in on Ash, too.

** If you've ever wondered just ''how'' brutal NESTS were, look no further than Sylvie's past. Being another former experiment of NESTS hasn't exactly [[CloudcuckooLander been great]] [[StepfordSmiler for her]]. If her ending in ''[[VideoGame/SNKHeroinesTagTeamFrenzy SNK Heroines]]'' is anything to go by (PlayedForLaughs as it may be), whatever NESTS put her through is '''NOT''' pretty.

** With everything mentioned immediately above in mind was Ash [[ManipulativeBastard running]] [[InTheBack circles]] [[{{Troll}} around]] the Sacred Treasures in his own saga because [[SmugSnake he didn't consider them to be worth his time]], is it because he [[GenreSavvy knows his limits enough]] to not bother engaging them directly, or because [[VillainRespect he secretly holds them]] [[HiddenHeartOfGold in high regard]] to a certain degree?

** With everything mentioned immediately above in mind was Ash [[ManipulativeBastard running]] [[InTheBack circles]] [[{{Troll}} around]] the Sacred Treasures in his own saga because [[SmugSnake he didn't consider them to be worth his time]], or is it because he [[GenreSavvy knows his limits enough]] to not bother engaging them directly?

** After nearly two decades of treating Kensou's relationship with Athena as a joke, ''XIII'' pokes at it with a stick, pointing out that Athena never actually turns Kensou down and that her feelings for him are actually quite ambiguous, since she spends all her time trying to dodge the subject--Yuri questions Athena's insistence that she and Kensou are JustFriends right to her face. ''VideoGame/SNKHeroinesTagTeamFrenzy'' goes so far as to make Luong their ShipperOnDeck, chastising Athena for leaving Kensou hanging and suggesting that she send Kensou pictures of herself in her cosplay outfit.

* [[EvilIsSexy/TheKingOfFighters Evil Is Sexy]]

** In addition to being a [[EvilIsSexy drop-dead gorgeous]] AmazonianBeauty, Vice is also... not right in the head, we'll say. Doesn't stop her from scraping your face on the floor or dogpiling you with a well-placed Splash, though.

* VideoGameMoviesSuck:
** The 2010 live-action movie is a hot mess, essentially being a movie of KOF InNameOnly. Problems include (but are not limited to) white-washing Kyo and Mai, turning Mai and Terry into CIA agents for no reason, and a nonsensical plot about a "King of Fighters" dimension.
** Averted with ''Animation/TheKingOfFightersDestiny'', a faithful adaptation of the plots of the first ''KOF'' games (plus the story of ''VideoGame/FatalFury'') with compelling fight scenes.

** As of ''KOF XV'', Krohnen/[[spoiler:K9999]] can also count. He may have been a grade-A {{jerkass}} who is up there with Iori, Ash, and Gato, but you can't deny he's had a rough go of it [[spoiler:since the ''2001'' days]]. Having a ''massive'' InferioritySuperiorityComplex towards K' on top of [[HiddenDepths showing some signs]] of still being [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold a decent person]] ([[PetTheDog he gives Kula his prize money]] in his team's ending and just drops her off with Foxy and Diana in the K' Team ending safe and sound) makes you wonder what his life might've been like if he and Angel hadn't injured Foxy back in ''2001''. Oh, and that's not even getting into the fact that, technically speaking, [[spoiler:he still ''is'' a Kyo clone, with all the [[CloningBlues baggage]] that comes with it]].

** Working for NESTS as he might be, Krizalid is far and away the most pitiable boss character in the series. [[CloningBlues Being a clone of K']] who thinks Seirah (Whip) is his sister, [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness killed for his failure]] by his [[CompleteMonster monster]] of a boss, and being cloned ''himself'' really makes one wonder just [[AntiVillain how villainous Krizalid truly was]].

* ContestedSequel: ''XIII'' is one of the most divisive entries in the series. Americans, especially those who came into the series through it, love the game and especially the SugarWiki/AwesomeArt sprite work, wishing future games would be able to do more like it. However, many veterans from Asia and Latin America (and even a few North Americans) are quick to point out how its many systems and combo-heavy nature make it play very differently from other [=KOF=] games and feel that the expensive, time-consuming sprites were not worth the sacrifices to the roster[[note]]Many beloved characters are absent, and of the ones who were included outside of obligatory members like Kyo and Terry, most of them are ones who could be turned into a glorified PaletteSwap or MovesetClone of another character. [[/note]] or move animations[[note]]Many specials just have the characters pointing or using a souped-up version of an existing normal move with extra effects layered on. Saiki's standing throw is even virtually identical to his (and by extension, Ash's) close C! [[/note]].

** May Lee was once seen as this due to replacing Jhun in ''2001'' and then replacing longtime regular King in ''2002'' and taking her spot on the Women Fighters Team alongside fellow vets Yuri and Mai. [[AmericansHateTingle The Japanese essentially screamed]], '''[[MemeticMutation "I RAGED. HARD"]]''' over the latter to the point that not even adding King ''back'' in the home ports could undo the damage. Adding fuel to the fire is that back in those days, due to SNK's takeover by the Korean company Eolith, said company demanded a 'female Korean' to be promoted, and this created May Lee, prompting some to see her as CreatorsPet. Most of this scorn has passed over since and May Lee is seen as an EnsembleDarkHorse elsewhere. (She later gets a new voice actress in ''VideoGame/KOFAllStars'' but by that time, she's already in the good graces of the fandom so they don't mind)

** WordOfGod also states that Kyo's girlfriend Yuki was added in as a form of TrollingCreator against DryDocking, as while Kyo was intended to be a "hardcore" character, he ended up being surprisingly popular with female fans instead.

** WordOfGod also states that Kyo's girlfriend Yuki was added in as a form of TrollingCreator against DryDocking, as while Kyo was intended to be a "[[RatedMForManly hardcore]]" character, he ended up being surprisingly popular with female fans instead.

* LoveToHate: Frankly, most of the {{SNK Boss}}es in the series can qualify, since a majority of them (except for maybe [[PunchClockVillain Krizalid]] or [[NobleDemon Original Zero]]) are already [[HateSink scummy as]] [[CardCarryingVillain it is]] that it makes feeding them a [[VideoGame/GarouMarkOfTheWolves Buster Wolf]] all the more [[CatharsisFactor satisfying]].

* [[LowTierLetdown/TheKingOfFighters Low-Tier Letdown]]

** The ''other'' reason Yuki was hated. Feeding into the whole DieForOurShip aspect, the fact that she was a mix of BarrierMaiden and OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent didn't endear her to fans who would rather see Kyo paired up with someone they felt was more "badass" and proactive.

* WhatMeasureIsANonBadass:
** The ''other'' reason Yuki was hated. Feeding into the whole DieForOurShip aspect, the fact that she was a mix of BarrierMaiden and OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent didn't endear her to fans who would rather see Kyo paired up with someone they felt was more "badass" and proactive.
** The common sentiment among Bao's detractors. While he is a strong martial artist and prodigious young user of psycho power, being a pretty normal kid doesn't generally endear you to fans of fighting games.

** Ever wonder why the [[AssistCharacter Striker system]] never made it past the NESTS Saga? Well... there are definitely quite a few reasons. Most notably is just how ''useful'' (or lack thereof in most cases) the strikers actually are - some are [[TierInducedScrappy straight-up useless]] (e.g., Whip) while others are [[GameBreaker outright overpowered]] (e.g., Rugal). Then there's the fact that you can't really combo into them (though some ''do'' grant combo opportunities) and they're liable to be hit by the opponent, limiting their overall use. And finally, ''[[OddballInTheSeries 2001]]'' all but ensured that they'll be shelved since you could have up to ''three'' strikers at once, pretty much breaking the typical 3-on-3 (or 4-on-4 if we're talking the NESTS Saga) formula that ''KOF'' is known for and [[GoodBadBugs breaking the game in half]] in all the wrong places.

** Shingo's HeroWorship of Kyo can be ''very'' easily seen as a man-crush, most noticeable in their special pre-match intros for both ''[='=]98'' and ''[='=]99''.

--->'''Shen''': Not only do you lack modesty, but you've got a big mouth too! [[SarcasmMode Your mom must be proud of you.]]

----

* FriendlyFandoms: Sonic fans tend to also be fans of The King of Fighters. In fact, there is arguably more fan art of Sonic and King of Fighters crossover art than there is with Sonic and other far more popular game franchises such as Halo, Final Fantasy, and The Legend of Zelda.

* FriendlyFandom: Sonic fans tend to also be fans of The King of Fighters. In fact, there is arguably more fan art of Sonic and King of Fighters crossover art than there is with Sonic and other far more popular game franchises such as Halo, Final Fantasy, and The Legend of Zelda.

* CharacterPerceptionEvolution: When he debuted in ''KOF 2003'', itself a ContestedSequel to this day, ''a lot'' of people weren't very fond of Ash. Whether it was [[{{Jerkass}} his]] [[SmugSnake personality]], his effortless defeat of Chizuru and Iori that made him come off as an InvincibleVillain, or even just [[DudeLooksLikeALady his mere physical appearance]], mentioning his name is enough to make most longtime ''KOF'' fans wince with disdain. An entire saga (as well as a [[{{Tearjerker}} heartbreaking]] [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIII sendoff]]) and a decade of being PutOnABus later and Ash went from universally reviled to, at best, a bold example of a VillainProtagonist in a fighting game (something that was absolutely ''unheard of'' up until that point - the [[Franchise/{{Tekken}} Mishima Family]] notwithstanding, at least) that preferred using [[GuileHero Guile]] (heh) over brute force, or at worst, [[BaseBreakingCharacter a mixed bag]].

** Chizuru/Shingo is also a surprisingly popular ship, too - partly because Shingo is already tied to the Sacred Treasures by proxy (even replacing Chizuru as Kyo's and Iori's third member in ''XI''), because he took care of Chizuru in the interim between ''KOF XI'' (not without sustaining some injuries from Orochi Iori in this one) and ''XV'', and because he's just an all-around NiceGuy that'd be a nice fit for someone like Chizuru.

* AmericansHateTingle: Ash Crimson. The Japanese fanbase pretty much loves Ash. The West hates him with a passion (or is, at best, a [[BaseBreakingCharacter Base-Breaker]]) for coming across as an InvincibleVillain, if not an outright ''[[GambitRoulette sue]]'' (his end fate notwithstanding). However, [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap much of the hate has died down]] since ''XIII'', to the point his return in ''XV' ' was met with open arms. Nevermind that he isn't the main protagonist of the game anymore and his relationship with Elisabeth is one of the series' [[Heartwarming/TheKingOfFighters more touching moments]].

* ThemePairing: Expect to see Kula Diamond paired up with K' -- they are fellow NESTS refugees, Kyo "clones", a RedOniBlueOni duo, and of [[FireWaterJuxtaposition]] opposing elements (fire and ice).

** SNK's announcement of ''KOF XV'' getting crossplay at EVO 2022 ''really'' won a lot of fans who were stumped by ''XV's'' [[ScrappyMechanic faulty matchmaking]] over, especially when paired with ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown (2019)'' getting some much-needed love in the form of an update to rollback netcode for all platforms (sans the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch Switch]] version, unfortunately) coinciding with Team Samurai's reveal. And if that wasn't enough, then the announcement of a Season 2 - led by Kim and, most especially, Shingo ([[TheBusCameBack who hasn't been playable]] since ''XI'') - '''''and''''' the announcement of a new ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' title after more than '''20 years''' of dormancy really sealed the deal that SNK were back and better than ever.