History YMMV / TheKingOfFightersXV

** Hinako's to return in ''KOF XV'' after [[TheBusCameBack a 20-year absence]] is also a surprise to many, especially since she's the last DLC character of season two.

* PolishedPort: On one hand, the basic settings on the game's PC version aren't ideal nor detailed, not even having basic graphics presets or even the option to turn on V-Sync from within the game itself[[note]] You have to configure the [=GameUserSettings.ini=] file from the [=AppData=] folder on your PC's drive to do that lest you want your game to slow down or have screen tearing.[[/note]], but on the other hand, the PC version looks every bit as good as the console version, has full Raytracing support, and has the [[https://twitter.com/noodalls/status/1494286491996258304?s=20&t=HNhN8Tp2orsfEceWl6BADA least amount of input lag]] compared to the console versions at only [=33ms=] compared to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 version having [=88ms=] (pre-1.34, anyway). In layman's terms, if you want smooth and reliable inputs every time (which are ''extremely'' important when it comes to combos or even basic motion inputs), you can't go wrong with the PC version.

** Was anyone expecting Hinako to return in ''KOF XV'' after [[TheBusCameBack a 20-year absence]] since ''2003''? And as the final DLC character to round out the second season, no less?

* EvilIsSexy:
** Rugal's revival brought with him a HotterAndSexier look, owing to his more emphasized musculature and softer features on his face. Still the same [[SNKBoss cheap bastard]] of a Boss otherwise, though.
** Shermie returns with an even more provocative outfit than before. She can even wear it in her Awakened form!
** Not one to be outdone by his bandmate, Yashiro is also looking quite handsome this go around, too - especially with his updated outfit exposing more of his sculpted chest. He also looks rather dashing in his Heavenly Priest outfit, too.
** [[spoiler:[[Characters/SamuraiShodownII Mizuki Rashojin]] returns in Team Samurai's ending, with her even getting a fashion-conscious modern-day outfit that shows off her curves nicely in the team's {{Stinger}}.]]

** For being touted as the "CPU from hell", more than a few ''KOF'' veterans found the BonusBoss fight against Omega Rugal to be quite underwhelming. For one, his AI [[ArtificialStupidity isn't as bright as one might think]] since it's fairly easy to bait his infamous [[AntiAir Genocide Cutter]] by doing an empty hop in front of him (or even whiffing a move that puts you in the air, like Krohnen's Strike Slash) and then punishing accordingly. For another, he doesn't regain any health after every round, making the task of whittling his health a fair bit easier. And finally, it's surprisingly easy to deal with his infamous [[ThatOneAttack Dead Mount Press]] command grab - either jump right behind him and punish him or pick specific characters with a super that can activate regardless (like Heidern's Gae Bolg, poetically enough.)

** Despite being hyped up as [[TheRival the Iori]] to Shun'ei's Kyo, Isla doesn't really do much in the grand scheme of things beyond being another Amplified Specter (the very concept of which isn't even explored, as can be seen below in TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot). Being reduced to a DistressedDamsel (at least in the Hero Team's side of the story), a [[EnemyWithout vessel for Re Verse]], and most importantly, having [[UnknownRival a one-sided rivalry]] with Shun'ei that quickly turns into a ShipTease doesn't do much to help, either.

* TierInducedScrappy: [[TierInducedScrappy/TheKingOfFightersXV Now with its own page.]]

** [[spoiler:K9999]] was a highly [[BaseBreakingCharacter polarizing]] figure within the fanbase and even SNK themselves, to the point where he was retconned out of the series' timeline. [[spoiler:His return as Krohnen and being a bit more bearable as a character seems to have softened opinions and in some cases even won people over.]] From a gameplay standpoint, though...? [[HighTierScrappy A repeat of Nameless]] back in ''[='=]02UM'', [[TierInducedScrappy/TheKingOfFightersXV but worse]].

* PortingDisaster: Much like ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Guilty Gear -Strive-]]'' before it, it was quickly discovered that the [=PlayStation=] 5 port of the game at launch had the highest amount of input lag, which averaged about six frames of lag. [[AuthorsSavingThrow Fixed]] as of the 1.34 update, which brings the input lag to the same level as the [=PS4=] version.

** Of the many character predictions for Season 2, nobody expected Sylvie Paula Paula, now with an all-new design, or Nadj to return to this game.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: As is tradition, some of the Team Stories for the non-central characters proved to be rather divisive. And hell, even the central characters themselves aren't exempt, either.

** ''[=SamSho=]'' veterans may get a kick out of Nakoruru's 8th color palette, which references Purple Nakoruru, an EX character variation of her who is much crueler and violent. The fact that this color variant gets a ''unique'' special outro may raise eyebrows from said veterans, with the implication that she's technically a part of the game.

** On the topic of ''XI'', this wouldn't be the first game to have a (sort of) universal input for the Climax Super. Leader {{Super Special Move}}s in the latter game were performed by pressing a super motion (e.g., double quarter-circle forward) plus the blowback button, much like in this game, with the key difference being that the input is the same across the whole cast as opposed to being varied like in ''XI''.
*** Also, ''KOF XI'' had some characters' special moves simplified despite not being stated in the move list. For example, Ryo's trademark [[HurricaneKick Hien Shipuu Kyaku]] had an alternate quarter-circle back input instead. Long before it would become official here.

** The newest Fated Battle theme between [[ArchnemesisDad father/son duo]] Geese and Rock Howard, [[https://youtu.be/bT1o9G45AXU "Way to The Horizon"]], is the closest one will get to a remix of Rock's ''Garou'' {{leitmotif}}, [[https://youtu.be/cRYvdOhfQNU "Spread the Wings"]]. As a result, it also takes cues from the late Robert Miles' [[https://youtu.be/CC5ca6Hsb2Q "Children"]], which the latter is influenced by.
*** It also has some similar notes to the [[https://youtu.be/mjaa-ajWEZA "Going to Space" theme]] from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]''.

* MemeticLoser: Billy is probably the first character that comes to mind when asking who the worst character in ''KOF XV'' is. The biggest contributor is his Far C have a frame disadvantage of -18... ''on hit''. Meaning that, the second Billy throws this move out and it connects, ''he's'' the one who can get punished for it.

** Funnily enough, despite being the one who effectively [[NiceJobBreakingItHero caused the mess]] [[{{Retgone}} of the main plot]] (and [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIV the game before]]) in the first place after [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIII erasing himself from existence]], Ash's role in this game is a mere background character. Sure, his team gets a CG cutscene for the ClimaxBoss, but even still, it's actually ''Kukri'' of all characters that does the heavy lifting for most of his team's plot. Even Team Ash's own story on SNK's website focuses more on Kukri than it does on Ash or especially Elisabeth.
** Rugal. It's nice to have him back after [[{{Understatement}} only]] [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters95 27 years]] (and for free, mind you), but seriously - no special intros or Edit Team artworks? Sure, he gets some special win quotes against Kyo and Heidern (and also against others that he didn't interact with at any point for some reason, such as K'), but the latter two have nothing unique to say to him in return.

** The use of Kula in the plots for Teams K' and Krohnen has been really controversial. [[spoiler:Kula's reasoning for running away from K' and Maxima ultimately played even harder into her {{Flanderization}}, being upset that they were too busy with work and broke their promise to take her to a theme park.]]
*** For that matter, the lack of any NESTS-era Bosses (e.g., Krizalid, Igniz - at least at launch, anyway) really makes you wonder what the point of including K' on the game's key visual even was. He doesn't even get an intro cinematic with the Sub-boss like the Hero, Rival, Ash, or Sacred Treasures teams do. Especially when you remember [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters99 all]] [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2000 the]] [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2001 shit]] Igniz in particular put K' and Maxima through.
*** And on that note, Angel and Krohnen/[[spoiler:K9999]] don't do much in the grand scheme of things; they are mostly relegated to fanservice for fans of ''2001'' and ''2002''. The best Krohnen gets is interactions with Kyo and K' for [[ContinuityNod continuity's]] [[CallBack sake]], but that's about it.

** Of the many character predictions for Season 2, next to nobody expected Sylvie Paula Paula to return in ''XV'', now with an all-new design. Najd's return is likewise another unexpected surprise for many, especially since she was also DLC in the previous game unlike Sylvie.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Rugal. It's nice to have him back after [[{{Understatement}} only]] [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters95 27 years]] (and for free, mind you), but seriously - no special intros or Edit Team artworks? Sure, he gets some special win quotes against Kyo and Heidern (and also against others that he didn't interact with at any point for some reason, such as K'), but the latter two have nothing unique to say to him in return.