Characters / Art of Fighting

Related Series
Fatal Fury | The King of Fighters | Buriki One

The characters in the Art of Fighting series will be listed here.
Also related are the characters from Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series who will have their pages listed here.

Characters are listed by game of introduction.

---

Characters introduced in Art of Fighting

Ryo Sakazaki / Mr. Karate II

Invincible Dragon (From KOF XV)

^{Click to see his first design (AOF)}

Absolute karate, that's Kyokugen. And don't you forget it, dweebenheimer!

Origin: Japan

Fighting Style: Kyokugen-ryu Karate

Voiced by: ^note Tetsuya Bessho (OAV, JP) and Marcelo Campos (OAV, EN), Masaki Usui ('94-XI, XIII), Masayoshi Kozaki (XII), Daiki Takakura (XIV, XV, King of Fighters All-Star), Curt Gebhart (Maximum Impact series, English), Akira Kamiya ('94 Dengeki Bunko drama CD), Subaru Kimura (King of Fighters for Girls)

The Invincible Dragon. Trained in the Kyokugen Style of Karate by his father Takuma, Ryo was forced to care for himself and his younger sister when he was 10 after their mother, Lonette, died in a car accident and their father disappeared shortly afterward. He makes his living by earning money on street fights. Whenever she saw Ryo in such condition, Yuri's desire to run away became greater.
When Yuri is kidnapped by Mr. Big, Ryo and his friend, Robert, scour Southtown while battling its toughest enforcers and Mob bosses to rescue her, finding out that his father was still alive under the guise of Mr. Karate. After the incident, Ryo went to the mountains to train himself in combat, only to return to to Southtown a year later to participate in the King of Fighters tournament sponsored by Geese Howard. Despite beating him, Geese had managed to escape.
After these events, Ryo goes to Mexico in search of Robert.
Ryo is a reoccuring fighter in The King of Fighters series, usually being the leader of "Team Art of Fighting".

---

• '80s Hair: Dear God, that mullet! Switches to Anime Hair in the King of Fighters series.
• Adaptation Dye-Job: He's raven-haired in the anime special, which was taken from the Japanese live-action commercials for 2.
• Adaptational Jerkass: Downplayed example. Ryo isn't exactly a jerk, but his characterization in King of Fighters is much more strict and harsh than in his home series. This is most evident if one compares his treatment of Yuri across both series.
• Adaptational Wimp: Somewhat downplayed example. In The King of Fighters: Destiny he is still a competent martial artist, but is soundly defeated by Mai Shiranui, who while strong in her own right is rarely portrayed as being on the same level as Ryo.
• Alternate Company Equivalent:
  • To Ryu and Ken, at least at first.
  • Since many of the crossovers have Kyo as Ryu's SNK equivalent, some games (such as Match of the Millennium) position Ryo as Dan Hibiki's rival instead.
• Amazon Chaser: Ryo's developed a tentative romantic interest in King because she's a fellow martial artist and has sparred with her on occasion. But they've only had a one date so far (which his dad set up).
• Badass Biker: More so in Art of Fighting. As a bonus, complementary sources say that Ryo actually found his motorcycle in a scrapyard and re-built it on his own. One of the special team endings in XV has him showing his ride off to a very impressed Angel and Krohnen.
• Battle Intro: In The King of Fighters XV:
  "His road of pain sharpened him into a master! The Invincible Dragon shares his wisdom! Ryo Sakazaki!
  Ryo: "Feel the mighty fists of Kyokugen!"
• Best Friend: The Garcias have had close ties with the Sakazakis ever since Alberto's friendship with Takuma. Their association is what lead Alberto to send Robert to the Kyokugen dojo, which is were he met and befriended Ryo and his sister, Yuri.
• Big Brother Instinct: Towards Yuri.
  • He spends the first game trying to rescue her from Mr. Big's clutches. She wishes he and their father would butt out of her love life. In later games, Ryo is torn between the desire to let Yuri live her own life and his pre-installed desire to protect her.
  • However, it's implied in Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Buriki One, and Neo Geo Battle Coliseum that the two mellow out in later years and don't squabble as much. They're close to the point that it is apparently Yuri who tells Ryo to shave off his beard as Mr. Karate II.
• Becoming the Mask: Literally played with. He (eventually) becomes Mr. Karate II, but does not wear the infamous tengu mask. Until KOF XV, that is.
• But Not Too Foreign: Japanese-American.
• The Cameo:
  • His inclusion in Fatal Fury Special served as a tie-in to the Art of Fighting series.
  • He appears in the background of KOF Stadium in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and has a spirit battle based on him. He also has a Mii Brawler costume based on him.
• Catchphrase: "OSU!" "Ora ora!"
• Failure Is the Only Option: Since Geese has to kill Jeff Bogard in order to set the events of Fatal Fury into motion, he fled before Ryo could finish him with his Haoh Shoko Ken, at the end of Art of Fighting 2.
• Famed In-Story: Ryo achieved his status by bringing down Big's syndicate, during the original game and, in AoF 2, he went to become the champion of the first official King of Fighters tournament, by forcing Geese Howard to flee the match. Afterward, his reputation flourished and eventually earned him the title of "Mouteki no Ryu" ("The Invincible Dragon").
• Fighting Your Friend: Ryo confronted Robert, near the conclusion of AoF 3 to demand answers concerning his sudden disappearance, which Robert refused to answer as he was desperate to find Freia before Wyler could complete his elixir. So they fought, on the condition that Robert would explain himself if he lost^note Robert eventually explained everything that happened, during his ending According to canon, Robert won.
• Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The Responsible to Yuri's Foolish. Downplayed to an extent, as Ryo definitely has his moments of foolery, but generally Ryo is the more serious of the two, dedicating himself to training and the Kyokugenryu Dojo, especially within the KOF continuity as time goes on.
• Friendly Rivalry:
  • According to SNK, Ryo and Robert are equals in terms of prowess and stature, and have been competing against each other since their training days. Their rivalry is even reflected in the series' Japanese title: Ryuko no Ken - "Fists of Dragon Tiger".
  • With Terry Bogard, starting in Wild Ambition. They've been good friends ever since and both their teams regularly compete with each other in the KOF Tournament.
• Good Is Old-Fashioned: Quite a bit. Actually played with, as the only girl he tells such things is his little sister Yuri. He has no qualms fighting other Action Girls, like Yuri's partner Mai or his own love interest King. (In fact, it looks like one of the reasons he likes King is BECAUSE she's an Action Girl who can keep up with him.)
• Guest Fighter:
  • He made appearances as an Optional Boss in Fatal Fury 2: Special and Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition as his Mr. Karate II persona.
  • An older Ryo appeared as the Karate representant in Buriki One with a black karategi, this version also was seen in The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact series and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, again as Mr. Karate II.
• Hair Color Dissonance: His hair has always been blond, even though a few early games made it reddish-orange or yellowish-orange. By the time KOF '96 rolled in, it's definitely obvious that Ryo is a blond. However, in XII (which reverts some characters to their original or pre-KOF designs) and XIII, Ryo's hair is back to being reddish-orange. And then there's the AOF anime, where his hair is jet-black (as per the live-action commercials for AOF2).
• Heir to the Dojo: Takuma has been training Ryo to be this since he was a child. Later titles have Takuma trying to get a new heir: the future child of Ryo and his love interest King. By the time of Garou: Mark of the Wolves, he takes up the mantle of "Mr. Karate II" and has a disciple named Marco Rodriguez/Kushnood Butt.
• Hero of Another Story: His role in the KOF games, where he's mentioned as the hero of the Art of Fighting games, to be exact (although with regards to The King of Fighters, these are considered an Alternate Continuity).
• Heroic Build: Ryo's always been pretty ripped, but KOF goes even further, especially in the later titles. His XV rendering makes him one of the bulkiest men in the game, sans giants like Antonov and King of Dinosaurs.
• Heroic Neutral: A good-natured man at heart, but according to his and Kim's talk in KOF XIII, he cares more about training himself and exceeding his limits than the whole good vs. evil thing. The exception to this would be when his family and friends are in danger.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Robert. The two have been rivals since childhood and took on a criminal empire to save Yuri.
• Hunk: Kyokugen's finest! He manages to attract King pretty well.
• Hurricane Kick: His Hien Shippuu Kyaku (Flying Swallow Hurricane Leg) special, a flying kick where he stikes with one leg after the other.
• I Let You Win: Ryo tried to pull one on Jin Fu-Ha, so he could resume his search for Robert. So he threw their fight in hopes that he'd be satisfied and leave him alone. But Jin saw through it and called him on it:
  Jin: (indignant) "What is the meaning of this, Ryo Sakazaki? Why would you throw our fight?"
  Ryo: (feigns ignorance) "I don't know what you mean."
  Jin: (not buying it) "You can't fool me, I can sense the power. You were clearly holding back."
• Iconic Outfit: He almost never wears anything other than his signature orange gi.
• It's Personal: When Mr. Big kidnapped Yuri, he and Robert raised hell across Southtown, beating the ever-loving tar of anyone who got in their way (including Ryo's father) to get her back.
• Kamehame Hadoken: His Kou'ou Ken (Tiger Sparkle Fist) special^note Downplayed in that it's a short-ranged one, just like low-powered Kou'ou Ken in his home series and Haou Shoukouken (Supreme King Soaring Howl Fist) DM.
• Ki Manipulation: Ryo can perform both the basic Kooh Ken and the Haoh Shoko Ken DM. But the former lost its long range capability from KoF '96 onward, reducing it to more of a ki-powered palm strike.
• Laser-Guided Karma: A positive example. After defeating King, she helps him and Robert find Yuri. So they return the favor during King's ending in AOF2, by paying for Jan's operation. King was grateful to them both, and soon developed a personal interest in Ryo.
• Martial Artists Are Always Barefoot: He is a Kyokugen karate practitioner who is almost always depicted as being barefoot in his karate gi. In the original game Ryo wore geta that he'd kick off before fighting. In the OVA, he declares, "Not wearing shoes is part of our training!" but given the other Kyokugen fighters (Robert and Yuri) have no trouble with footwear, it's just him.
• Megaton Punch: Ryo has two variants: the "Heaven Glaze Punch" (KoF XI and 2000) which results in an automatic stun. And the "Ichigeki Kessatsu" (KoF XIII), which dials the trope up and has to be seen to be believed.
• My Sister Is Off-Limits: For reasons unknown, he and his dad are convinced that Robert would only take Yuri for granted, so they won't let him anywhere near her. Art of Fighting 3 seemingly resolved the issue, during Ryo and Robert's respective endings, where Ryo finally relented and tells Yuri to go after him. But in their team's KoF XIII ending, his dad prevents Robert from proposing to her.
• Mythical Motifs: The dragon. His nickname is "The Invincible Dragon" and his HSDM in 2002: Unlimited Match even summons one at the end of his Ryuuko Ranbu. However, Ryo trained under the Kou'ou ("Tiger King") principle of Kyokugenryuu.
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: Loosely modeled after the late Patrick Swayze.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Kyokugen's Ryukoh Ranbu, an attack so devastating, that in the original game only he, Robert, and Takuma had access to it. It was toned down in later installments of the King of Fighters series, where it's significantly weaker and can be blocked. Though their respective HDM versions make up for it.
• NOT!: His victory quote in Fatal Fury Special:
  "Hmm. Not bad. One more time on the house. NOT!"
• Oblivious to Love: Not that King goes out of her way to drop him any hints, but Ryo is still completely clueless about her feelings; he can't seem to talk to her without having fighting or training in mind, and on such occasions, he does so in a way that winds up hinting at an attraction to King, which leaves her flustered - and, consequently, embarrassed when the Bait-and-Switch drops.
• Optional Boss: Of Fatal Fury Special (this was the first step towards what would end being The King of Fighters franchise) and Wild Ambition (as Mr. Karate (II) - home version only).
• Promotion to Parent: When Takuma left the family, a ten-year-old Ryo was forced to look after his six-year-old sister. (Which would explain a LOT about his overprotective attitude towards her.) Seems to also count in KOF continuity, considering his pre-fight talk with NESTS!Kyo where Ryo explains that he and Yuri wouldn't have survived out there if not for him being good in karate.
• Punch Parry: Adds defensive touches to his fighting style with his Joudan Uke (High-Level Reception; an upper parry) and Gedan Uke (Low-Level Reception; a lower parry), moves he picked up starting in '99. A successful block allows Ryo to cancel into another parry, a special, or a DM, though he suffers from tick damage and can't defend against command grabs. So far, parrying is a skill exclusive to Ryo. The parries also allow Ryo to shorten the recovery animations of certain normal moves which open up his combo options.
• Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs: Ryo's Zanretsuken, a barrage of punches that ends with his opponent flying through the air.
• Red Baron: The "Invinicible Dragon".
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The calm, hyper-focused Blue to Robert's carefree, cocky Red.
• Ship Tease: With King, a lot. Even more so in The King of Fighters. Several intro poses hint at an attraction between the pair. Additionally, this plot point has been stressed in 2000 and XI (the former having Takuma believing King would become pregnant with a Kyokugen heir ^note though it may have been his own way to tease the two and the latter involving Takuma, Yuri, and Robert spying on their awkward chemistry and trying to get the duo to go to a penthouse together). Neither her nor Ryo are amused by the latter one, to say the least.
• Shoryuken: His Kohou (Tiger Roar).
• Shotoclone: His moveset was almost directly copied off of Ryu. He has a fireball, uppercut and Hurricane Kick, and is very focused on fundamentals in most of his appearances. Though he does have some tools of his own that distinguish him more like a rapid-punch.
• Signature Move: The Hao Shokoh Ken is Kyokuugen's trademark. However, Ryo is widely considered to be synonymous with it, as it's usually his primary DM/HDM special. In certain games, such as KOF 2000 and 2002 Unlimited Match, he and Robert can use the much deadlier Shikoh Ken, which is the full-powered version.
• There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Both he and Robert have mastered the Haoh Shoko Ken and can use the full powered variant, Haoh Shikoh Ken. This version of the attack is much larger, travels quasi-instantly across screen, hits 5 times, and can deplete nearly 2/3 of an opponent's life meter if landed as a counter hit. However, they only have access to it if KoF '98, '99, 2000, and KoF 2002 UM.
• Took a Level in Badass: It took the death of his mother and the subsequent disappearance of his father for Ryo to grow up and become the legendary fighter he is today.
• Unblockable Attack: Ryukoh Ranbu is completely unblockable.
• Wolverine Publicity: As the face of Art of Fighting, Ryo is pushed as one of SNK's biggest mascots. He's a mainstay in the KOF series, and has appeared in a multitude of other crossovers and guest appearances. One of the earliest examples being his boss battle in Fatal Fury Special

Mr. Karate II

From NeoGeo Battle Coliseum

Voiced by: ^note Masaki Usui (Buriki One)

After the events of the Art of Fighting series, Takuma Sakazaki retires from the fighting scene and Ryo takes the identity of "Mr. Karate". This new Mr. Karate travels the world proving the power of Kyokugenryu Karate. He appeared in Southtown and in Japan, during the Buriki One '99 Tokyo tournament.
This version of the character is also playable in the console release of Fatal Fury Wild Ambition, KOF: Maximum Impact, and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum.

---

• Breakout Character: This version of Ryo is seen in various games after Buriki One:
  • From the same time period, in Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition with his classic orange karategi pants and with a black spandex t-shirt as a Secret Character.
  • In The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact series, appears with this look in the first 2 games as Another Outfit of Ryo and in the second game as a separate Secret Character with a Cool Mask in a similar way than his father Takuma (also with the black karategi). Also, the Another Outfit of this version is Wild Ambition's outfit.
  • And finally in NeoGeo Battle Coliseum as "Mr. Karate" and representing Buriki One.
• Cool Mask: In his Mr. Karate II persona in Maximum Impact 2 as Secret Character.
• In-Series Nickname: Known as the new Mr. Karate, also called as Mr. Karate II to difference of Takuma.
• Legacy Character: In the events following the AOF trilogy, Ryo has inherited the title of Mr. Karate from his father Takuma. Confirmed in his appearance in NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, where he appears representing his Buriki One appearance as Mr. Karate instead of using his own name.
• New Powers as the Plot Demands: To balance Buriki One, most of Ryo's classic special moves were unused for this game, only leaving some of his physical moves, which also are toned down. Some of the moves he mantains in the game are his Koho, Hien Shippuukyaku and the final hit of his combo is the pose of Haoh Shokoken.
• Old Master: Well...older, anyway. In the pre-King of Fighters era, the Art of Fighting games happened several years before anything that happened in Fatal Fury. So Ryo has appeared in the Fatal Fury segment of continuity as an older man, having inherited the title of Kyokugenryu's dojo master from his father and going under the moniker "Mr. Karate II" (besides Fatal Fury Special, where his appearance was as he was in Art of Fighting since that was a Dream Match Game). This version of Ryo has also been reused for other games, including in The King of Fighters (specifically NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, Buriki One, and as a character separate from Ryo in the KOF: Maximum Impact series).
• Perma-Stubble: In Wild Ambition, styling his beard into a grizzled goatee.
• Paint It Black: In clothes only. In Battle Coliseum, Ryo replaces his classic orange karate gi with no sleeves by a black karate gi with long sleeves.
• Walking Shirtless Scene: His 2P outfit, along with white karategi pants.

Robert Garcia

Mightiest Tiger (From KOF XV)

^{Click to see his first design (AOF)}

^{Click to see his design from from Neo Geo Battle Coliseum}

Underestimate my strength, huh? You're dumber than you look!

Origin: Italy

Fighting Style: Kyokugen-ryu Karate

Voiced by: ^note Kay Inage (94-'95, XI onward), Mantarō Koichi ('96-2003), Go Shinomiya (XIV, XV, King of Fighters All-Star), Greg Irwin (XII, English), Hideo Ishikawa ('94 Dengeki Bunko drama CD), Kazuhiro Okamoto (King of Fighters for Girls)

The Raging Tiger. The son of multi-billionaire businessman, Alberto Garcia. To teach Robert humility and discipline, Alberto sent him to Takuma's dojo, where he met and befriended Takuma's children: Ryo and Yuri. Despite their initial differences, he and Ryo developed a mutual respect for one another's abilities, eventually becoming both friend and rival to each other. He developed a different kind of relationship with Yuri...which was carefully monitored by her father and brother. Robert returned home to Italy, after completing his training, where his father began teaching him the family business.
Years later, he receives word of Yuri's kidnapping and rejoins Ryo. The two of them search Southtown, facing many of its worst criminals and Mob bosses to find her. They eventually learn that Mr. Big orchestrated Yuri's abduction and defeat him. After the incident, Robert trained himself in combat, only to return to to Southtown a year later to participate in the King of Fighters tournament sponsored by Geese Howard.
After these events, Robert visited Mexico to help Freya Lawrence, a childhood friend, save her brother Wyler. Wyler is attempting to perfect a drug that will enhance one's physical characteristics to superhuman levels. Robert beats Wyler, but due to the usage of the drug his mind has been destroyed. Freya, concerned for Wyler's well being, decides to stay with him in order to take care of him, and the adventure comes to an end.

---

• A Day in the Limelight: He serves as the protagonist of the third game in the series.
• Accent Adaptation: An instance of this happening before any translations occured. The devs state that the Kansai accent Robert speaks in is effectively a substitute for an Italian accent.
• Action Fashionista: Robert has changed his attire as often as he's changed his fighting style and is the earliest known example of the sharp dressed character archetype in fighting games. Which is illustrated by the trope's page image.
• Adaptation Dye-Job: Same deal as Ryo; he's a brunette in the anime.
• Alternate Company Equivalent: To Ken Masters of Street Fighter. Both are rich-out-their-ass playboys who are friendly rivals to their respective best friends, although Robert dresses like he's rich. And both of their styles emphasize stylish kicking. Of note is that Robert was introduced that way whereas Ken had developed this after Art of Fighting came out.
• Animal Motifs: Robert is associated with the tiger which is best seen in his SDM from KoF 2002 UM, where he performs a special modified version of his Ryukoh Ranbu that ends with a tiger shaped version of the Haoh Shikoh Ken (pause at exactly 1:39, here).
• Battle Intro: In The King of Fighters XV:
  "The Mightiest Tiger with style to spare! He's got more moves that you can count! Robert Garcia!
  Robert: "Hear the Mightiest Tiger roar!"
• Brilliant, but Lazy: Loves to party and live a carefree life, but has been described as a "natural genius" when it comes to martial arts.
• Bring It: This became his signature taunt animation, starting in Art of Fighing 2, complete with the phrase: "Bring it on, clown," and has continued to use it throughout the King of Fighters series.
• Character Focus: In 3. Most notably, the story revolves around Robert revisiting his childhood town of Glasshill Valley, Mexico and aiding his old friend, Freia.
• Cultured Badass: Robert has class out the ass, and his family's so wealthy that he's known to have bought several luxury sports cars - including a Ferrari F-40. This gets lampshaded during his pre-fight dialog with Ryo, in Art of Fighting 2. But if you think he's all style without substance, think again. Robert fights well enough to rival Ryo and is considered one of the toughest competitors in The King of Fighters.
• Dance Battler: Borderline example; while he doesn't use dance as a part of his style, he sure does like to groove in his combat stance.
• The Dandy: Has a nice fashion style in addition to his nice looks.
• Depending on the Writer: Or "Developer" in this case. Robert's moveset varies by game, ranging from simple tweaks to complete overhauls. As a result, there are games where he plays loosely similar to Ryo, or like an entirely different character; including having charge motion inputs for his attacks. And for certain installments, he becomes an Extremity Extremist of the kicking variety, during which he and King play near-identical to each other.
• Deuteragonist: Robert stars opposite Ryo, as the series next most pivotal character. In addition to helping Ryo find Yuri and bringing down Big's syndicate, Robert is personally credited with defeating Big himself. A fact which Big hasn't forgotten, as reflected in their pre-fight dialog at the end of AoF 2. Robert was defeated by Ryo, during the finals of the original King of Fighters^note Art of Fighting 2 marked the very first tournament, but returned the favor during the events of AoF 3. After which, he went on to defeat Karmen, Sinclair, and Wyler.
• Diving Kick: His Hien Ryuujin Kyaku (Flying Swallow Dragon God Leg) special. Or its LDM variant out of two, the Jiryuu Haisen Kyaku (Earth Dragon Stature Drilling Leg). The Neo MAX variant, Hien Shippuu Ryuujin Kyaku (Flying Swallow Hurricane Dragon God Leg) is a bigger bonus since he surfs on his opponent right after.
• Extremity Extremist: These days, he's more of a kickboxer. In some games, he and King have similar play styles while, in others, their moves are near identical with slight variations in range and power.
• Famed In-Story: Robert was jointly responsible for bringing down Mr. Big's syndicate and is personally credited for defeating Big in single combat. He's also achieved recognition as both the first known foreign practictioner of Kyokugenryu Karate and as the first foreigner to ever master the discipline. As such, he's heralded as Ryo's equal and is acknowledged as a natural genius by friend and foe alike - which has earned him the title of "Saikyo no Tora" ("The Mightiest Tiger").
• Famous for Being First: Robert Garcia has worldwide acclaim as both the first known foreign practitioner of Kyokugenryu Karate and the first foreigner to ever master the discipline. This has earned him the title of "Saikyo no Tora"; which means "Raging Tiger" or "Mightiest Tiger".
• Fighting Your Friend: See the related entry in Ryo's example section.
• Foregone Conclusion: According to SNK, Buriki One is canonically the latest point in the Art of Fighting/Fatal Fury timeline, by which time, Ryo and Robert are in their mid 40's. In Buriki One Ryo states that Robert and Yuri are both "still single" and that they've never even had a date. Meaning, all Robert's efforts to get with Yuri throughout KOF are destined to fail.
• Friendly Rivalry: According to SNK, Ryo and Robert are equals in terms of prowess and stature, and have been competing against each other since their training days. Their rivalry is even reflected in the series' Japanese title: Ryuko no Ken - "Fists of Dragon Tiger".
• Grapple Move: a few games give him this as a special move, its exact form varies from game to game.
• Hair Color Dissonance: His hair (which is black) appears to be purple in the first two games and blue in AOF3.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Ryo. The two have been rivals since childhood and took on a criminal empire to save Yuri.
• Humiliation Conga: Finishing off Robert with a light poke will result in the prideful, arrogant Raging Tiger knocked unconscious while bent over on his knees, face planted, and butt shoved up in the air.
• Hurricane Kick: His Hien Shippuu Kyaku (Flying Swallow Hurricane Leg), though he has a variation of it in some games instead known as the Hien Senpuu Kyaku (Flying Swallow Whirlwind Leg).
• Informed Flaw: The Ryugeki principle of Kyokugen-ryuu is said to have severe imbalances as it relies mainly on kicks, placing it between the Raiou and Kou'ou principles (Raiou is the lowest principle and is used by Yuri; it revolves around user instinct and creativity), but closer to the former. Tell that to Robert.
• Kamehame Hadoken: His Ryuugeki Ken (Dragon Strike Fist) special and Haou Shoukouken (Supreme King Soaring Howl Fist) DM.
• Ki Manipulation: Varies according to each game, but he almost always has access to the Ryuugeki Ken and Hoah Shoko Ken.
• Latin Lover: Italian, and always depicted as sexy and suave.
• Like Brother and Sister: He and Freia Lawrence. Yuri, a tad bit jealous, decides to tag along and keep an eye on Robert.
• Love Interest: Robert's been trying to get with Yuri since he first met her and, for the most part, the feeling is mutual. But between Yuri Playing Hard to Get and Ryo and Takuma's constant interference, their relationship hasn't made any progress. This was seemingly resolved by his and Ryo's endings in AoF 3, but the King of Fighters series has restored the status quo.
• Memento MacGuffin: The coin he flips in a few of his win poses was a gift from his father Alberto. It was meant to remind Robert of his roots so that he could one day come back to it. Its significance is much greater in Art of Fighting 3.
• Millionaire Playboy:
  • He may not be a superhero, but is still a formidable opponent. The Sakazakis find this attribute of his personality to be off-putting sometimes, as they work their hands to the bone to support their dojo and keep it afloat.
  • He lampshades this in his and Kyo's pre-fight talk in XIII: Kyo makes sarcastic comments about how Robert is fighting when he should be taking care of the Garcia conglomerate, but he handwaves it saying that he knows clearly about his responsibilities, but he just doesn't want to take them now when he can still join KOF.
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: Loosely modeled after Steven Seagal in his prime. Starting from XIV, with Seagal having long since faded out of the limelight, Robert's redesign takes more from Orlando Bloom.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Kyokugen's Ryukoh Ranbu, a move so devastating, that in the original game, only he, Ryo, and Takuma had access to it. It was toned down in the King of Fighters series, where it inflicts less dmg. and can be blocked. Except for Robert's HDM version of it, which hits the opponent 30 times and drains over half their life meter!
• Official Couple: He and Yuri, if his and Ryo's endings in 3 are to be believed.
• Pose of Supplication: Seen in the original game as his "facedown" defeat pose. If he's defeated by chip damage, or a light attack, he slumps forward in a humiliating pose where he's bent over on his knees, with his butt protruding upward. [1]
• Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs: The Genei Kyaku, special move, the kick version of Ryo's Zanretsuken.
• Red Baron: The Mightiest Tiger.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The carefree, cocky Red to Ryo's calm, hyper-focused Blue. He's actually often the inverse as well to Ryo's Red. Frequently this puts him in the position of playing the peacemaker when things start to go south between Ryo and Yuri (though he tries to side with Yuri where he can).
• Sharp-Dressed Man: As seen, he's always dressed to the nines. The man kicks ass with class.
• Ship Tease: With Yuri
  • Despite the lack of progress in their relationship, he and Yuri get plenty of scenes together, usually in the form of special pre-fight dialog where they often flirt with each other and special victory quotes reserved each other. There's also several scenes during the credits of AoF 2, including one where Yuri becomes jealous when she catches Robert flirting with King and blasts him with a Haoh Shoko Ken!
  • They even (technically) became an Official Couple in Robert and Ryo's endings in Art of Fighting 3. Huh.
  • Though it's downplayed in the KoF series, he and Yuri occasionally have special pre-fight dialogue and victory quotes reserved for each other.
    • In KoF XIII, he tries asking her out, but she pretends to turn him down.
    Yuri: "Ohh... I'm sorry, Robert, but I already have plans for a victory party tonight."
    Yuri: (smiling) "And tomorrow I'll have to go the hospital... to visit YOU, of course!"
    • Heck, in his team's XIII ending, he planned on proposing to Yuri in the middle of a post-tournament interview. Too bad Takuma kept him from doing so.
• Shoryuken: His Ryuuga (Dragon Fang) special. Some games give him a somersault kick version known as Ryuuzanshou (Dragon Slash Soar).
• Shotoclone: Mainly during the Art of Fighting series and the earlier installments of The King of Fighters, due to sharing a lot of moves with Ryo. From '97 onwards, his style began to change, ranging from minor tweaks to complete overhauls.
• Shout-Out: He's modeled after Andy Garcia and Steven Seagal.
• Significant Birthdate: Christmas, which probably means you weren't able to use his enhanced power in 3 unless you could find an arcade open on Christmas.
• Signature Move: His Gen'ei Kyaku and Hien Ryuujin Kyaku
• Spam Attack: Robert's Geneikyaku, the kick counterpart to Ryo's Zanretsuken - he also has his Muei Shippu Jyudan DM, which is an aerial version of his Geneikyaku combined with the Hien Shippu Kyaku.
• Tall, Dark, and Handsome: According to his character profile, he's a looker and a charmer and is said to be a real ladies man. But he only has eyes for Yuri.
• There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Both he and Ryo can perform the Haoh Shikoh Ken, which is the fully mastered HDM version of the standard Haoh Shoko Ken blast. It's much larger, travels near quasi-instantly across the screen, hits 5 times, and can deplete nearly 2/3 of an opponent's life meter if landed as a counter-hit. Thankfully, they only have access to it in KoF '98, '99, 2000, and KoF 2002 UM.
• Tiger Versus Dragon: He's the Dragon to Ryo's Tiger (this is more evident in Art of Fighting, where its Japanese name is Ryuuko no Ken, or "Fist of the Dragon and Tiger"). Their stances occasionally reflect their animal motifs and their disciplines are named for their respective animals (even though they appear reversed in the movesets, as Ryo uses moves with ko/"tiger" in the name, while Robert uses ryuu/"dragon" moves), but they share a DM, the Ryuuko Ranbu (another reference to this rivalry). Much like Ryu and Ken, however, theirs is a friendly rivalry.
• Waistcoat of Style: He sometimes wears this as part of his attire; it never fails to be stylish.

King

The Beautiful Kick's Illusion (From KOF XV)

^{Click to see her first design (AOF)}

Come on, baby!

Origin: France

Fighting Style: Muay Thai

Voiced by: ^note Harumi Ikoma (since her debut), Yumi Touma ('94 Dengeki Bunko drama CD), Masako Katsuki in the OAV

Formerly the bouncer at the L'amour dance club, while she was in the employ of Mr. Big. After being defeated, by Ryo, she helped him and Robert find Yuri, by divulging her last known whereabouts. She quit shortly after they brought down Big's syndicate and has since gone into business for herself, as a full-time bartender, alongside Duck King's rave club.
Skilled in Muay Thai, she disguised herself as a man to enter tournaments, as back then women were not allowed. She fights in the KOF tournaments to support her little brother Jean and to cover his medical expenses. Quite possibly the strongest Muay Thai practioner in the SNK 'verse next to Joe, he would later consider King a great rival to him.
She's a regular member of Team Women Fighters alongside her friends, Yuri Sakazaki and Mai Shiranui. She's also been a member of Team Art of Fighting proper alongside Ryo. She and Ryo have shown interest in each other throughout AOF and The King of Fighters.

---

• Badass Decay: invoked This is what Eiji thinks of her come XI. Though this could also just be him being a dick to her.
  Eiji: From bouncer to Kyokugen cuddle bunny? Fighters without pride are fighters not!
• Badass in a Nice Suit: To the point of practically being Robert's Distaff Counterpart, as she's rarely seen without her tux.
• Battle Intro: In The King of Fighters XV:
  "Her good looks are backed up by her ability to kick tail! You won't know whether to block low or high! King!
  King: "Bring it on, baby!"
• Beam Spam: Her LDM in XI is her firing a lot of Venom Strikes in succession.
• Because You Were Nice to Me: Prior to meeting Ryo, King hated being a woman because it prevented her from ever being allowed to compete for the Muay Thai championship title. Which is also the reason she began disguising herself as a man^note King's backstory from the original Art of Fighting. It's implied that Ryo's concern over possibly injuring her, upon realizing she was a woman, is what caused King to develop feelings for him and re-embrace her femininity.
• Bifauxnen: Although she did become a bit more obviously feminine over time after her first appearance, to the point that it was pretty easy to tell she was a woman rather than mistaking her gender, King still almost always dressed in men's clothing. The first time she ever wore women's clothing was The King of Fighters XI, in the AOF Team ending... thirteen years after her first appearance.
• Boomerang Bigot: According to her backstory: prior to meeting Ryo, she struggled with a lot of internalized misogyny.
• Bouncer: Her former profession, while working for Mr. Big. Since then, she's quit her old job and has become a full-time bartender.
• Boyish Short Hair: A staple to her look that's persisted in every appearance, and a very strong contrast to SNK's many other female fighters with traditionally longer hair. She also provides the page image for the trope itself.
• Breakout Character: Of the entire Art of Fighting series cast, King has some of the strongest staying power among SNK's most recurring mascots, having gone from a minor antagonist in the first AoF to a series regular to a mainstay in the The King of Fighters. So much so that her absence in the arcade version of KOF 2002 (and being replaced by May Lee on top of that) was... not well-received, to put it lightly^note  She was added into the home version, as well as Unlimited Match, at least. . In fact, the sole game that she's conspicuously absent in is KOF XII.
• Bring It: Another trait she shares in common with Robert are their respective taunt animations. In most games, they'll both beckon their opponent with their finger, though their taunt quotes differ. Robert's is Something wrong?" (translated from Japanese), whereas King will either say: "C'mon baby." or simply laugh.
• The Cameo: She appears in the background of the KOF Stadium in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
• Calling Your Attacks: "Tornado Kick!", "Venom Strike!", "Trap Shot!", "Here I go! Surprise Rose!"
• Catchphrase: "C'mon baby."
• Clothing Damage: This could be invoked in the first two games if the player defeated her with a special attack during the final round of the match. Incidentally, this is also how Ryo came to realize she was a woman. By KOF XV, her and Yuri are the sole two characters that this can be invoked on, and only if they're defeated with anything stronger than a Special Move.
• Cool Big Sis:
  • She looks out for her younger brother, Jan. Her reason for working with Mr. Big was to pay for his costly medical expenses.
  • To Yuri, who looks up to her and really, REALLY, wants King to become part of the family by hooking up with her brother, to make it official. Which is seen in both their pre-fight dialogue (at 4:54-5:26) and their team's ending in KOF XIII.
• Cultured Badass: She runs an upscale establishment and is a connoisseur of fine wine and Ming crystal wine glasses. She even has her own vintage collection. She's also a regular in The King of Fighters - usually as the captain of the All Women's Team - though she's occasionally filled in for Yuri on the Kyokugen Team, as well.
• Depending on the Writer: Look at her full movelist in the KOF section of her move list's wiki page. Seems like SNK's always changing her moveset around every other game.
• Deadpan Snarker: At times, when someone else snarks at her. She's a pretty nice person otherwise.
  King: (VS Joe, KOF XV - Story Mode) Hmm... Strange how the techiniques of the 'true champion' lost so easily to my 'knock-offs', isn't it?
  (VS Kyo, KOF XV - Story Mode) Scion of the Flame? More like Scion of the Lame. You've outstayed your welcome.
• Depending on the Artist: The level of King's Bifauxnen can vary greatly depending on who is in charge of the character designs: in the early 90s installments of the KOF series some people could actually mistake her for a man; from 2000 and on, new artists made her feminine traits more and more visible; finally in her appearance for XIII any ambiguity her gender may have caused on people both in game design and sprites has been dropped, basically throwing out the concept she was supposed to surprise the players when they realize King is a woman.
• Distaff Counterpart: For all intents and purposes, she's basically a female Robert; though the degree of similarity depends on the game. Particularly in KOF '97, 2000, and XI.
• Dope Slap: She gives one to Yuri, when she says she'd consider someone like King to be her ideal husband, during their team ending in XIII.
• Dude, Where's My Respect?: It's bad enough that she'll never be allowed to officially hold the Muay Thai championship title, because of her gender. But, several of her pre-fight dialogues in KoF XIII rubs salt in the wound, when characters like Hwa Jai and Joe refer to her Nak Muay style as "fake".^note They may have a point, however, as her fighting style more closely resembles Savate (French kickboxing) than a proper Muay Thai. She doesn't let it get to her however.
  Joe: Let me tell you in advance: that fake Muay Thai of yours is not gonna work against me!
  King: (irritated) "*sigh*... I'm getting sick of all these guys pretending to know what's fake and what's real!
• Expository Hairstyle Change: In the Tatsuya Shinjyouji KOF '94 manga, King has let her hair grow to her shoulders, having decided to take care of her bar rather than fighting. When Jean retrieves her KOF invitation from the trash and asks her to fight in there she cuts it short with a knife.
• Expy/No Celebrities Were Harmed: Her androgynous design and fashion sense were inspired by singer/actress Grace Jones and Dutch Muay Thai fighter Saskia Van Rijswijk.
• Fanservice Pack: A result of her getting Hotter and Sexier. While she did have a Hidden Buxom, that was thanks to a combination of her Bifauxnen features combined with a jacket that could better hide her bust. She ditches the jacket in XII and starts wearing a form-fitting vest in XIV.
• Flung Clothing:
  • Kicks away her hat in the first Art of Fighting and Capcom vs. SNK. There's a borderline example with the handkerchief she throws to the ground in her win poses.
  • In KOF '99, she has a special intro against Ryo where she wears a hat before throwing it away.
• Hotter and Sexier: Over time, King's Bifauxnen status has receded in favor of more feminine features. When she finally received new vocal lines in KOF 2003, they were at a much higher pitch, her height was reduced in XIII and her breasts no longer hidden, and the Clothing Damage KO animation from the Art of Fighting games returned both for XIII and XIV.
• Gratuitous English: Her iconic "C'mon, baby!" taunt/intro.
• Gratuitous French: You don't say? Starting from KOF XIV, where she'd give the opponent a brief, "Adieu!", after kicking them across the face.
• Gorgeous Gaijin: Well, she is French.
• Healthcare Motivation: In part 2, she entered the "King of Fighters" to earn the money to treat her brother's legs. This is retroactively made into her motivation for working with Mr. Big as well.
• Hidden Buxom: Her earliest appearances tried to have it both ways by making her Bifauxnen when her clothes were intact and busty when her clothes were in tatters. You'd never know by looking at her since she usually dresses conservatively, but she's stacked. Her official bust measurement is 85cm, which is best seen during her special KO animation in Art of Fighting 2.
• Hidden Depths: In XIII, during her pre-fight intro with Ash, she's able to sense that there's a lot more to his motives and behavior than simply being a dick. Ash in turn doesn't even bother to refute her, simply telling her to stay out of his way. Sure enough, she was right on the money.
  King: I heard you've been acting kinda strange. Have anything you want to share?
  Ash: What's it to you? This is something I, and only I, can do.
  King: That sounds like a cry for help. You need someone to help carry your burden, right?
  Ash: Stay out of this! I hate nosy people like you! It's too late, anyway! Soon all will be forced to an end!
• Hurricane Kick: Her Tornado Kick.
• Karmic Jackpot: Since King helped Ryo and Robert find Yuri (AOF1), the following year, they used their tournament winnings to pay for her kid brother's operation, as a show of thanks.
• Ki Manipulation: Performed with her legs. She can send out fireballs with a kick and perform some devastating supers.
• Lampshade Hanging: Her pre-fight intro with Saiki in XIII.
  King: Man, I just can't get a rest, can I? Are you some kind of Ash impersonator or something?
  Saiki: My semblance to him is proving to a bit of a problem, yes. It seems I am never taken seriously by those who see me. But I'm sure you will come to regret your insolence once you find out my actual identity.
• Large and in Charge: Typically tends to be the leader of the Women Fighters team thoughout her appearances. She's also the tallest member at a respectable 175cm^note  5'9" .
• Lady of War: An elegant and classy gal who's a proficient Muay Thai fighter.
• Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: King is well-known for being cordial towards her opponents, including her enemies. In many games, she'll even precede her matches with a glass of vintage wine (which Elizabeth brings to her). King then marks each victory by either tossing a rose, or her handkerchief at her KO'd opponent.
• Luminescent Blush:
  • The Art of Fighting's team ending for KOF XIII. When Yuri none too subtly drops hints that she wants her as a sister-in-law (with Ryo standing right next to her and everything), King's face eventually becomes beet red.
  • Also happens to both her and Ryo in their team's ending from XI when the two realize they're alone together in a restaurant. Cue Yuri, Robert, and Takuma (poorly-disguised as a waitress, waiter, and the restaurant manager) ruining the romantic mood.
• Nice Girl: Her profession as a bartender aside, King's a very friendly and sociable person towards everyone she meets. Even with someone like Ash she's never really shown to lose her composure.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Her Illusion Dance DM, which becomes her Climax DM from KOF XIV.
• Not So Above It All: There are times, few but noticeable, where King reaches her breaking point. Poking fun of her status as the Team Mom is usually a good way to go.
• Only in It for the Money: Her reasons for working with a crime lord like Mr. Big was to raise money for her little brother's surgery.
• Only One Name: To this day, it's unknown whether it's her first, or last name. Or even part of her birth name; for all we know, it's a pseudonym/nickname that she originally came up with to conceal her gender
• Progressively Prettier: She had a much more stereotypically "butch" face in the first Art of Fighting, presumably to hide the reveal that she's a woman. In the subsequent games, she's given more conventionally attractive facial features. Her figure also changed somewhat as time went on.
• Promotion to Parent: For Jan. She's dedicates her tournament winnings to his medical expenses.
• Punch-Clock Villainess: She originally worked as a bouncer for Mr. Big, because she was strong-armed into it by Jack and his gang. But once Ryo and Robert busted his organization, she quit and went into business for herself, as a bartender.
• Samus Is a Girl: Probably the first fighting game example, King enters the tournament disguised as a man.
• She Is the King: Her code name is King and she's female.
• Shipper on Deck: She, Mai and Yuri ship Kensou/Athena in KOF XIII.
• Ship Tease: With Ryo, a lot. Even more so in The King of Fighters. Several intro poses hint at an attraction between the pair. Additionally, this plot point has been stressed in 2000 and XI (the former having Takuma believing King would become pregnant with a Kyokugen heir ^note though it may have been his own way to tease the two and the latter involving Takuma, Yuri, and Robert spying on their awkward chemistry and trying to get the duo to go to a penthouse together). Neither her nor Ryo are amused by the latter one, to say the least. By KOF XIV, however, while Ryo admires King as a fighter he seems completely unaware of her feelings for him.
• Shoryuken: Her Surprise Rose move is a somersault kick variant, followed by a Diving Kick. Her Silent Slash is a DM where she does 2 powerful somersault kicks.
• Shotoclone: Zig-Zagged depending on the game. She always has Venom Strike as her projectile move and Tornado Kick as her Hurricane Kick, but she may not always have the uppercut move; when she does, it's usually the special move variant of Surprise Rose.
• Signature Move: Her Venom Strike, Trap Shot, and Surprise Rose.
• Slide Attack: She has this as a command normal move.
• Skill Gate Characters: Far and away one of the simplest characters to play in most of her KOF appearances, King is basically the character you go to if you just want reliability and simplicity. Her zoning game is excellent, her normals follow suit, her combo damage is Simple, yet Awesome, and she can do really well in any position, on any level of play.
• The Smurfette Principle: The sole female character in the first AOF game.
• Something about a Rose: One of her winposes has her throwing a rose at the direction of her fallen opponent.
• Spam Attack: Her Trap Shot and her 'Phantom Venom Strike' HDM, which has her launch a barrage of 10 Venom Strikes in rapid succession.
• Statuesque Stunner: She's 5'9" (175cm).
• Stone Wall: Next to Ash and Heidern, King's zoning game is typically among the best in KOF, since it's very easy to keep the opponent at bay with a never-ending barrage of Venom Strikes. In KOF 2003 and KOF XI, she can even throw out Venom Strikes either high or low, much like Sagat. And in the event that you cave in, she's got solid answers to reckless jump-ins, like her crouching Heavy Punch or Surprise Rose.
• Sweet Polly Oliver: Justified, unfortunately. Until a few years ago, among Muay Thai practitioners it was considered bad luck for a woman to compete in fights. Such attitudes ARE starting to change, but there's a long way to go to kick them off the ring.
• Team Mom: Often takes up this role in the Women Fighters Team. Mai picks on her about this during their ending in XIII.
• Tomboy with a Girly Streak: Despite her masculine choice of standard attire, King is not above donning a dress if the time calls for it, and, in fact, has been doing so more frequently of late. She also owns a pet cat and, aside of her dealings with the rest of the Women Fighters Team, showed her maternal instincts by rearing her kid brother on her own.
• Tomboyish Name: "King" generally has a male connotation to it.
• Vocal Evolution: Her voice gradually changed over the years from tomboyish in 'KOF 94 and '95, to classy and ladylike from '96 to 2001 and changed again in 2003 to be much higher and more feminine. As of XIV it now resides somewhere in-between her 94-95 and 96-2001 tone.
• Waistcoat of Style: This is sometimes part of her classy bartender attire.
• Wholesome Crossdresser: During the second game; she was a crook in the first game, albeit begrudgingly.
• You Don't Look Like You: Up until KOF 2001, her sprites and official arts gave her the build of a tall, athletic woman, as would be appropriate for her occupation as a female bouncer. Starting with XIII, she began looking like a waif with noodle-like arms. It isn't until XV where her build is back to the way it was, due to larger character models.

Ryuhaku Todoh

Origin: Japan

Fighting Style: Todoh-ryu Aikijutsu

Voiced by: ^note Takeshi Aono in Capcom Vs. SNK 2, carried over from the anime, and by Jimmy Zoppi in the dub of the OVA

Ryuhaku Todoh is the creator and main teacher of Todoh style karate, which derives its style from Aikido and Kendo. Todoh had a long standing rivalry with disciples of the Kyokugenryu school of karate and considers them a threat to his style of teaching in terms of profits as well as personal animosity dating back to a rivalry with Takuma Sakazaki when both men were very young. On his quest to find his younger sister Yuri, who had been abducted by Mr. Big under Geese Howard's orders, Ryo Sakazaki blatantly attacked Todoh at his school and fought him to interrogate him about the whereabouts of his sister. After Ryo easily defeated Todoh, he was humiliated and saw his schools finances as well as his attendance at his schools suffer. After the loss, Todoh went into hiding and hasn't been seen since. Because of his disappearance, his daughter Kasumi went on a personal quest to not only try to look for her father, but to gain revenge on Ryo and all Kyokugenryu disciples to try to reclaim her family's honor.

---

• Bootstrapped Theme: His theme went on to become the groundwork for every theme of the Art of Fighting Team in The King of Fighters (the only exceptions being '96 and 2001) as well as Ryo's themes in Art of Fighting 2, Fatal Fury Special, and Fatal Fury Wild Ambition.
• The Bus Came Back: He's playable in Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium of all games.
• The Chew Toy: To the point that he makes cameos in KOF: Maximum Impact's Extra Mode as the driver of the vehicles you push off of a cliff and watch explode.
• Demoted to Extra: While just about any character in the series can be deemed that way nowadays in The King of Fighters (some much more than others), Ryuhaku Todoh can be considered that in the Art of Fighting series itself. He was the only one from the first game to not be playable in the second (and third, but that's a different story). His role pretty much got relegated to cameos in stages (especially in The King of Fighters) and be missing just so his daughter can go find him. Additionally, his theme is taken over by the Kyokugen fighters (the main characters of the series), so people usually think of that as the Kyokugen style's theme, not Todoh style's. Heck, the only other time he was a playable character outside of the first game in the series was done by Capcom, of all people, in Capcom vs. SNK 2.
• Expy: Of Soun Tendo. Todoh looks just like him, he's a comic relief character who's prone to crying spells (just like Soun), and he even has a daughter named Kasumi (despite her being more like Akane characterization-wise). What's more, his old rival, Takuma, looks loosely similar to Genma Saotome (especially by KoF XIII).
• Good Parents: He loves his daughter Kasumi a lot, and his cameos often involved cheering for her accomplishments.
• Manly Tears: He's often seen crying when Kasumi accomplishes something.
• Martial Arts Headband: A white, plated headband.
• Overshadowed by Awesome: Compared to most people, his skills would be impressive. The problem is Ryo isn't "most people". Even his own daughter seems to have surpassed his ability, at least, in terms of gameplay.
• Razor Wind: Todoh's signature special is Kasanete, where creates a set of blades out of thin air. Hou Kasanete is the HD variant.
• The Rival: To the Kyokugen school of karate. His rival with Takuma goes all the way back to their younger years.
• Running Gag: His absence in the series (which was retained in The King of Fighters) as well as Kasumi's resolve to find him. This in fact ascended into meta humor, as the magazine Neo Geo Freak's Running Gag was "Where's Ryuhaku?"
• Warmup Boss: He's the first opponent Ryo fights in the who AOF series, giving players a taste of the game's controls and systems.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: He hasn't been seen since his loss to Ryo in the original AoF. It was rumored that he was hiding, but according to his wife, he's been training for a rematch... which has yet to happen 20 years later.

Jack Turner

Origin: USA

Fighting Style: Street Fighting

Voiced by: ^note Ginzo Matsuo in the anime and by Eric Stuart in the dub of the anime

Jack was a member of Mr. Big's syndicate, and a developer of his own fighting style. As one of Mr. Big's highest-ranking subordinates, he waits at Mac's Bar to devastate anyone who crosses his path. Jack is also the leader of the Southtown based bike gang known as the Neo Black Cats. He is defeated by Ryo and Robert, losing favor with members of his gang. In the tournament held by Geese Howard, Jack tries to reestablish his control over the Neo Black Cats by winning the Tournament and defeating Mr. Big. In the (non-canon) translated version of his AoF 2 ending, he transforms the gang into a dance group.

---

• Acrofatic: For someone of his girth, he catches a lot of air with that drop kick of his.
• Badass Biker: How badass? He subdued a rampaging circus bear at age 13!
• The Brute: Jack's a brawler, plain 'n simple. What he lacks in finesse, is amply made up for with raw power and stamina; enough that he was able to strong arm King into working for Mr. Big.
• Martial Arts Headband:
• Real Men Wear Pink: According the English version of Jack's ending in Art of Fighting 2, it was revealed that he wanted to make his gang into a dance group. In one of the stages in The King of Fighters XIII, there is a poster with Jack's face on it advertising the Neo Black Cats, hinting that he finally achieved his dream.
• Stout Strength: Jack's moves HURT when they connect, especially if he has a full spirit gauge. His "Super Drop Kick" was one of the best anti-air attacks in the game, due to it's range, speed, priority, and it's striking power.
• Wrestler in All of Us: Dropkicks, body slams, hip drops.... you get the idea.

Lee Pai Long

From NeoGeo Battle Coliseum

Origin: Taiwan

Fighting Style: Chinese Martial Arts

Lee is a master of Chinese medicine and Chinese martial arts, the latter of which is dubbed as "a gentle yet destructive" art. His adoptive father and mentor, Lee Gakusuo, passed on his pharmaceutic knowledge and martial arts to him before instructing Lee to finish his studies in South Town. Once he arrived there, Lee became fascinated with the local style of Kenpo and neglected his roots to be a street fighter. When Ryo was looking for information on Yuri's disappearance, he goes to Lee. Since he is a former adversary and long-time friend of Ryo's father Takuma, he faced the son in battle to test his skills. During the tournament, he still sought to test kis fighting skill but also pursues his father's wishes to be a pharmacist.

---

• All Chinese People Know Kung-Fu: He's Taiwanese, and specializes in a variety of Chinese martial arts.
• Ascended Extra: How else did he make it to NeoGeo Battle Coliseum?
• Combat Medic: He is a master of Chinese Kenpo, a prison warden and an expert in the pharmaceutical world. In his translated AOF2 ending, he becomes famous by finding the cure to hemorrhoids.
• Cool Mask: Wears a Monkey-style mask.
• The Rival: To Takuma, although they are good acquaintances as well.
• Wolverine Claws: He wields a steel claw attached to his glove.

Mickey Rogers

From AOF 2

^{Click to see his first design (AOF)}

Origin: USA

Fighting Style: Boxing

Mickey's career as a professional boxer was cut short after he accidentally killed a man in the ring. As a small time hood, he worked for Mr. Big so that he can get money as a street hustler. Confronted by Ryo and Robert, Mickey sought opponents to vent his anger and frustration on. After Mr. Big's defeat, he reforms and enters the tournament to test his skill, wanting to get back into the professional boxing circuit.

---

• Boxing Battler: As mentioned in his character summary, he was a former professional. By part 2, he's presumably turned over a new leaf and is aiming to re-enter pro circuit.
• Calling Your Attacks: For his trademark "Burning Upper" and "Rolling Upper" projectile attacks.
• Expository Hairstyle Change: He wore dreadlocks in the first game, but traded them for a more functional buzzcut in the sequel, possibly to reflect his return to the boxing circuit.^note Not that dreadlocks are forbidden, but they might pose a hindrance to the boxer if they get in their eyes, plus there's a chance they could get torn out; a referee might suggest cutting them before a fight takes place.
• Extremity Extremist: Not surprising considering that he's a boxer.
• He Cleans Up Nicely: In the first game, he has a fierce appearance and is shabbily dressed, wearing an unflattering overly long sleeveless shirt, but after gets his stuff together in Art of Fighting 2 he changes his dreadlocks for a neat flat-top, and exchanges his shabby fashion sense for a more proper outfit for the ring, wearing a tank-top in place of the shabby shorts he wore and exchanging the ratty looking sneakers he had for a snazzy pair of boots.
• Mistaken Identity: The reason he fights Ryo and Robert in the first game, aside from being pissed off about his luck, is because he assumes they are cops due to their questions.
• Real Men Wear Pink: His boxing shorts and sneakers.
• Shout-Out:
  • Young boxing champ who has a high-pitched voice and is recovering from a major scandal...Mickey Tyson?
  • Possibly also to Mickey Mouse. In his AOF2 stage, there's even poster depicting someone wearing a Mickey Mouse hat.

John Crawley

Origin: USA

Fighting Style: Original Style

Voiced by: ^note Kaneto Shiozawa in the anime and Eric Stuart in its dub

A martial arts instructor with a brutal and aggressive fighting style, John was a member of Mr. Big's gang. The former marine was challenged by Ryo and Robert and lost. Later on, he enters the tournament to win the prize money and test his skills.

---

• Adaptational Villainy: He's portrayed as an Ax-Crazy maniac in the OVA.
• Bring It: In part 2, he uses the same taunt as King ("Come oooon, baby"), except in a drawn out masculine tone.
• Cool Shades: As part of his look since he's military.
• Expy: Of John Kreese from The Karate Kid. Besides having similar names, they share the same background, hairstyle and training methods.
• Expository Hairstyle Change: His hair was longer and shaggier in the first game.
• I Owe You My Life: According to the manual of the SNES version by TAKARA, Mr. Big saved John during a war. In return, he agreed to work for him.
• Lighter and Softer: In AOF1 he came of as equal parts callous and savage, while his AOF2 version emphasizes his status as a Shell-Shocked Veteran who owns a dog and enjoys working on his propeller plane. His ending even sees him turning down both Geese Howard's recruitment attempt and his former General's offer to rejoin the army.
  • This is particularly more significant in his rejection of Geese's offer; John flat out declares that he had seen enough cries and tears from his victims to know that the time has come to step back and let the city heal its wounds.
• Pose of Supplication: Similar to Robert, in the first two Art of Fighting games, whenever John is defeated, he's rendered unconscious in disgraceful pose where he's bent-over on his knees with his butt sticking up.[2]
• Psycho for Hire: Only in the anime, which depicted him as being unhinged and way, WAY too eager to want to torture Yuri.
• Spectacular Spinning: John vaults above his opponent's head during his "Flying Attack", where strikes with a rapid-fire spin attack as he switches sides with them. "Leg Bomber" is similar, but doesn't switch sides with the target.
• Sunglasses at Night: They have to be knocked off his face in battle to be removed.

Mr. Big

From NeoGeo Battle Coliseum

The name's Mr. Big, That's B-I-G, BIG! Burn it into your memory!

Origin: Australia

Fighting Style: Eskrima

Voiced by: ^note Iemasa Kayumi in the OVA, Masaru Naka ('96), Nobuyuki Yuki (NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, XI)

Portrayed by: ^note Sam Hargrave (KOF movie)

The Big Bad of the first Art of Fighting game and one of Southtown's most feared crimelords, who formerly operated under Geese Howard (whom he loathes). He used to be the head of Southtown's underworld until Geese displaced him and made him second-in-command. The two were concerned that Takuma Sakazaki was a potential threat, so Geese had Big orchestrate the abduction of Takuma's daughter, Yuri, to use as leverage against him; leaving Takuma no choice but to work for them. This eventually lead to Takuma's son, Ryo and his student, Robert's involvement, and ultimately resulted in Big's defeat. And he's had it in for them ever since. Despite being the main antagonist of the series, he doesn't serve as the final boss in any of the Art of Fighting games.
He is invited by Geese Howard to join him and Wolfgang Krauser in the KOF '96 tournament. As revealed in XIV, he still wants Geese's blood for being used by him in the '96 tournament. Until that time, however, it's assumed he's currently living the good life with his ladies and henchmen.

---

• Always a Bigger Fish: While an impressively dangerous criminal in his own right, he's completely dwarfed in power by Geese Howard. Geese was able to step in and beat the crap out of Big to take over his empire.
• Badass in a Nice Suit: He wears a fur longcoat. In part two, he returns with a three-piece suit and scarf to go with it.
• Bald of Evil: No hair on his head aside from the facial hair, and a powerful crime boss.
• Beard of Evil: Grows one for the sequel. He's got a finely trimmed goatee in most appearances from then on.
• Cool Shades: Never takes 'em off. Though, in AOF, they can be knocked off.
• Demoted to Extra: Of the SNK bosses who have appeared in more than one game, Mr. Big is by far the least remembered. He's not even the final boss in his own games.
• The Dragon: Formerly, to Geese. Big severed ties with him at the conclusion of King of Fighters '96 after realizing Geese was merely using him.
• The Don: He's the head of his own mob group in Southtown, and he used to rule over Southtown's underworld until he was taken over by Geese.
• Dual Wielding: He wields a pair of rattan sticks in combat, much like Eagle of Street Fighter fame.
• Extremity Extremist: In the first game, he couldn't even JUMP! For his stint in KOF '96, he gained actual kick attacks.
• It's Personal:
  • Although he holds them both responsible for bringing down his syndicate, he has a personal beef with Robert, since he was the one who fought and defeated Big at the end of the first game. Which is reflected in Robert's pre-fight dialog with Big at the end of Art of Fighting 2.
  • Big only agreed to join the '96 tournament because Geese lead him to believe he'd get the chance to settle his grudge against Ryo and Robert. Except it was a lie, Geese was merely using him to try to gain control of the Orochi power. When Big realized this, he retaliated by ordering a sniper to take Geese out, but Billy saw the shot coming in time to deflect it with his staff. He's still got beef with Geese as of XIV due to this.
• A Lady on Each Arm: Seen in his pre-fight animation, ever since King of Fighters '96, which has led fans to believe that one of his syndicate's operations is prostitution.
• Land Down Under: He was born in Australia. Though it's not really a big part of his character, since he tends to spend his time in Southtown instead.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: We really don't need to spell this one out. His actual name is James, but only Geese really uses the name when referring to him.
• Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Big has no fear of the police, since many of them are on his payroll and the rest know better than to cross him. And he isn't concerned about the Feds either because he has extensive connections in the criminal underworld. Which gives him free reign to operate as he sees fit... if it weren't for Ryo and Robert.
• Shock and Awe: His "Blaster Wave" DM/HDM.
• Spam Attack: His Crazy Drum attack, and its DM variant, the Drum Shot Typhoon. His Rising Spear LDM is a Grapple Move and brutal upward variant of it.
• Spectacular Spinning: Two of his moves have him spinning like mad, via his Spinning Lancer and Cross Diving. The former can even reflect projectiles.
• Starter Villain: Especially apparent when Geese comes into the picture in 2.
• Sunglasses at Night: As with John, you have to knock them off by force if you want to look him in the eye. Otherwise they're always on his face.
• Telescoping Staff: One that extends, and even separates and combines, to boot.

Mr. Karate / Takuma Sakazaki

From KOF XIII

^{Click to see his design in AOF 2}

^{Click to see Mr. Karate}
From KOF XIII

Wow, you're a disgrace! You'd better hang it up, kid.

Origin: Japan

Fighting Style: Kyokugen-ryu Karate

Voiced by: ^note Eiji Tsuda(AOF series, 94,'95, '98-'02, XIII), Hōchū Ōtsuka ('94 Dengeki Bunko drama CD), Takeshi Maruyama (King of Fighters: All-Star)

Takuma Sakazaki originally came to South Town in hopes of spreading Kyokugenryu's influence. Naturally, being a martial artist of great renown, this made him a cause for concern for Geese Howard, who was the Police Commissioner at that time. By using his criminal connections, he soon learned that Takuma's son and daughter were also in South Town, unbeknownst to Takuma. Geese used this to his advantage and had Mr. Big arrange to have Yuri abducted, to use as leverage against her father. Now under the guise of "Mr. Karate", he regrettably became their top enforcer.
Sometime afterwards, Takuma began to hear rumors that his son, Ryo, and his student, Robert had begun searching for her and was proud to learn they were defeating some of Big's top henchmen. Which included some of his old rivals, such as Ryuhaki Todoh and Lee Pai Long. Eventually, he even got wind that Big, himself, had been defeated by his student and found himself facing his son not long afterward. Their fight was an intense one, but Ryo's drive to save his sister gave him the strength to overcome his own father. Though Yuri intervened before Ryo could finish him with his Haoh Shoko Ken and explained who he was and how he'd been conscripted by Geese. Ryo understood and Takuma returned home with his family to resume his rightful place as head of their dojo.
The following year, he entered the first chronological King of Fighters tournament (AoF 2) to exact his revenge on Geese and Mr. Big.
Since then, he has continued to push himself and his students to greater heights, believing that Kyokugenryu is constantly evolving and is without limit. As such, he makes it a point to enter the annual King of Fighters, to promote their school in hopes of further spreading it's influence by attracting new students.

---

• Animal Motifs: If his EX version's HSDM in KOF 2002: Unlimited Match is anything to go by, the lion. He can also be compared to the Tengu via his Paper-Thin Disguise counterpart.
• Badass Boast: "Mijuku mono mega." ("A beginner before me.")
• Boyfriend-Blocking Dad: This is part of the reason Yuri can't have a love life, 'cuz her father (and her brother) won't let Robert near her, even though she's an adult and mutually attracted to him. During their team's KoF XIII ending, Robert had intended to propose to her, except Takuma wouldn't allow it.
• Bring It: His taunt, accompanied by the words "Kakatte konu ka?" ("You gonna fight me?")
• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Very much, as Mr. Karate.
• Cool Mask: Whenever he's using his Mr. Karate persona, he dons his red Tengu mask. In most cases, it's for comedic effect since Ryo, Robert, and Yuri know it's him (though Takuma'll insist that he's someone else). But when he's using his Shin Karate persona... that's another case entirely.
• Counter-Attack: One is a punch that sends his foe flying. Another is his particularly nasty HSDM in KOF 2002 and in 2002: Unlimited Match, known as the Kosatsu Jin (Tiger Killing Array), where he chops his target's neck full force.
• Demonic Possession: Implied throughout XIII's beginning-of-fight dialogues when using the Mr. Karate DLC character: several characters, including Athena, remark that Mr. Karate's aura feels completely different from Takuma's, and Kensou (who is a very powerful psychic) even outright claims he feels like a demon and attempts an exorcism. Moreover, Saiki claims he's not unlike himself. It all seems to suggest that the Tengu mask is cursed or possessed, and donning it causes Takuma to become possessed as well. It could explain a few things, like his changes in personality at times and the fact he's outright bloodthirsty in some games...
• The Dreaded: Geese recognized that he was a potential threat to his criminal operations, and did everything he could to keep Takuma under his thumb.
• Everybody Knew Already: Tries to pull off his Mr. Karate persona during KOF '96 and '97, as well as his intro pose with his students in '98. By this time, Ryo, Robert, and Yuri are fed up with the fact that Takuma won't drop the "Mr. Karate" act because his grand reveal isn't so grand anymore. Mr. Karate, in fact, is listed as one of Yuri's "dislikes" in '98. By the time of XIII, Takuma = Mr. Karate is treated as an in-universe It Was His Sled for the rest of the cast.
• Expy: He's visually based off of the "Karate Man" character from Street Smart, an obscure fighting game SNK put out a few years prior to Art of Fighting.
• Forced into Evil: As previously mentioned, he was forced to work for Geese and Mr. Big under threat of harm coming to his daughter, Yuri, if he didn't comply.
• Glowing Eyes of Doom: Honki ni Natta Mr. Karate ("Now Serious Mr. Karate") in SvC Chaos has 'em. Of course, he's a SNK Boss.
• Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has a X-shaped scar on his right pectoral, earned from his fight with Lee Gakusuo, Lee Pai Long's father. During his special KO pose, he clutches it as blood spurts from the wound.
• Grapple Move: He has one named Kyokugen Hougeki where he switches his side with the opponents while dealing damage and leaving them open to further attacks.
• Ground Pound: As Mr. Karate, his Kishin Sanga Geki Neo MAX.
• Honor Before Reason: Because of the dojo's perpetual finalcial hardships, Robert repeatedly offers to cover the bills for him. But no amount of pleading or insisting will make Takuma take Garcia's money.
• Hunk: Very much so. It certainly explains where Ryo got his looks from.
• Hurricane Kick: His Hien Shippuu Kyaku (Flying Swallow Hurricane Leg). Unlike his son's, though, Takuma's version is more of a flying leg thrust than a flying spinning roundhouse.
• I Want Grandkids: Ever since finding out about his son's tentative relationship with King, he's given them his full support and actively encourages them. In their team's KoF 2000 ending, he says he saved her since he couldn't allow the mother of a Kyokugen heir to perish and, during their KoF XI ending, he gives them the key to a penthouse suite! Humorously though, he only wants grandkids through Ryo and strongly opposes the relationship between Yuri and Robert.
• Insistent Terminology: "Who is this "Takuma" of which you speak? My name is Mr. Karate!"
• It's a Small World, After All: According to KOF '95, Takuma has some undisclosed history with Saisyu Kusanagi, apparently to the point that in XIII he elects himself Saisyu's substitute for disciplining Kyo in Saisyu's absence. (And if it's NESTS!Kyo, Saisyu apparently asked him to do so.) He was also an acquaintance of Jeff Bogard and Lee Pai Long.
• Kamehame Hadoken: His Kou'ou Ken (Tiger Sparkle Fist; when it isn't a short invisible fireball) special and Haou Shikouken (Supreme King Champion Fist) DM. Also, there's Kyokugen Kou'ou in XIII, a short-ranged version. His 2002UM HSDM takes it up a notch.
• Ki Manipulation:
  • Having taught Ryo, Robert, and Yuri, it comes as no surprise that he's mastered both the Kooh Ken and Haoh Shoko Ken. Though in the King of Fighters series, his Kooh Ken becomes short ranged and has become more of a force shove, if the opponent doesn't block it. Though the EX version has slightly longer range.
  • As the progenitor to Kyokengenryu, Takuma has the deepest connection with his ki and as such makes the most of it. He ends his version of the Ryuko Ranbu with one or multiple Haoh Shou Koukens. In some games his version of the Ko'oken is completely invisible (looking as though Takuma is simply thrusting his palm in the air and striking his opponent from across the screen), and EX Takuma's Hidden Super Desperation Move in The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match is an absolutely massive blast of ki that's so strong it causes his gi top to become undone (the same attack seen in his 2000 ending).
• Large Ham: Particularly as Mr. Karate, although Takuma also has his moments.
• Lethal Chef: One of his hobbies is making soba noodles; sadly, most of the time they're quite horrible and are said to be one of the few reasons why he doesn't get many students around.
• Let's Get Dangerous!: Takuma is rather formidable beneath all of his eccentricities; he's not the founder and master of Kyokugen Karate for nothing.
  • In his team's KOF 2000 ending he (singlehandedly negates a KillSat's attack with a fireball at the last second). And there's the sheer SNK-ness of his Serious form in SVC Chaos (equal in power to Shin Akuma).
  • His Mr. Karate persona in XIII completely forgoes all of this and gives us a glimpse of the true extent of Takuma's power when he's dead serious, not unlike Honki ni Natta/Serious Mr. Karate from SVC Chaos. His voice drops a few octaves, he's brutal, if not outright bloodthirsty towards those he doesn't deem as a Worthy Opponent (and even then, you'd better give him one hell of a show), and it turns out he's capable of feats like Flash Stepping as a counter move, firing invisible ki bullets, and summoning his inner spirit in the form of a giant golden tengu to deliver an earthshaking chop for his Neo MAX. In short, Mr. Karate does not fuck around.
• Living Legend: There's hardly anyone who doesn't know him, or at least heard of him. As the founder and creator of Kyokugenryu Karate, he's the foremost authority in its disciplines, having achieved levels of mastery that even his son and student have yet to attain, themselves. Takuma has fought and defeated many prolific martial arts masters in his lifetime, such as Lee Gakusuo (Lee Pai Long's master), Ryuhaku Todoh, and has remained in top form through rigorous training and repeat participation in The King of Fighters.
• Luke, I Am Your Father: The original game concludes with Yuri revealing that Mr. Karate was their father, to her brother.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Again, the Ryuuko Ranbu. To demonstrate his mastery of the style, Takuma goes all out and ends his with a Haoh Shou Kouken (or multiple, if you're doing the SDM version).
• Obfuscating Stupidity: It's commonly believed that Takuma either restrains a great deal of his power when fighting normally, or that his Tengu mask somehow draws out his full power when he assumes his Shin Karate persona. Either way, he's significantly faster and stronger when fighting as his alter ego, despite his normal fighting ability already being considered beyond exceptional. For that reason, it is believed by some that Takuma may be the most powerful character in SNK's universe.
• Old Master: He isn't that old (he's 49 in the second AOF), but he's getting on in his years. Not that this slows him down at all.
• One-Hit Kill: In the original game, his Haohshoken has to potential to deplete nearly an entire life bar (depending on whether it hit normally, or as a counter hit) assuming it's AI controlled Mr. Karate.
• Paper-Thin Disguise: Downplayed. His Mr. Karate disguise has at least a little bit of effort put into it, as he wears a Tengu mask that obscures the entirety of his face and head and (sometimes) wearing a different colored Gi, but the fact that he insists that he and Takuma are two different people alongside sharing the exact same fighting style with a few minor alterations make it more than a little obvious that he's just pretending to be somebody else.
• Passing the Torch: By the time of Garou: Mark of the Wolves, he's handed the title of Headmaster over to Ryo; along with the mantle of "Mr. Karate".
• Pec Flex: Seen in his standard Victory Pose in the KoF series from '94-2002 UM, where he slips the top of his dogi off of his shoulders.
• Pint Size Power House: Downplayed; He's obviously not Choi Chin or Bao levels of short but he is a bit shorter than a good amount of the cast, male and female. He will still murder you with a flick of the wrist in the blink of an eye regardless.
• Red Baron: Takuma is referred to as "Mr. Karate" and as "The Invincible Fighter".
• Retired Badass: By the time of Garou: Mark of the Wolves when Ryo has taken control of the dojo.
• Secret Identity: His alter-ego is Mr. Karate.
• Shipper on Deck: Covered in the I Want Grandkids entry.
• Shipping Torpedo: On the other hand, he absolutely will NOT abide the idea of Robert dating Yuri, since he's convinced (for whatever reason) that he'd only take Yuri for granted. Despite the fact that she's an adult, the attraction between them is mutual, and Robert had repeatedly offered to help the dojo out during periods of financial strife (though Takuma politely turns him down).
• Shirtless Scene: One of his win poses has him removing his dogi, complete with a yell of "YAH!" In Art of Fighting 2, he's actually a Walking Shirtless Scene. The developers added the gi top to differentiate him from Daimon.
• Shoryuken: His Kohou (Tiger Roar) special and (as Mr. Karate) Kyokugen Kohou (Extreme Limit Tiger Cannon) DM. His Built Upper Neo MAX also starts with one and ends with the Misogi.
• SNK Boss: One of the earliest and fiercest examples. As Shin Karate (aka "Serious Mr. Karate"), his attacks become much faster, stronger, and have priority over most other attacks. Depending on which game he appears in, he gains additional attacks to his standard moveset, while losing others. The following link showcases his abilities in KoF XIII
• Spam Attack/Rapidfire Fisticuffs: With both the Zanretsuken and the Shorankyaku, which is a rapid series of knee bashes directly to the opponent's face, while balanced on their shoulders. As the name implies, it's part of the Shoran Discipline^note which is the most advanced of Kyokugenryu's disciplines and is reserved strictly for its Headmaster making it unique to Takuma's moveset.
• Stern Teacher: No matter how well Ryo and Robert perform in the King of Fighters, he also tells them it isn't enough and has them redouble their efforts. In '96, they run away from him, while in '97 they (along with Yuri) walk off and leave him talking to himself.
• Tall, Dark, and Handsome: For a man with a son in his early-to-mid 20s and a daughter in her late teens (Comic-Book Time be damned), he looks damn fine.
• Team Dad: Literally and figuratively for the Art of Fighting Team.
• There Is No Kill Like Overkill: As seen in their team's KoF 2000 ending, Takuma has mastered the Shi Kohken blast to such an extent that he was able to deflect a direct hit from the Zero Cannon. A feat which was believed to be humanly impossible. In 2002 UM, he gains this as his HDM where it now takes the form of roaring lion's head before firing (seen here at 6:08-6:11), resulting in a massive wave of ki that can deplete over 1/2 of his opponent's meter if it connects.
• True Final Boss: Of the original Art of Fighting.
  • He shares this spot with Shin Akuma in SvC Chaos. Which one you face depends on what set of criteria you meet, part of which includes not losing any rounds.
• Unblockable Attack/No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Takuma can also perform Ryukoh Ranbu, though his variation of it ends with a Haoh Shoko Ken blast. While the HDM version ends with three consecutive Haoh Shikoh Ken blasts.
• Walking Shirtless Scene: In Art of Fighting 2 only. The KOF designers added the gi jacket to distinguish him from Daimon, who also fights with his chest bare.

Characters introduced in Art of Fighting 2

Yuri Sakazaki

Wild Flying Swallow (From KOF XV)

^{Click to see her as an NPC}
From AOF

^{Click to see her first playable design}

From AOF2

I'm Kyokugen! Face it, Ryo! You're not fit to sweep for me!

Origin: Japan

Fighting Style: Kyokugenryu Karate

Voiced by: ^note Harumi Ikoma (AOF1), Kaori Horie (2-3), Ayumi Hamasaki (OVA, Japanese), Veronica Taylor (OVA, English), Kaori Horie ('95-XIII), Ai Kakuma (XIV onward, The King of Fighters: Destiny), Amy Walls (Maximum Impact series, English), Sakura Tange ('94 Dengeki Bunko drama CD)

Takuma's daughter and Ryo's younger sister. She was kidnapped in order for Mr. Big to use Takuma against Ryo and Robert, but after she was rescued by Ryo and Robert she trained with Takuma and started entering The King of Fighters tournaments, generally with King and Mai. However, in some installments she would switch teams, sometimes running with Robert and her family ^note ('96-'99, '01, '03, XI, XIV) and other times with Mai and King^note ('94-'95, '00, '02, XIII).

---

• Action Girl: Though her family didn't have much faith in her at first, she has always proven herself a capable fighter, like all of the others.
• Alternate Character Reading: Not only for her name, but several of her attacks may or may not actually be named after the preexisting techniques of her family's fighting style. E.g she does have her own Hien Shippuu Kyaku, but the alternate reading reads as "Yuri Chou Mawashi Geri" (Yuri Super Spinning Kick).
• Animal Motifs: Like how her brother has the tiger and Robert the dragon, Yuri has the swallow in her techniques.
• Ascended Extra: Goes from being an NPC in the first game to a playable fighter in the second.
• Ass Kicks You: One of her special normals has her launch herself at her opponent, hip first.
• Attack Reflector: Her Saiha (Smash Blast), in some games.
• Badass Adorable: Many would find it hard to believe someone as cute and generally friendly as she is could deliver a world of hurt. Well, she can.
• Battle Intro: In The King of Fighters XV:
  "She's a cute and bubbly karate girl! But her talents are said to be limitless! Yuri Sakazaki!
  Yuri: "This'll be over quickly!"
• Boyish Short Hair: In KOF XIII-XIV, where she surprises her dad by cutting her braid. Since she's a Tomboy with a Girly Streak, and the devs have noted that this was done to give her a more sporty tomboy look.
• Braids of Action: In most of her appearances. She finally cut it in XIII and kept it short in XIV, but it's back in XV.
• But Not Too Foreign: Japanese-American, same as Ryo.
• The Cameo: She appears in the background of KOF Stadium in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
• Can't Have Sex, Ever: Yuri is likely to remain a virgin for life, as long as her dad has anything to say about it.
• Charge Attack: In some games, her Kou'ou Ken can be charged to turn it to Haou Shoukouken, although it tends to be weaker than a proper DM Haou Shoukouken. Her Yuri Chou Knuckle special (also in some games) can also be charged.
• Clothing Damage: Same as King, if she's defeated by a special attack during the final round of the match (seen at the end of this clip). This also carried over to King of Fighters '94, '95, and KoF XIII and XIV.
• Cute Bruiser: She may not look it, but she packs a pretty mean punch. Such as her aptly named "Yuri Hardcore Super Upper", which is her own rendition of Ryu's "Shin Shoryuken".
• The Cutie: SNK has steadily regressed her appearance and mannerism, to where she's nearly as childlike as Kula by the time of XIII.
• Cute, but Cacophonic: It somehow got worse as the series progressed.
• Damsel in Distress: She was abducted by Mr. Big in the first Art of Fighting, and used as leverage to blackmail her father to work for him. Ryo and Robert tear up the entire city to rescue her.
• Death from Above: Her Raiouken (Thunder Sparkle Fist) and her self-refined variants. Some versions of the base technique are treated outright as a Meteor Move instead of the primary projectile version (like in 98).
• Distress Ball: Caught one in the not very well-known game Quiz King of Fighters, when she's kidnapped in Quiz City. Ryo and Mai set out to rescue her (plus Takuma as a Secret Character), while Robert goes to impress her and the other two playable characters (Haohmaru and Nakoruru) have their own reasons.
• Everything Makes a Mushroom: Simply put, her Haoh Raiouken (Supreme King Thunder Sparkle Fist) Neo MAX in KOF XIII is a portable nuke.
• Expository Hairstyle Change: She cuts her hair short, sometime before KoF XIII, much to the surprise of her father and brother. Allegedly, because she's still trying to carve out her own identity on the team.
• Fantastic Nuke: Yuki packs two of these in her arsenal:
  • The first is her family's signature DM: the now infamous Haoh Shoko Ken, which results in a massive fireball. Its speed and power varies by game - with some iterations only inficting about a 1/4 dmg, while in it's original incarnation, it depleted half the target's life meter.
  • The other's the Haoh Raiou Ken, her NEO MAX from KoF XIII. As the name implies, combines her Raiou Ken with the Haoh Shoko Ken's power.
• Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The foolish to Ryo's responsible. Downplayed, as Ryo has moments of foolery as well, but Yuri tends to be a bit more irresponsible and not as dedicated to training compared to Ryo, especially in the KOF continuity. This naturally tends to lead to conflict between the two, often with Yuri angrily storming off to another team to prove her worth by besting them in the competition.
• Fragile Speedster: In terms of gameplay, she's quick on her feet and can string some fairly devastating combos, but her stamina's not so good. Harder hitting opponents can present problems for her, especially if they start landing counter hits.
• Genki Girl: Yuri has always been portrayed as cheerful and optimistic, but it gets dialed up in the KoF series — to the point of bordering on outright childish behavior, at times. She's even gotten snarky, albeit in a playful fashion with her friends.
• Hurricane Kick: Her Hien Shippuu Kyaku is closer to the original Hurricane Kick than the one used by her colleagues.
• I Shall Taunt You: Her standard one has her look over her shoulder and pat her backside at her opponent. By KOF XIV, she includes it right before the final blow of her rendition of Ryuko Ranbu. Then finishes by striking a goofy pose, where she sticks out her tongue and gives a thumbs up.
• Important Haircut: In KOF XIII, Yuri cuts her hair short, but she doesn't seem to have a reason behind it. Takuma's reaction is overblown, as usual. It is said that it's because this is just like her late mother used to cut her hair.
• Kamehame Hadoken: Her Kou'ou Ken special and Haou Shoukouken DM.
• Kawaiiko: Really the only explanation for her Verbal Tic.
• Ki Manipulation: The same as her dad and her brother. Unique to her is the Saifa move: a small ki shield she projects upwards.
• Love Interest: Robert first developed feelings for her back when he first began training with her brother and has grown fonder of her since then. The feeling is mutual, except her father and brother have made it a point to keep an eye on them and won't let Robert anywhere near her.
• Martial Arts Headband: Worn as part of her default attire since her debut in Art of Fighting 2.
• Megaton Punch: Her Hien Shippuu Ken (Flying Swallow Hurricane Fist) AKA Yuri Chou Knuckle (Yuri Super Knuckle), where does a wind-up lunging punch (think Terry's Burn Knuckle). It can be charged up, but even her wind-up portion (where she flails her arms while facing backwards) can do damage before she even punches!
  • It can be taken to ridiculous combo extremes in 2006/Maximum Impact 2 due to the wind-up inflicting a very-worth while launch, even when it (along with her Chou Mawashi Geri) is classified as a Stylish Move instead as opposed to an actual special move.
• Missing Mom: her and Ryo's mom died from a car accident.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: In a few games she may have a modified Ryuuko Ranbu as her stronger (i.e HSDM or Climax DM) supers.
• Non-Player Character: In 3, due to being wounded by Sinclair. She appears as a side character in Ryo and Robert's story, and can assist Robert in a last-ditch shot against Wyler.
• Older Than They Look: She's supposed to be 20 years old, about the same age as Kyo, but you'd never know it from the way she looks, acts, or sounds. You'd swear she was only 14-15.
• Overshadowed by Awesome: Ryo and Takuma fear that her rudimentary knowledge of Kyokugen-ryuu will lead to this. Yuri, optimistic in her pursuit to improve herself, simply ignores them and joins King and Mai in XIII.
• Plucky Girl:
  Maxima: "Your best weapon might be your undying optimism."
• Rescue Romance: It's implied that Yuri fell for Robert after he and Ryo saved her at the end of the first game. Some of this is seen in the scenes interspersed during the credits reel in 2. In the third game, they actually seem to hook up in Robert and Ryo's endings.
• Shipper on Deck:
  • Much like Robert and her father, she REALLY likes the idea of King hooking up with her brother.
    • She even goes along with Takuma's odd ploy at the end of ''KOF XI' where they set the two up on a date'. As you've probably noticed by now, Everyone Can See It.
    • And in their team ending for XIII, she puts King on the spot again, getting her all flustered when she directly asks what she thinks of her older brother in XIII, and seems to enjoy it thoroughly.
  • Not to mention, she also ships Kensou/Athena. In XIII she directly teases Kensou over him wanting to protect her and gets him rather flustered too.
• Ship Sinking: Her would-be romance with Robert was officially torpedoed. First, by her dad and her brother in the earlier parts of KOF, then by SNK themselves in Buriki One - the latest point in the AOF/KOF timeline^note Ryo and Robert are in their early 40's by Buriki One, placing it over 20 years later. In that game, Ryo states that Robert and Yuri are both still single and haven't even had a date yet. Meaning, they're doomed to remain Just Friends throughout KOF.
• Ship Tease: Between her and Robert, usually in the form of special pre-fight animations and dialog, as well as some of their victory quotes when they defeat each other. Also shown in several scenes during the credits reel for AOF 2.
• Signature Move: Her Raiouken and Saiha specials, as well as her Hien Hou'ou Kyaku DM.
• Single Woman Seeks Good Man: She's found one, the problem is, her dad and her brother won't let her have a love life; which annoys her to no end. AoF 3 seemingly resolved the issue, when her brother finally relented. In the King of Fighters though...
• Shoryuken: her Yuri Chou Upper (aka Kuuga) special, as well as Yuri Chou Reppa DM and Shin! Chou Upper SDM.
• Shotoclone: Played With; Yuri plays some aspects of the archetype straight while also parodying many other shotos that have come before, both in her home games and in others like Street Fighter. For example, she has a short-ranged projectile, an uppercut, several iterations of a Dash Attack like a burning punch or Hurricane Kick, and her outfit is a full-on parody to the likes of Ryu. A lot of her other moves though are very out of left field for the archetype like a Grapple Move where she slaps the crap out of you and a projectile reflector. How she presents these moves is Played for Laughs due to how little she takes them seriously through her posture (like the afformentioned slap and the way she pokes out her butt as an attack).
  • In KoF '01, she even gains a mock version of Akuma's "Raging Demon", which uses the exact same button sequence!
• Sphere of Destruction: In XIV she gains a DM counterpart of her Saiha special; downplayed in that it's just a half-sphere.
• Take That!: To Street Fighter, specifically the Shotoclones:
  • KOF '97: Her Hien Rekkou (Flying Swallow Violent Pit) AKA Yuri Chou Reppa (Yuri Super Rending Breaker) parodies Ken's Shoryu Reppa. This is made more obvious in Capcom vs. SNK.
  • KOF '98: Her Mekki Zankuuga (Destroying Demon Slaying Air Fang) AKA Shin! Chou Upper (Wick/Staple! Super Upper) parodies Ryu's Shin Shoryuken.
  • KOF 2001: Her Yuri Chou Enbu (Yuri Super Swallow Dance) parodies Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu; she even poses like him randomly after finishing the attack.
  • KOF 2003 gave her a desperation attack that parodies Ryu's Denjin Hadouken. Hers is called the Denjin Haou Shoukouken (Electric God Supreme King Soaring Howl Fist).
  • Since around '97 she also gained a spinning kick attack like the Hurricane Kick all three characters use.
    • Like many of her moves, it goes by another name. Instead of Hien Shippuu Kyaku (Flying Swallow Hurricane Leg) in some sources, it goes by Yuri Chou Mawashi Geri (Yuri Super Roundhouse Kick).
  • And in 2002UM she did a Take That! to her own family members by finally getting her own version of the Ryuuko Ranbu technique (Chou/Super! Dragon Tiger Wild Dance)...which eventually parodies Ryu's Shin Shoryuken once more for the finisher.
  • In the Capcom vs. SNK games, she copies Felicia's intro pose (when fighting against Sakura) and Makoto's intro pose (when fighting against everyone else).
  • Yuri also possesses an attack similar to Chun-Li's Kakuraku Kyaku (Crane Falling Leg).
  • XIII: Her Houyoku (Phoenix Wing) parodies that of Akuma's Hyakki Shuu (Hundred Demons Assault). Her EX Yuri Chou Upper also parodies that of Sakura's Shou'ouken (Blooming Cherry Fist).
  • XIV: Her Climax move parodies Dan's Shisso Buraiken (Sprinting Ruffian Attack), a parody Of Ryo and his own parody attack!
• Teen Genius:
  • Subtle example, but still there. She only started training when she was 16-17, and yet she mastered the basics and low techniques of the Kyokugenryu Karate within a year. She didn't stop there, but started imitating other people's techniques as seen above: and developed her own, like the infamous Hyakuretsu Binta (Hundred Rending Faceslaps) and her own DM, the Hien Hou'ou Kyaku (Flying Swallow Fenghuang Leg).
  • She also enjoys experimental cooking, which unlike her father's infamous soba noodles, has somehow had more positive results.
• That Came Out Wrong: Yuri unintentionally makes it sounds as if she'd like to marry King, when asked to describe her ideal husband, during their team ending in KoF XIII.
  Interviewer: "I see. And, what would your ideal husband be like?"
  Yuri: (thinking aloud) "Hmm... Let's see... That's a tough one... I think they would have to be someone nice and polite..."
  Yuri: (Aha! prose) "Oh, I know! Someone like King!"
  *King dope smacks Yuri*
• Took a Level in Badass: Between Art of Fighting 1 and 2.
• Verbal Tic: Most of sentences end with "-chi", a quirk devised by her seiyuu.
• Womanchild: She's 20, but doesn't act (or look, as of XIII) anything like it.
• You Don't Look Like You: Much like King, her sprites and official artwork have started to change starting XII. She once looked like a reasonably athletic girl in her late teens^note canonically, she's supposed to be 20 years old, about the same as when Kyo dropped out of high school. Her more recent appearances have had her looking more like a girl in her early teens.
• Your Size May Vary: She has a tendency to be drawn so that she looks shorter than Mai (sometimes when they're together), despite the manual stating that Yuri is taller than her.

Eiji Kisaragi

From AOF 2

I'm a ninja! I have no pity for losers!

Origin: Japan

Fighting Style: Kisaragi-ryuu Ninjutsu

Voiced by: ^note Yoshinori Shima

A ninja assigned by Mr. Big to assassinate the Sakazaki family. He has failed repeatedly to do this, but nonetheless still pursues his goal. He joined up with Billy and Iori in the KOF '95 tournament to form the Rival Team, but the three failed to reach the finals; Iori beat the two ruthlessly for their failure, resulting in a lifelong grudge from them. He also joined up with Kasumi and Malin in the eleventh tournament to form the Anti-Kyokugen team. If the KOF: Kyo manga is canon, he may have had a hilariously nasty run-in with Kyo's mother Shizuka at one point, too.

---

• '80s Hair: Unlike Ryo, Eiji still has that mullet from Art of Fighting.
• Angry Fist-Shake: Does this in unison with Billy during the latter's intro against Iori in '98.
• Arch-Enemy: To the Kyokugen school of karate. Apparently, it is a generational feud.
• Attack Reflector: His Ryu Kagejin gains this property in KOF XI. Timed properly, it can even deflect (L)DM-level fireballs.
• Best Served Cold: Towards Iori for the latter leaving Eiji for dead after their first team-up.
• "Blind Idiot" Translation: Thanks to the translators having no knowledge of the Japanese script, Eiji's ending has him sulking about how Mai Shiranui was stolen from him by Andy. Keep in mind the Art of Fighting series takes place at least a decade before the events of Fatal Fury...
• Butt-Monkey: In KOF XI and KOF: KYO. The second one though loses comedic value when both he and Saisyu are curb-stomped by Goenitz around the end.
• The Cameo: Aside from his stage cameos throughout multiple KOF games, Eiji has a gameplay cameo in '98. He joins Billy for a few seconds as they do an Angry Fist-Shake against Iori, disappearing shortly after and leaving Billy confused. He gets Promoted to Playable in its Updated Re-release Ultimate Match, forming an Odd Friendship with Kasumi and Shingo.
• Cool Mask: Fitting for a ninja, he covers the lower half of his face.
• Dash Attack: His Kotsu Hazaki Kiri special has him running towards his foe and then slashes once with his hand.
• Diving Kick: his Tenba Kyaku special is a multi-hitting version.
• Doppelgänger Attack: The SDM version of his Zantetsu Tourouken, as well as his Yami Kari LDM in XI (which is directly lifted from Zantetsu's super).
• Dramatic Wind: His special intro against Iori in XI.
• Flash Step: His Kage Utsushi special moves him forward quickly.
• Katanas Are Just Better: Wields two tanto, Kage and Nagare. The weapons were presumably handed down from Zantetsu.
• Ninja: It is heavily implied that he's a descendant of Zantetsu.
• The Quiet One: His special skill? Not talking.
• Razor-Sharp Hand: in a number of his specials he can slice his foes with just his hand.
• Stealth Hi/Bye: In his cameo in '98 during Billy's intro against Iori, he drops from the sky, does an Angry Fist-Shake in unison with Billy and disappears, leaving him confused.
• Sword Beam: more like Hand Beam, but still, his Zantetsuha DM in XI is this.
• Would Not Hit a Girl: In Art of Fighting 2, he has this in his intro quote vs. Yuri:
  Eiji: "I have no interest in injuring a lady."

Temjin

Origin: Mongolia

Fighting Style: Mongolian Wrestling

Temjin is a Mongolian wrestler who works as a dock worker at the Southtown port to raise money for a school in Mongolia. He enters the tournament to get the prize money and make his dream come true.

---

• Artistic License – Martial Arts: There's nothing about his fighting style that remotely even resembles real Mongolian Wrestling, which is more similar to Sumo Wrestling in that you have to get your enemy to touch any part of their body other than their feet to the ground by using throws, trips, or lifts.
• Badass Teacher: Well, a Badass Principal anyway. His motivation for competing is to raise money for a school in his home country.
• Braids of Barbarism: The object of ridicule by both Yuri and some of the students at his school.
• Deathbringer the Adorable: His name stems from the birth name of Genghis Khan, yet he's a hard-working and selfless man who works at Southtown's docks to financially support a school, as well as only entering the tournament for the sake of the children so they can have a brighter future.
• Friend to All Children: He fights to give the kids a brighter future. Unless they insult his hairstyle....
• Manly Facial Hair: He has a nice Fu Manchu mustache, and is a positive, masculine figure, as he's strong, kind, and works seflessly in a job that requires a lot of physical effort.
• Pint-Sized Powerhouse: He isn't even five feet tall, being only a single inch away from it at a measly 4'11, yet his movelist is one of the most damaging and command grab-heavy among the roster of fighters in Art of Fighting 2.
• Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs: One of his moves is to use this but with slaps.
• Shout-Out: Likely the first fighting game character to use the Kinniku Buster.
• Stout Strength: He's got a bit of a gut, and is a skilled fighter to go with it.

Geese Howard

Origin: USA

Fighting Style: Aiki-Jujutsu

The commissioner of South Town's police, and even more corrupt than Mr. Big. He appears as a secret boss in Art of Fighting 2, and goes on (chronologically) to become an even worse danger to Southtown once we reach Fatal Fury.

---

See Fatal Fury - Geese Howard for tropes on him

Characters introduced in Art of Fighting 3

Rody Birts

Origin: USA

Fighting Style: Tonfas

Rody Birts is a bounty hunter and partner of Lenny Creston, who has been hired by Wyler to find Freia Lawrence.

---

• Anime Hair: Sports a massive plume of spiky blond hair.
• Brains and Brawn: The Brawn to Lenny's Brain.
• Dual Wielding: Wields a pair of tonfas.
• Throwing Your Tonfa Always Works

Kasumi Todoh

The honor of the Todoh school is in my hands. Me, the daughter of Ryuhaku!

Origin: Japan

Fighting Style: Todoh-ryu Aikijutsu

Voiced by: ^note Masae Yumi (KOF XI to 2002), Rui Tanabe (KOF All Star, Onwards)

Kasumi is the daughter of Ryuhaku Todoh, the first enemy in the original Art of Fighting. She grew up learning the Todoh school of Aikido and Kobujutsu, taught to her by her father. As her family's sole heir, she does all she can to stand up for the Todoh way. When Ryuhaku stayed at Southtown to settle an old score with a man named Takuma Sakazaki, Kasumi remained in her house, waiting for her father's return. A couple of months later, she got some bad news: Ryuhaku had been defeated by Ryo Sakazaki, Takuma's son and hasn't been seen since. She decided to fight Ryo and anybody else in order to avenge her father. Unfortunately enough, her mother Mizuho did not like that idea. But she eventually makes peace with him and returns to Japan with her mother.

---

• Badass Adorable: A competent aikadoka who is young, cute and prone to silly manneirisms such as reading her translation book. Not to mention very focused on her martial art and devoted to her father and family.
• Breakout Character: She's the ONLY character from Art of Fighting 3, excluding the series regulars Ryo and Robert, to be a playable character outside of their debut game, thanks to her cute appearance, amusing personality, and interesting character leading to her becoming popular enough with fans to even warrant this in the first place, as she .
• Catchphrase: Used as her default victory quote, after consulting her translation guidebook:
  Kasumi: (pointing) "Come back when you grow up."
• Chainmail Bikini: Only in some iterations.
• Counter-Attack: being an aikidoka, she has specials and a DM that work like this.
• Cute Bruiser: From using her family's style of kobujtsu, which is a counteroffensive style of grappling. Though she supplements it with handstrikes and her Kasaneate.
• Daddy's Girl: She's the apple of her father's eye and she aspires to uphold the family name to make him proud.
• Depending on the Artist: Whether her hair colour is black or dark blue tends to depend on the game. Also, the shade of blue tends to vary.
• Disappeared Dad: For which she blames Ryo. In KOF, she's always looking for him, but little does she know he's right under her nose the whole time.
  • Including in the background of the Women's Team stage in KOF '96, should Kasumi be fighting at the time..
  • Or as "Unknown," a striker from 2000 who also appears in her 2002: Unlimited Match HSDM.
• Dramatic Wind: One of her KOF '99 victory poses mimics that of Ryu in Street Fighter II. Said pose also includes Ryu's trademark Badass Arm-Fold.
• Eloquent in My Native Tongue: See Gratuitous English below.
• Family Honor: The crux of her rivalry with the Kyokugen karatekas. Althought in KOF, she doesn't really hold any ill-will towards them, even going so far as to join Yuri on the Women Fighters Team in 2000, but since Ryo is the one who defeated her father, Kasumi feels that the only way to get her dad to come back home is to settle the score.
• Generation Xerox: Downplayed. Very much like her father, but she goes out of her way to emulate her mother, a full-blown Yamato Nadeshiko.
• The Grappler: She has lower, mid, and upper body counters similar to Geese.
• Gratuitous English: Invoked during her win pose, where she pulls out a pocket guide to look up the phrase: "Come back when you grow up!"
  • Lampshaded by her looking it up from a translation dictionary first, due to her terrible English-speaking skills.
  "Slow down—don't understand meaning..."
• Informed Attribute: Not that we'd know considering her ankle-length skirt that she wears at practically all times, but being secretly envied about her legs by Chun-Li of all people speaks volumes.
• It's Personal: When her character was first introduced, she held Ryo responsible for her father not coming home^note Todoh was believed to have gone into hiding, after his loss to Ryo and was determined to avenge him, by settling the score. Her mother put a stop to it by smacking some sense into her, then explained what really happened.
• Heir to the Dojo: Although this by default, Ryuhaku packing his bags and leaving for parts unknown to train himself after losing to Ryo back in AOF prematurely thrusted the responsibility of the dojo's regular upkeep onto Kasumi.
• Ki Manipulation: The Kasane Ate attacks, where she makes waves of blue slashing projectiles.
• Lady of War: In training. While she does fight with grace, she notably hates to do traditional Japanese woman routines (as seen in her "dislike").
• Martial Arts Headband: Which she given to Ryo in her ending in order to ensure that he remembers her vow to defeat him one day.
• Noblewoman's Laugh: One of her victory poses.
• Parasol of Prettiness: She's sometimes seen with one in her intro poses.
• Plucky Comic Relief/The Comically Serious: She's portrayed this way, due to her dedication to her family name and her obsession with finding her father.
• Razor Wind: The Todoh family's signature special: Kasaneate. And, like her father, she can also perform Hou Kasaneate, which is the HDM version of it.
• The Rival: To the Kyokugen school, in general. Though her issue lies mainly with Ryo, whom she holds responsible for her father's disappearance. Later, during the KoF series, she also forms a rivalry with Yuri, who she refers to as: "Kyokugen girl."
  • That said, Kasumi and Yuri seem to get along well most of the time, with both having even teamed up with each other during KoF 2000.
• Signature Move: her Kasane Ate special and its DM version.
• Situational Damage Attack: Her Chou Kasane Ate DM will do more hits and damage if done closer to the foe.
• Three-Strike Combo: Her Senkou Nagashi special is a 3-hit rekka (okay, the first strike does 2 hits, but still) based on her short combo in AOF 3.
• Translation Convention: During her Gratuitous English win pose she has to look through an Japanese-English dictionary.
  • Her Engrish might also be SNK prodding at their own long-standing habit of shoddy translations.
• Wouldn't Counter-Hit A Girl: In some games, her attack reversal throws only work on males.

Wang Koh-San

Origin: Taiwan

Fighting Style: Xinyiliuhequan

Wang went to Glass Hill for inspiration for a drawing he plans to enter in a contest, Wang heard about Wyler's attempt to create a powerful elixir, and decided to attempt to find it himself for his friend Lee Pai Long.

---

• Acrofatic: He's rather chubby, but he's also rather fast as well.
• Eyes Always Shut: As you can see, Wang won't open his eyes if he can help it.
• Goggles Do Nothing: Wears a pair of aviator goggles on his head at all times, and never puts them one.
• Non-Human Sidekick: Wang is fiercely protective of his pelican Hoe Hoe, and will initiate combat with anyone who bothers it (though the bird is in actuality to blame most of the time).
• Warrior Poet: He is also an accomplished artist who has come to Glasshill looking for inspiration.

Lenny Creston

Origin: USA

Fighting Style: Whip Handling

Lenny Creston is a journalist and partner of Rody Birts, who has been hired by Wyler to find Freia Lawrence.

---

• Brains and Brawn: The Brain to Roddy's Brawn.
• Intrepid Reporter: Overlapping with Going for the Big Scoop. She's come to Glasshill in search of a big news report.
• Odd Friendship: With Rody.
• Tomboyish Name: "Lenny" (short for Leonard), is far more commonly a male name.
• Whip of Dominance: She fights with a whip and is a bossy, stern Intrepid Journalist and a strict perfectionist. She also has a domineering side that shows in her relationship with her partner, Rody, such as being fond of using her whip to literally drag him around.

Karman Cole

Origin: Germany

Fighting Style: Art of Self-Defense

Karman is an assistant to the Garcias who has been sent to find Robert, who left for Glasshill Valley to look for his childhood friend Freia.

---

• Battle Butler: He's a personal assistant (valet) to the Garcia family.
• Sharp-Dressed Man: Fights in a tailored suit.
• Tall, Dark, and Handsome: He's a dashing, middle-aged man with dark brown hair.

Jin Fu-Ha

Origin: Japan

Fighting Style: Ninjutsu

Jin Fu-Ha is a was once the disciple of Eiji Kisaragi who was betrayed by his master. He has come to Glass Hill to test his skills against Ryo Sakazaki.

---

• Attack Reflector
• Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has one across his chest, presumably from Eiji.
• Invisibility: Hey, at least he's not screaming "FIND ME!".
• Ninja: An extremely unorthodox one.
• Revenge: Against Eiji, his former master, who got him In the Back and left him to be.
• Spectacular Spinning: One of his moves is quite similar to Zangief's Spinning Clothesline.
• Walking Shirtless Scene

Sinclair

Origin: The Middle East

Fighting Style: Sqay

Voiced by: ^note Harumi Ikoma

Sinclair is the assistant of main antagonist Wyler. She is secretly looking for somebody to convince him to give up his pursuit of the drug he is attempting to create.

---

• Cool Sword: She fights with a scimitar that was apparently excavated from some ruins.
• Dance Battler: Her techniques resemble Indian sword dancing.
• Dark Action Girl: She works for the Big Bad and can more than hold her own in a fight.
• The Dragon: Plays this role in the contest of the game and nominally she's working for Wyler.
• Drugs Are Bad: "A power gained by using a drug only goes so far."
• Enigmatic Minion: To Wyler.
• Mind over Matter: She can telekinetically control her sword from afar.
• Mysterious Past: Very little is revealed about her history or motives. Where she's from, how she came into Wyler's service, exactly why she wants to stop him, all of these questions will probably be answered never.
• Parts Unknown: Like a fair few other middle-eastern characters in the fighting game genre (Pullum & Rashid, Zafina) her actual country of origin in the region is not specified.
• The Mole: It would seem that she's either Wyler's underling or partner, but she's actually working undercover to stop him.

Wyler

Origin: Unknown

Fighting Style: Original Grappling Style

Voiced by: ^note Monster Maezuka

Wyler is looking for Freia Lawrence, the daughter of his dead father's former partner, who possesses information about a formula for some kind of "Jekyll and Hyde" formula that he is attempting to create. The essential data needed for completing it was taken by Freia's father when the two's partnership broke up. Wyler believes this action is the cause of his father becoming destitute and even the cause of his death. Freia now has the data.
Wyler hires the private investigator partnership of Rody Birts and Lenny Creston to find her (they are convinced it is for romantic reasons). Freia is also being sought out by her old childhood friend Robert Garcia. Wyler finds Freia, though seemingly without the help of the private eyes he hired, completes his elixir and takes it himself, turning into a large Hulk-like man. However, it has an unforeseen after-effect and reverts his mind to a child-like state. Freia chose to stay and tend to him...

---

• A Glass of Chianti: He rocks this pose in the one piece of art of him from before his transformation◊.
• All There in the Manual: His full name, "Tom Wyler", as well as the details of his aristocratic background, are not revealed in the game itself, but rather in an official plot translation provided by SNK online after the fact.
• Alternate Company Equivalent: A somewhat obscure one, but as an aristocratic Mad Scientist who seeks to acquire power through science and transforms himself into a superhuman creature with the aid of a serum, he's more or less an amalgamation of the various Big Bad characters of the Resident Evil series. His home game and the original Resident Evil were even released in the same month of the same year, March of 1996.
• Aristocrats Are Evil: In his barely-touched-upon in-game backstory. He's the 5th Generation head of the House of Wyler and apparently his family used to have great standing in the scientific community.
• Big Bad: Of the third game.
• Blow You Away: One of his special attacks is to throw a small whirlwind forward with one hand.
• Dash Attack: Another of his special attacks is a short dash in which he slams his shoulder into the enemy.
• Drugs Are Bad: Don't drink this Super Serum at home, kids!
• Heroic Build: Exaggerated, seeing as he pretty much Hulks Out.
• Magic Pants: Downplayed, as his transformation ruins his pants and leaves them in tatters but enough of them is left to tastefully cover up his unmentionables.
• Mad Scientist: His father and Freia Lawrence's father were apparently creating a Super Serum elixir from a drug they found in South America, and Wyler aims to finish his father's work (and he does). His father's research data is even listed in his profile as the one thing he likes.
• Mighty Glacier: He hits harder than anyone else in the game, but he's slow and projectiles totally ruin his day.
• Muscles Are Meaningless: At least when it comes to weight. Even though the Super Serum gives him an absolutely massive build, he's actually the lightest character in the game.
• My God, What Have I Done?: In his ending (exclusive to the Japanese Neo Geo CD version), he regains his normal form after beating all of the other fighters (unlike the other endings, he retains his lucidity) and sees the error of his ways once he realizes Freia's feelings for him.
• One-Winged Angel: His Super Serum elixir has this effect on him, though considering the side effects it might well classify more as a Clipped-Wing Angel.
• Psycho Serum: The elixir he intakes turns him into a hulking giant, but reverts his mentality to that of a child, a side-effect that seems to be permanent after he returns to his normal form.
• Shout-Out: To the Hulk and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
• Smug Snake: He's quite smug looking pre-transformation, but doesn't count on the serum altering his mentality.
• SNK Boss: For the parameters of this game, but for a literal SNK boss he's actually quite tame. He hits harder by far than anyone else in the game, but he's also a Mighty Glacier and none of his moves are game-breaking. He's also got quite a limited repertoire compared to the usual SNK boss.
• The Stateless: It's anyone's guess where he and his family are from. Their aristocratic background seems to hint at European origins, but he lives on the border between the U.S.A. and Mexico, and to further muddy the waters his sprite is tan-skinned (but only when he hulks out) and his themes both have a distinct Mexican riff to them.
• This Cannot Be!: In his Neo Geo CD-exclusive ending mentioned above, his quotes this line word for word when he beats all the other fighters only to have his body stop working on him.
• Unskilled, but Strong: Wyler has no combat training and fights purely on instinct and his superhuman strength.
• Walking Shirtless Scene: Thanks to his fancy suit undergoing a forced Battle Strip when he hulks out.

---