History WhatCouldHaveBeen / TheKingOfFighters

** King's Surprise Rose super move from ''Art of Fighting 2'' was her original DM in ''[='94=]'' but was scrapped for some reason. King's designer then came up with the Illusion Dance DM and it was well received. Surprise Rose returned in later games as a mere special move for King. It was turned back into a DM in ''2002: Unlimited Match'' and ''XII''.

** Orochi Iori was originally planned to be the final boss of ''[='97=]'' (remnants of this manifest as Iori being a BonusBoss in said game if you beat Orochi with Kyo).

** Among the potential DLC costumes SNK considered for ''XIV'', the entire list itself had consisted of [[https://imgur.com/jldNPft MOTW Terry, Business Suit Geese, a ton of costumes for Mai]], [[https://imgur.com/CmiHRnV King in different cocktail dresses, Mui Mui in a panda suit, Ryo's Mr. Karate II persona, KOD with a Triceratops motif, Kim Sue Il clothes for Kim, Meitenkun in a sheep costume]], [[https://imgur.com/YyfYQ2c Yuri in a cheerleading outfit, Angel donning the "Tizoc 2" persona, Goth Sylvie, and a Rera color palette for Nakoruru]] among others.

** Athena's appearance in ''XII'' [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/File:Athena_rejected_artwork.jpg was originally conceived to be not quite as loli/moe as the final result.]] Said art would be polished and used as a promo image for ''The Rhythm of Fighters''.

* The series wasn't originally a [[FightingGame fighting game]]; it was going to be a BeatEmUp in the vein of ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' and ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage'' called ''Survivor'' with Terry, Robert, and Ralf as playable characters.

** [[https://itsfantasticac.tumblr.com/post/649813028241539072/the-origins-of-chris-from-king-of-fighters-can-be Concept art]] for ''[='94=]'' and ''[='95=]'' depicts a potential boss character named "Osamu" who heavily resembles Chris in his Hakkeshu robes. Given that no such concepts exist for ''[='96=]'' onwards, it seems that character concept was [[DecompositeCharacter split]]; Osamu's concept evolved into Goenitz while his design was retooled for Chris in ''[='97=]''. Chris does wear Hakkeshu robes in one of the ''[='98=]'' credits images (along with Yashiro and Shermie) and the concept of Chris fighting in the robes would be revisited in ''VideoGame/KOFAllStars'' with "False Resurrection Chris" as well as ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV'''s Awakened Orochi Team, making him closer to Osamu.

** The biggest "what if?" would have to come from ''2001''. One could only imagine what direction the series would have taken if SNK hadn't gone bankrupt after ''2000''.
*** WordOfGod says that the game was originally meant to be an epic installment similar to ''97'', to wrap up the NESTS storyline. The game was said to return to the 3 vs 3 format, with a hero team consisting of K', Kula and Krizalid, who inexplicably returned. A sub boss team similar to ''97''[='s=] Orochi team was apparently planned, consisting of Ron, a cloned version of Krizalid, and Zero before fighting Father NESTS, the final boss. But then Eolith happened, and we got K' on his old team, Kula lumped in with Foxy and two of Eolith's creations, and Krizaild totally removed, though his voice clips remain in the game's files. Ron and the clone Krizalid became strikers for Zero, and NESTS was killed off in the cutscenes to make room for Eolith's new boss, Igniz. The validity of all this information is debated, but ''2001'' went on to become possibly the least popular game in the entire series, or at least the canon games. What could have been indeed...

Sometimes not everything that's on the cutting room floor will come to fruition. And in ''KOF's'' case, that cutting room is ''massive.''

* Beside the various prototype designs of characters (many of which can be seen as Strikers in ''2000''), many plot points were shafted or altered:

* Even better, this series wasn't even originally a [[FightingGame fighting game]]; it was going to be a [[BeatEmUp beat 'em up]] in the vein of ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' and ''[[VideoGame/StreetsOfRage Streets of Rage]]'' called ''Survivor'' with Terry, Robert, and Ralf as playable characters.
* Athena's appearance in ''XII'' [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/File:Athena_rejected_artwork.jpg was originally conceived to be not quite as loli/moe as the final result.]] Said art would be polished and used as a promo image for ''The Rhythm of Fighters''.
* Rugal was originally planned to [[DittoFighter mirror special moves of the characters and use them against them]]. Hardware limitations killed this idea. Rugal's Reppuken, Kaiser Wave, and [[AttackReflector Dark Barrier]] are relics of this idea.
* Believe it or not, it was planned for Terry to actually ''die'' at the climax of ''[='99=]''[[note]]One of the Fatal Fury team endings give off this vibe by having Terry stay behind in the collapsing base, but TheStinger reveals that he survives[[/note]]. Luckily, head management disagreed and brought him back in ''2000'', avoiding what would have been a shocking PlayerPunch and the ensuing barrage of complaints. However, the "what if" aspect of his death was played up for the remainder of the saga to the point that Blue Mary told Terry how his teammates ([[ShipTease or more specifically, her]]) were worried about him in the team's ''2000'' ending.
* Kim was supposed to debut in the first ''Maximum Impact'' under the alias of "Mr. Taekwondo", akin to "Mr. Karate". Instead, [[DistaffCounterpart Chae Lim]] took his place, and Kim popped up in the sequel as his good 'ol regular self. Chae Lim herself was chosen over the likes of Jhun Hoon, May Lee, and ''Buriki One'' character Seo Yong Song.
* Originally, Chang and Choi were going to be paired up with another dangerous criminal to from the "Fugitive Team". Kim was a last-minute addition, thus setting up the whole "rehabilitation" plot. [[RefittedForSequel This concept would be revisited]] for XIV, with Chang and Choi teaming with Xanadu to form the Villains Team.
* King's Surprise Rose super move from ''Art of Fighting 2'' was her original DM in ''[='94=]'' but was scrapped for some reason. King's designer then came up with the Illusion Dance DM and it was well received. Surprise Rose returned in later games as a mere special move for King. It was turned back into a DM in ''2002: Unlimited Match'' and ''XII''.
* Ralf (and presumably Clark) was supposed to have a moveset revolving around grenades back in his ''KOF'' debut as a ShoutOut to ''Ikari Warriors''. This was scrapped due to a possible case of [[GameBreaker game breaking mechanics]].
** Lampshaded in the intro dialogue between Kyo and Clark in ''XIII'', wherein Clark explains that the grenades he's wearing are duds, so there's no danger of them going off if Kyo uses his fire on them.
* Heidern's moveset and their names were so strange that the designers were going to make him an alien as explanation for his "abilities." However, the lead designer became attached to the character, giving him a tragic backstory instead and keeping him as a human.
* Saisyu was supposed to have died during his EarlyBirdCameo in ''[='94=]''. His appearance in the following game was a last-minute addition.
* "Chris of the Flames of Destiny" (aka, Orochi Chris) was originally going to have black flames, but the idea was dumped as they would have been too hard to notice in his rather dark stage.
* [[FanDisservice One of Orochi's early designs was that of a naked Chris using an energy ball to attack...]]
* [[https://itsfantasticac.tumblr.com/post/649813028241539072/the-origins-of-chris-from-king-of-fighters-can-be Concept art]] for ''[='94=]'' and ''[='95=]'' depicts a potential boss character named "Osamu" who heavily resembles Chris in his Hakkeshu robes. Given that no such concepts exist for ''[='96=]'' onwards, it seems that character concept was [[DecompositeCharacter split]]; Osamu's concept evolved into Goenitz while his design was retooled for Chris in ''[='97=]''. Chris does wear Hakkeshu robes in one of the ''[='98=]'' credits images (along with Yashiro and Shermie) and the concept of Chris fighting in the robes would be revisited in ''VideoGame/KOFAllStars'' with "False Resurrection Chris" as well as ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV'''s Awakened Orochi Team, making him closer to Osamu.
* [[http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/official/kof-xiii/blog/archives/2010/08/post_28.html According to the Developers' Blog]] for ''XIII'', Chang, Malin, Momoko, and Oswald were meant to be in the game. Chang was reduced to a cameo in the India stage, whereas the other three cameo in endings (the Women Fighters Team, Psycho Soldiers Team, and Ash Crimson, respectively).
** And Chang (along with Choi) makes the customary Kim Team ending cameo.
* Vanessa was supposed to be playable in ''[='99=]'', but didn't make it in time. She makes an EarlyBirdCameo as a Striker in the ''[='99=] Evo'' console release.
* The Neo MAX supers in ''XIII'' were at first created as extensions to normal supers, but because of testing feedback they were eventually changed into stand alone supers. A few Neo MAX supers in the final build still look like they were supposed to follow up on normal supers, some of them only effective gameplay-wise when used as such.
* Adelheid was apparently meant to be playable in ''XIII'', based on some full-body and winpose sketches by Eisuke Ogura.
* If [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/File:Adel_and_rose_99.jpg unused]] [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/File:Adel_and_99_2.jpg concept]] [[http://snk.wikia.com/wiki/File:Magaki_unused.jpg art]] for ''[='98=]'' and ''[='99=]'' is any indication, it might have been intended for Adel, Rose, and Magaki to join the series as early as the NESTS Chronicles. In particular, one of Rose's prototype designs is shared with that of Whip.
* Foxy, who made her debut in ''2001'', originally wasn't meant to be playable. When it was decided that she'd be added to the roster, it was intended for Diana to join her, although this didn't pan out because of time constraints and Diana remains to this day an NPC.
* Raiden's first playable entry in the KOF series (prior to ''XIII'') was going to be in ''2003'', but the developers eventually decided on using Tizoc instead.
** His 'Big Bear' persona was also going to appear in ''[='94=]'', but scrapped in favor of Yuri being added.
* Billy Kane was planned to be playable in ''[='94=]'', but scrapped due to limitations.
* [[https://itsfantasticac.tumblr.com/post/674372756382580736/developer-sketches-of-the-original-plan-for-the Lee Pai Long]] was originally the third member of the Mexico Team, but was replaced by Yuri at the ''Art of Fighting'' devs' request. Yuri herself was originally supposed to be part of the team before being moved to the England Team, with Takuma ending up as the team's third member.
* Whip was planned to enter the series as early as ''[='96=]'', but was pushed backed til ''[='99=]'' due to Leona being introduced.
* In order to decide on who would become the members of the '97 Special Team for ''[='97=]'', three polls were conducted by the Japanese video game magazines ''Weekly Famitsu'', ''Gamest'', and ''Neo Geo Freak'', in which the readers had voted for the characters that they wanted to see in the game as part of the team itself. While Billy was the winner of the ''Neo Geo Freak'' poll and Yamazaki had won the ''Weekly Famitsu'' poll, Duck King had came very close to winning the ''Gamest'' poll, but ended up losing to Blue Mary who had barely defeated Duck via a few mere votes and that Duck himself was reduced to making background cameos until he finally became a playable character in ''XI''.
* It's speculated that Kasumi Todoh was meant to be in the original release of '''98'', even before her appearance in ''Ultimate Match''.
* ''2002'' may have been planned to keep Strikers, as a lot of unused old Striker animations were kept in the game's code.

* Among the [[http://www.siliconera.com/2017/11/05/snk-picks-saudi-arabian-fans-design-character-design-contest/ characters submitted]] to the Character Design contest, there was a burly man who fought by wearing an eagle-inspired armor, a young man that fought with ink, a soldier that used a scarf as a weapon and a bespectacled guy carrying a giant sand clock on his back.
* Among the potential DLC costumes SNK considered for ''XIV'', the entire list itself had consisted of [[https://imgur.com/jldNPft MOTW Terry, Business Suit Geese, a ton of costumes for Mai]], [[https://imgur.com/CmiHRnV King in different cocktail dresses, Mui Mui in a panda suit, Ryo's Mr. Karate II persona, KOD with a Triceratops motif, Kim Sue Il clothes for Kim, Meitenkun in a sheep costume]], [[https://imgur.com/YyfYQ2c Yuri in a cheerleading outfit, Angel donning the "Tizoc 2" persona, Goth Sylvie, and a Rera color palette for Nakoruru]] among others.
* According to [[http://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/nicolive/181115a this interview]] from SNK during their 40th anniversary, a ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' team was initially planned and potentially considered for both ''KOF '95'' and ''KOF '96'', with the team itself consisting of Haohmaru, Nakoruru, and Galford, but the entire scenario was scrapped due to time constraints. Nakoruru would eventually join ''XIV'' as part of "Another World" team, and a full ''Samurai Shodown'' team [[RefittedForSequel would eventually be realized]] in ''XV'' (albeit with Darli from the 2019 game replacing Galford).
* Takuma, Momoko, Malin, Oswald, Big Bear, and three unknown newcomers were originally meant to be in ''XII''. Andy, Joe, Kensou, and Chin were not originally planned to appear, but eventually made it in over the former choices. Bear did technically get in under his Raiden persona however.
* In ''2002 Unlimited Match'', the potential idea for the alternate versions of Takuma, Kensou, and Robert was that you could switch between their two fighting styles during battle, much like May Lee. However, the developers of the game had felt and considered that this would unintentionally confuse some players of these characters and eventually left them as separate choices from within the final version of the game itself.
* Yamazaki and Blue Mary were initially part of ''XIV's'' base roster. They were cut and saved for DLC due to the team feeling there was already enough ''Fatal Fury'' characters.
** In a similar manner, Jack Turner and John Crawley from ''Art of Fighting'' were considered early on for the roster, but the team felt they were just too obscure to include.
* According to [[https://twitter.com/falcoon_master/status/1103608223561482241 two]] [[https://twitter.com/falcoon_master/status/1103614947446054912 tweets]] from ''Maximum Impact'' producer-designer Falcoon, ''Regulation A''[='=]s sequel (called "Maximum Impact 3", "Maximum Impact 360" or "Regulation A 2", depending on the console) would have included at least new eight characters: Joe Higashi, Hotaru Futaba, Angel and Griffon Mask / Tizoc as returning characters, and another four new ones: an "unnumbered NESTS modified human", an "undead Hizoku Clan member", a "single person with five personalities", and a "third Beart". Also, in line with Makoto Mizoguchi's crossover cameo in ''Regulation A'', Samchay Tomyamgun from ''VideoGame/FightersHistory'' was being considered as a MovesetClone, in line with ''Maximum Impact 2''[='=]s hidden characters.

* [[https://twitter.com/snk_fax/status/1486480134517444614 Concept art]] for ''[='94=]'' and ''[='95=]'' depicts what appears to be Chris in his Hakkeshu robes as a potential character. Given that no such concepts exist for ''[='96=]'' onwards, it seems that character concept was [[DecompositeCharacter split]] with the concept evolving into Goenitz while the design was retooled for Chris in ''[='97=]''. Chris does wear Hakkeshu robes in one of the ''[='98=]'' credits images (along with Yashiro and Shermie) and the concept of Chris fighting in the robes would be revisited in ''VideoGame/KOFAllStars'' with "False Resurrection Chris" as well as ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV'''s Awakened Orochi Team.

* According to [[http://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/nicolive/181115a this interview]] from SNK during their 40th anniversary, a ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' team was initially planned and potentially considered for both ''KOF '95'' and ''KOF '96'', with the team itself consisting of Haohmaru, Nakoruru, and Galford, but the entire scenario was scrapped due to time constraints.

* [[https://archive.org/details/kof-characters-kof-94-97-zen-45-chara-settei-shiryou-kanzen-shuuroku/page/117/mode/2up Concept art]] for ''[='94=]'' and ''[='95=]'' depicts what appears to be Chris in his Hakkeshu robes as a potential character. Given that no such concepts exist for ''[='96=]'' onwards, it seems that character concept was [[DecompositeCharacter split]] with the concept evolving into Goenitz while the design was retooled for Chris in ''[='97=]''. Chris does wear Hakkeshu robes in one of the ''[='98=]'' credits images (along with Yashiro and Shermie) and the concept of Chris fighting in the robes would be revisited in ''VideoGame/KOFAllStars'' with "False Resurrection Chris" as well as ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV'''s Awakened Orochi Team.

* [[https://archive.org/details/kof-characters-kof-94-97-zen-45-chara-settei-shiryou-kanzen-shuuroku/page/117/mode/2up Concept art]] for ''[='94=]'' and ''[='95=]'' depicts what appears to be Chris in his Hakkeshu robes as a potential character. Given that no such concepts exist for ''[='96=]'' onwards, it seems that character concept was [[DecompositeCharacter split]] with the concept evolving into Goenitz while the design was retooled for Chris in ''[='97=]''. Chris does wear Hakkeshu robes in one of the ''[='98=]'' credits images (along with Yashiro and Shermie) and the concept of Chris fighting in the robes would be revisited in ''VideoGame/KOFAllStars'' with "False Resurrection Chris".

* According to [[https://twitter.com/falcoon_master/status/1103608223561482241 two]] [[https://twitter.com/falcoon_master/status/1103614947446054912 tweets]] from ''Maximum Impact'' producer-designer Falcoon, ''Regulation A''[='=]s sequel (called "Maximum Impact 3", "Maximum Impact 360" or "Regulation A 2", depending on the console) would have included at least new eight characters: Joe Higashi, Hotaru Futaba, Angel and Griffon Mask / Tizoc as returning characters, and another four new ones: an "unnumbered NESTS modified human", an "undead Hizoku Clan member", a "single person with five personalities", and a "third Beart". Also, in line with Makoto Mizoguchi's crossover cameo in ''Regulation A'', Samchay Tomyamgun from ''VideoGame/FightersHistory'' was being considered as a MovesetClone, in line with ''Maximum Impact 2''[='=]s hidden characters.