Line #19 BaseBreakingCharacter/TheKingOfFighters


1	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIII https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ash_in_a_nutshell.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[Characters/TheKingOfFightersHeroes Ash Crimson]], everybody.]]
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4	For every [[EnsembleDarkHorse/TheKingOfFighters Dark Horse]] of a fighter that there is in a long-runner like ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'', you're bound to find a character that has an equal amount of fans ''and'' detractors.
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6	* Frankly speaking, all of the mainline protagonists easily fit the bill:
7	** Kyo himself is either one of the cooler protagonists in the fighting game genre with a very unique (post-''[='=]96'', anyway) moveset and amazing designs throughout the franchise (especially his NESTS-era jacket or ''KOF 2003''-''XV'' look), or he's mostly bland and one-note (nevermind that he can be [[{{Jerkass}} quite the douche]] [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold sometimes]]; especially towards Iori), with some even wondering why he's touted as one of the faces of Creator/{{SNK}} when [[Characters/TheKingOfFightersRivals Iori]] or especially [[Characters/FatalFuryTerryBogard Terry]] exist. And that's not even getting into his (literal) clones, either...
8	** As the new protagonist of the NESTS arc, K' had big shoes to fill, and how well he fills them is hotly debated among fans. Many see him as a perfect headliner for the saga, serving as a ContrastingSequelProtagonist for the shift from Japanese mythology and martial arts to dark science fiction. Some feel he's a stylish, memorable character in his own right who is merely subject to a disproportionate amount of CharacterShilling. On the other hand, detractors, especially veteran fans, consider him a poor man's version of Kyo at best, while others strongly dislike his abrasive attitude and "edgy" persona.
9	** Oh, boy. Ash. When he debuted back in ''KOF 2003'' the fanbase was in two different camps - they either '''''loathed''''' this guy for getting one over series staples Chizuru and Iori by stealing their powers, nearly getting [[EnsembleDarkHorse Shingo]] killed by Orochi Iori (and [[PutOnABus benched]] until his eventual return in ''KOF XV''), his obnoxiously [[AgentPeacock effeminate]] and [[SmugSnake smug demeanor]], and [[ChargeInputSpecial basic]] [[StoneWall moveset]] that almost entirely riffs on [[Franchise/StreetFighter Guile]]'s that, to his credit, evolved as the series progressed. On the other hand, fans ''[[LoveToHate enjoyed]]'' [[LoveToHate his insufferably smug demeanor]] and his refreshing role as a VillainProtagonist, something ''unheard of'' in the FGC, and for having some of the flashiest and most enjoyable combos through [[LagCancel Sans-culotte]] (and admittedly, his [[TechnicolorFire green flames]] make him stand out a lot compared to his predecessors). Whether you loved or hated him, you can't deny his sendoff in ''KOF XIII'' was the series' single biggest {{Tearjerker}}… at least until he came back in ''XV'', anyway. A whole ''12 years'' after the fact.
10	** Shun'ei, mostly due to his design. Common detractions include it being incoherent, especially with his jacket worn like a cape, his headphones, and his one folded pant leg on top of an utter mess of a color scheme. On the other hand, others like him for being both simple and effective to play and being the nicest ''KOF'' protagonist out of the four, albeit rather aloof otherwise.
11	* Iori is also subject to some scrutiny, too. Fans like him for his badass design, series-defining moveset, and for his [[{{Jerkass}} delightfully]] [[ArrogantKungFuGuy dickish]] personality that is only rivaled by that of [[Characters/GarouMarkOfTheWolves Gato]], [[Characters/TheKingOfFighters2001 K9999]]/[[Characters/TheKingOfFightersXV Krohnen]], or Ash, coupled with a rather tragic backstory that gives him some HiddenDepths. On the other hand, detractors often find his jerkass tendencies to be grating (with his {{Flanderization}} in ''XIII'' that characterized him as an obsessive stalker towards Kyo not helping matters), his JackOfAllTrades playstyle to be boring at best, and for almost never being [[HighTierScrappy anything worse than top tier]] in virtually every game he appears in (which is every game since he debuted in ''[='=]95'', but reached its apex in ''[='=]98'' and most prominently ''XIII'').
12	* While Kula was well-received in her initial debut, ever since {{Flanderization}} kicked in for her from ''XI'' onwards she's been met with this reaction. Fans like her for being AnIcePerson with a DarkAndTroubledPast and a cool design that is complimentary to that of K'. Detractors, on the other hand, not only take umbrage with her [[HighTierScrappy top-tier status]] in ''XI'' and most recently ''XV'', but also her PingPongNaivete and her [[BrattyHalfPint tendency to act]] [[GooGooGodlike like a small child]] despite being the same age as Chris (14 years old), the latter of whom could be seen as the [[WiseBeyondTheirYears most mature member of CYS]] (to a degree) by comparison. Never mind that she falls victim to most of the NESTS-era characters, in general, being completely [[StaticCharacter static]] compared to others that have gotten character development (i.e., Shingo or Kukri).
13	* K9999 is derided by critics for being an extremely blatant {{Expy}} of [[Manga/{{Akira}} Tetsuo Shima,]] right down to having the same powers, [[Creator/NozomuSasaki voice actor]] and dialogue. But that's precisely what his fans love about him, and even some players who have never seen ''AKIRA'' like him for his unabashedly smug and abrasive personality. Two decades and many KOF installments later, SNK attempted to reach a middle ground with [[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV Krohnen]].
14	* Even K9999's SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Nameless has it. You either like him for not being K9999, what with his more original and distinct design plus his utterly tragic backstory, or you hate him for not being K9999, what with Creator/DaisukeOno's more monotone delivery and his sullener demeanor causing him to lack K9999's mean streak.
15	* Sylvie. An adorable modern idol with a hidden sadistic streak and a surprisingly DarkAndTroubledPast (if ''SNK Heroines'' is anything to go by) tying her to the NESTS Saga, or a visually messy and out-of-place abomination that suffers from SweetnessAversion? She proved divisive as soon as ''XIV'''s concept art leaked.
16	* Rock Howard. Some fans, especially those who remember him from ''VideoGame/GarouMarkOfTheWolves'' and ''[[VideoGame/CapcomVsSNK2MarkOfTheMillennium Capcom vs. SNK 2]]'' are generally happy at his inclusion in the [=KoF=] cast. However, other longtime series fans dismiss him as a boring, generic, anime pretty boy who copies some of Terry and Geese's moves but doesn't have what makes them interesting to play. Being historically [[LowTierLetdown low tier]] in most of his appearances up until his reworked set in ''XV'' has not helped.
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Context BaseBreakingCharacter / TheKingOfFighters