History ShoutOut / TheKingOfFighters

** The Psycho Soldier team's ending in ''XIII'' is a parody of ''[[Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman Gatchaman]]'', right down to the silly costumes worn by Kensou (Red), Athena (Blue), Bao (Yellow), and Momoko (Pink). The team even goes by the name of the [[Franchise/PowerRangers Psycho Rangers]] ([[NamesTheSame no]], [[ThePsychoRangers not]] [[Series/PowerRangersInSpace them]]), complete with fans giving them a ''Franchise/SuperSentai''-esque naming scheme for the characters (i.e. Kensou = Psycho Red).

** Iori's color 5 is a nod to [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Mr. Big]] and color 8 references none other than [[Characters/YakuzaKazumaKiryu Kazuma Kiryu]] of ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' fame, specifically [[VideoGame/Yakuza0 his]] [[TheEighties 80's]] appearance.

* Lin's [[PoisonousPerson poisonous Cinnabar Palm]] martial art seems to be a reference to Eikei's poison fist from ''Manga/SakigakeOtokojuku'' for its similarity. That said, asian martial artists with a poisonous arm seems to be a common trope in manga, as seen on ''Tatakae! [[Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} Ramenman]]'''s "Dokuro-ken" [[ParodyNames Gundam]] / [[AdaptationNameChange Gadam]], or Ryūkō Yanagi "the Poisoner" from ''[[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Baki]]''.

** K'[='s=] Chain Drive DM may very well be influenced by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlGj9Njivc this particular scene]] [[note]]the final battle caps off with the main villain throwing his shades at Toby Wong, who catches them just in time for the BigBad to attack him and reclaim his sunglasses[[/note]] from a 1998 Marc Dacascos film coincidentally named ''Drive''.

* Shingo Yabuki's intro in 2000 & 2001 is [[Anime/Daitarn3 "If you don't fear the shine of the sun, bring it on !"]]

* Kyo's girlfriend Yuki is named after Japanese actress and ex IdolSinger [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuki_Uchida Yuki Uchida.]] She's also the same celebrity that inspired none other than [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Heero Yuy]] as well as Elena from Street Fighter III.
* Geese Howard seems to resemble [[http://img88.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=superspy.jpg King,]] the FinalBoss of ''The Super Spy'', something made a bit more obvious with the intro to ''Fatal Fury 3''. He also looks like the Aussie from Creator/JeanClaudeVanDamme's ''Film/{{Bloodsport}}''. In terms of character, Geese is SNK's equivalent of [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Dio Brando]]. Both of them started out dirt poor, hated their own fathers for abusing them, came to know someone who became their greatest rival and killed them eventually after being cast out. Both are also noted for their charisma, allowing them to gather a group of devoted followers and obtain immense power, and also causing many women to fall for them, resulting in many illegitimate children. He also shares quite a few traits with Souther[=/=]Thouzer from ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', both resembling him and sharing his ambitions of conquest.
** Character artist Creator/Shinkiro mentions that Geese's overall aesthetic, as a Mafia boss, draws inspiration from Creator/RobertDeNiro in ''Film/TheGodfather''.

* Kyo's girlfriend Yuki is named after Japanese actress and ex IdolSinger [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuki_Uchida Yuki Uchida.]] She's also the same celebrity that inspired none other than [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Heero Yuy]].

** Yashiro of the Parched Earth gets his name from ''Kawaita Daichi'', the ending theme to Anime/Xabungle.

** Also, while they attitudes are the opposite, she also looks a hell of a lot to Luchs from Anime/SaberMarionetteJ, with her bangs and ShortHairWithTail hairstyle, considering the anime debut the previous year, it's an interesting parallel to draw from.

** Also, while they attitudes are the opposite, she also looks a hell of a lot to Luchs from Anime/SaberMarionetteJ, with her BlindingBangs and ShortHairWithTail hairstyle, considering the anime debut the previous year, it's an interesting parallel to draw from.

* Igniz's prideful personality, {{Bishounen}} looks, choice of clothing and [[spoiler: treason against his superior]] are based on Oskar von Reuenthal from ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'', even [[Creator/NorioWakamoto sharing the same voice actor]] -- in addition, he has a penchant for screaming "Feuer!" (German for "Fire!", although technically ''Galactic Heroes'' uses the mispelled "Faieru") when shooting lasers, just like the German-speaking Imperial army commanders do. His "Galient Sword" wrist-mounted [[WhipSword whip blades]] are based on the Galient Blade from ''Anime/PanzerWorldGalient'', and his "Irys Lance" [[ClothingCombat coattails]] are based on the CombatTentacles of Irys from ''Film/Gamera3AwakeningOfIrys''.

** His HSDM in ''2002''(''UM'')? (The) [[Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes Crimson Star Road]].

[[folder:The NEST Chronicles]]

** Her new Climax special in ''XV'' is based on [[VideoGame/{{Tekken}} Claudio Serafino's]] EnergyBow Rage Art in ''Tekken 7''.

* Two members of the Sons of Fate (the gang Alba and Soiree belong to) are named [[Music/{{Oasis}}Noel and Gallagher]].

** Terry has a color palette that flat-out makes him look like [[Franchise/SuperMario Mario]].

** His Shakushi [=MAX2=] move is identical to [[Manga/OnePiece Captain Kuro's version]], all the way down to the name and the random hitboxes. According to WordOfGod, his Maniac Striker ("Cool Choi") borrows [[AdjustingYourGlasses his glasses-adjusting gesture]] from the same character.

** Character artist [[Creator/Shinkiro]] mentions that Geese's overall aesthetic, as a Mafia boss, draws inspiration from Creator/RobertDeNiro in ''Film/TheGodfather''.

** Character artist [[Creator/Shinkiro]] mentions that Geese's overall aesthetic, as a Mafia boss, draws inspiration from [[Creator/RobertDeNiro]] in [[Movie/TheGodfather The Godfather Part 2]].

* When speaking of Rugal's [[AndIMustScream prized "trophies"]] there is one of note that is interesting. It's of a man with a [[LawyerFriendlyCameo familiar hairdo, a sleeveless shirt, with military fatigue pants and boots.]] Sadly this man is nameless, but he does have a rather eerie resemblance to a U.S. special forces officer named [[Franchise/StreetFighter Guile]]. Apparently, the point of the resemblance was not lost since in ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom Capcom vs. SNK]]'' the two have an intro of said "trophy" is standing between them and them destroying it.

* Both K' and Maxima are remodelled humans fighting against the ones who modified them, just like ''Manga/Cyborg009'' and ''Franchise/KamenRider'' -- in fact, Maxima's story of avenging a friend by letting himself be modified by his friend's assassin is taken straight out ot ''Series/KamenRiderStronger''. Their names are taken from a ''Anime/ArmoredTrooperVOTOMS'' spin-off ''Blue Knight Beserga Story'', namely K' (a clone of main character [=Kane McDougall=]) and the mecha [=ATM-FX1 Zerberus VR-Maxima=].