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The King of Fighters XV

Revision as of 04:18, 15 November 2023 by 177.125.119.13 (contribs) (→‎DLC Teams/Contents Trailers)
Edit
Position in the series
Saga/Story Arc
Chapter
Is it canonical?
15th
KOF XIV & XV Arc new age saga
2nd
Yes
The King of Fighters XV
Kofxvmainkeyvisual
Main key visual, showing Shun'ei, the Sacred Treasures Team, K', Ash, Heidern and the two female newcomers. Illustration by Ogura
Statistics
Release dateFebruary 17, 2022
GenreVersus Fighting game
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S & Microsoft Windows
Game modeArcade
Versus
Online Battle
Developer(s)Original snk logo
Publisher(s)Original snk logo
Koch media logo rebrand
PreviousThe King of Fighters XIV
Next―

"Shatter All Expectations."

- Tagline

The King of Fighters XV, officially abbreviated as KOF XV is a upcoming fifteenth installment of The King of Fighters series. It was officially announced at EVO 2019 and was originally slated for release in 2020.[1] However, the date was postponed to 2021, due to COVID-19 pandemic. More details would be revealed in January 7, 2021[2]. In June, SNK announced that the game had been postponed once again and will be released in the first quarter of 2022, due to the rising cases of COVID-19 and the state of emergency in Japan.[3] The game will be released for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows 10, Steam and Epic Games. It is currently not known if the game will have crossplay or not.[4] The game is the first of the series to have rollback netcode.

This game is the second chapter of the fourth canonical saga for the series, and is the second SNK game to use the Unreal Engine graphic motor (Unreal Engine 4), the first being Samurai Shodown (2019). Yasuyuki Oda (Garou: Mark of the Wolves and The King of Fighters XIV) is the producer, Eisuke Ogura is the creative director and Tomohiro Nakata (The King of Fighters All Star) is the main illustrator.

The promotion of the game is through trailers that were, initially weekly, but with the postponement of the game, they became biweekly. Starting with the 11th trailer (Yashiro's Reveal Trailer), the company reveals silhouettes of the next characters to be confirmed.

Story

Only the world's toughest fighters can duke it out in the largest martial arts tournament in the world.

Though a mysterious being called Verse destroyed the KOF arena, its threat was quelled thanks to the brave efforts of the winning challengers.

Time has passed since the closing of that tumultuous tournament, and the next KOF begins, backed by a new sponsor.

Meanwhile, Chizuru Kagura senses something interfering with the seal of Orochi, otherwise known as Gaia's Will.

She teams up with Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami to join the KOF and investigate.

Amidst these myriad motives, fighters resurrected after Verse's defeat also join the fray.

Once again, a storm is on the horizon...

Development

Kofxviorivsyashiro

Gameplay of Iori vs. Yashiro

Due to positive response to the marketing of The King of Fighters XIV, director Yasuyuki Oda said in August 2017 that The King of Fighters XV was possible, but SNK also wanted to focus on other franchises. Oda, instead, worked in the spin-off, SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy, a female character-driven fighting game and a spiritual sequel of SNK Gals' Fighters. In December 2018, SNK revealed the company was working on The King of Fighters XV, aiming to release it during 2020. Feeling the previous title had outdated graphics for a 2016 game, SNK chairman Zhihui Ge said that XV will use the Unreal Engine 4 graphic motor to provide a better presentation.

Kofshuneivsmeitenkun

Shun'ei, about to apply his new climax in Meitenkun.

At the finals of EVO 2019, SNK announced that the game was in development. The title's creative director is Eisuke Ogura, who has previously worked as an artist on the series, beginning with The King of Fighters 2001. Most notably, he served as the main illustrator for The King of Fighters XIII and XIV. The director of The King of Fighters XIV, Yasuyuki Oda, will serve as the title's producer. The character design is being handled by Tomohiro Nakata, which also worked on The King of Fighters All Star.

Gameplay

Some game modes present in the previous game reappears in this game. One of the new modes added is the SHATTER STRIKER, that consists in defend and counter against any opponent. Beside that, there is the addition of a new versus mode: the DRAFT, in which the player does not use all the characters chosen by him.

Confirmed Teams & Characters (Until Now)

Overview

KOF XV keeps the voice actors for characters returning from The King of Fighters XIV (between veterans and debutants). For characters that weren't in the previous game, some voice actors from KOF All Star return to voice their respective characters with the exception of Chris, a member of the Orochi Team, who has a different voice actress than the one from the mobile game.

This game also has a profound change in teams compared to KOF XIV. The new team formations are as follows:

Hero Team (XV)
At the request of his old friend Kyo Kusanagi, Benimaru Nikaido is tasked to watch over the series' new protagonists Shun'ei and Meitenkun. As a result, he leaves the Japan Team and replaces the old master Tung Fu Rue. The three form the Fourth Saga's Hero Team, renaming China Team moniker into a team named after Shun'ei, due to the younger model and fighter's nationality.
Sacred Treasures Team (KOF XV)
The Sacred Treasures Team (which was once a special edit-based team in their three previous canonical appearances (four if counting the dream match KOF '98/UM) is now an official and regular team. As a result, Kyo Kusanagi undoes the Japan Team, Chizuru Kagura comes back to the series after an 18 years, and Iori Yagami disbands his namesake team. This is also the second time that the clan rivals Kyo and Iori have joined together in an official team, the first time being The King of Fighters XI.
Orochi Team (KOF XV)
The Orochi Team (formerly known as the New Faces Team) make their official canonical 24 years (25 if counting the game's release) after their last appearances in a canonical game (and 19 years since their last appearance in a mainline game of the series [20 if counting the game's release]). The team appears after being revived at the end of KOF XIV (with their resurrections confirmed by Shermie's presence in SNK Heroines).
Art of Fighting Team (XV)
After receiving an invitation from Ryo Sakazaki, King leaves the Women Fighters Team after 12 years, and replaces Yuri Sakazaki in the Art of Fighting Team. This is the third time that the French bartender joins with the classic team (the other times being 2000 and XI), and the second time accompanying both Ryo and Robert Garcia (the first was only in 2000, along with Takuma Sakazaki, Ryo's father and Robert's master).
Secret Agent Team (XV)
After leaving the Kim Team, Luong seemingly starts working in opposition to her lover Gang-il and his disciple Kim Kaphwan, by joining the Secret Agent Team with the freelancer agents Vanessa and Blue Mary.
Super Heroine Team (XV)
Although first appearing in non-canonical team combinations under other names, a new variant of the Super Heroine Team, makes its debut in this game. As a result, Athena Asamiya leaves the Psycho Soldier Team after 6 years, and joins with Mai Shiranui and Yuri Sakazaki (who leaves the Art of Fighting Team, and being replaced by King for the second time). This is the second game that Athena appears in other team, being the first The King of Fighters 2003.
G.A.W. Team (XV)
A brand-new team formation that made its first debut in this game, with the sub-boss of The King of Fighters XIV, Antonov, tooking command over the original Mexican Team, and forming a second Team Wrestler, known as Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team, and better known as the G.A.W. Team. As a result, the Mexico Team is officially undone, and Angel leaves the team, getting Ramon and King of Dinosaurs to join alongside the ex-milionaire.
Rival Team (XV)
A new formation of the classic Team Rival is composed by Isla (Shun'ei rival), the medium and hermit Dolores and Ikari Warriors leader Heidern. As a result, the Commander enters in a canonical team after 21 years (and in a mainline team after 13 years).
K' Team (XV)
The K' Team goes back to the classic trio formation after 19 years (and 20 years if counting the first mainline appearance of the team). As a result, Kula Diamond left the team after 17 years, being replaced by Whip.
Krohnen Team (XV)
To differentiate themselves from being called the NESTS Team since the downfall of the cartel 21 years ago (and 20 years ago, prior to the game's remake) and their status of them no longer its active operatives, a new team formation is composed by its leader, the newcomer Krohnen, accompanied by other ex-NESTS agents, Angel and Kula Diamond, with the last mentioned leaving the K' Team, due to a recent grudge between her and the leader of her old team. As another consequence, Angel leaves and undoes the Mexico Team, being replaced by Antonov. A new formation of the classic Krohnen Team.
Ash Team (XV)
The Ash Team is reformed 17 years after his last formation, and occurs after the French boy's ressurection (due to the fact that he has erased himself from the existence). The new entry of this team is composed by Ash, the mysterious Kukri and the noblewoman Elisabeth Blanctorche. As a result, the boy returns to the series after 12 years and the sand manipulator leaves the Official Invitation Team (a team created by Antonov that still included the underground fighters Sylvie Paula Paula and Mian) after the previous tournament.
Fatal Fury Team (XV)
Ikari Warriors Team (XV)
Both the Fatal Fury and Ikari Warriors teams remain unchanged from their formation in the previous tournament (with their classic team formations since '94 and '96 respectively).

Confirmed Characters

Teams confirmed until the current moment.

Hero Team (A.K.A. Shun'ei Team)

Sacred Treasures Team

Fatal Fury Team (A.K.A. Garou Densetsu Team)

Orochi Team (Former New Faces Team)

Art of Fighting Team (A.K.A. Ryuko no Ken Team)

Ikari Warriors Team (A.K.A. Ikari Team)

Secret Agents Team (A.K.A. New Agents Team)

Heroine Team (A.K.A. Super Heroines Team)

Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team (A.K.A. G.A.W. Team)

Rival Team (A.K.A. Isla Team)

K' Team

Krohnen Team

Ash Team

Boss

  • TBA

DLC Teams

Teams released through DLC.

NPC Character

  • Clemence Bellamy (KOF Tournament Anchorman and Reporter)
  • Verse - in Story Mode

Stages Cameos

Fatal Fury series

3 Count Bout

Metal Slug series

Stages Revelead Until Now

Team Stages

Stage
Stage's Name
Team/Character
Description
China
Classic Chinese Garden
Hero Team
The Classical Gardens of Suzhou, in the Jiangsu province. The fight takes place in a red balcony in the Humble Administrator's Garden, at night. This stage features a giant dragon statue, inside, a small waterfall, in the right outside, the full moon, bonsai trees, aquatic flowers, flags, Chinese pillars and decorations, besides the Jinshan Temple in the background.
Note: The dragon statue is very similar to the seen in Art of Fighting Team's stage in The King of Fighters '94 and The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match.
Japan
Esaka Construction Site
Sacred Treasures Team
The Japanese city of Osaka, at night. The fight takes place in the expansion site of the Esaka Station, next to the Hanshin Expressway. This stage features construction workers cheering, construction materials, barriers, backhoes, buildings, a teddy bear and a construction worker signs, besides the SNK's headquarters, in the background, Hiragana signs and a "The Esaka Station is closed for expansion" sign. The game series' name can be seen all over the stage. Stage reminiscent of The King of Fighters '94 (Japan Team's [A.K.A. Orochi Saga's Hero Team] stage).
USA
Beach Resort, Sunny Day (A.K.A. South Town Sound Beach)
Fatal Fury Team
The most famous beach of the American city, at a sunny day. The fight takes place next to the beach shops and to the entrance. The stage features a seafood restaurant, a surf shop with a mechanical shark sign, people cheering, parked bicycles, palm trees, the main church of the city, the tournament flags, a 4x4 car, balloons and a small ladder with a sun umbrella and a plaque with the sign WAVE SURF AREA, beside the South Town Bridge, in the background, and plaques with the signs PORT TOWN (Hon-Fu's stage in Fatal Fury 3) and CENTRAL CITY. Stage reminiscent of the first Fatal Fury game.
??
Concert Hall
Orochi Team
The fight takes place at a concert on the area of the main stage that has a checkered floor. This stage features the crowd cheering, screens (some showing the characters, other showing the game's name), stage structures, spotlights, sound boxes, a passageway and a band playing in the background, beside the game's logo in a big size.
Note: The band used in this stage is composed by NPC characters reused from The King of Fighters XIV (Villains Team's Stage).
USA
Pao Pao Cafe
Art of Fighting Team
The Richard Meyer and Bob Wilson's classic bar at night. The fight takes in the main saloon. This stage features the main bar, the public watching the fight, some drum players and the bar's logo, in the right, beside some decorations resembling Mudman (World Heroes' character). Stage reminiscent of the first Fatal Fury game and Fatal Fury 3.
Egypt
The Sahara
Ikari Warriors Team
An oasis in the middle of the Egyptian desert. The fight takes next to a plane crash (General Donald Morden's M-32 Water Carrier Plane). The stage features palm trees, dunas, a pink sun umbrella, a wooden plaque with the name KOF and pennants (some with the series' logo), besides a teddy bear and stilts close to the plane's wreckage. Stage reminiscent of Metal Slug Infinity.
Note: The stage includes numerous references to the Metal Slug series (the "Danger" barrels, the weapon crates, several POWs, the SV-001, and the Camel Slug).
France
Provence Main Street, Night
Secret Agents Team
The city of Paris, at night, in the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements. The fight takes in the Place de la République, next to the statue of Marianne, a historical figure representing the July Revolution. The stage features water puddles, a few stray cats roaming around in front of the "Cafe des Chats" (The Cat Cafe in English) as well as a couple of cats roaming around the street with various buildings in the background. A famous Parisian cafe can also be seen: La maison des Délices (The House of Delights, in English). Similar to the Czech Republic Stage in The King of Fighters 2003 (Arcade Version).
France
Provence Main Street, Day
Super Heroines Team
This version of the stage occurs in a Saint Patrick's Day celebration. Features some people, flowers, light poles, vans (one of them parked on a tent) and pennants with France and Ireland flags. Beside that, the Marianne's statue is decorated with ribbons in the colors of the French flag, and the tournament's simbols can be seen all over the stage.
??
Hyper Galaxy Ring
Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team
The main arena of the tournament, at sunset. Features two giant screens showing the fighters who are fighting, a crown-shaped structure, the crowd (Clemence Bellamy in the middle), giant trophies in both sides, some KOF-girls holding plaques, spotlights, a passageway and a meshed wall separating the audience from the stage. Beside, the game's name and logos (KOF '96 and the previous tournament) can be seen all over the stage.

Other Confirmed Stages

Stage
Stage's Name
Team/Character
Description
??
Haunted Amusement Park (A.K.A. Dream Amusement Park) (Tentative Name)
TBA
An old abandoned amusement park, at night. This stage features decaying mascots and rides, although many of them appear to still function, a carousel, a haunted house, a Ferris wheel and a candy store, beside a castle and some buildings, in the background. Stage reminiscent of Art of Fighting 2 (King's stage) and similar to the Amusement Park in The King of Fighters '99: Evolution (Dreamcast's exclusive stage).
??
Beach Resort, Sunset
TBA
The same stage as the Fatal Fury Team, in depths of sunset. This version of the stage features the sun setting, the empty beach and two yachts in the middle of the sand. Similar to the USA Stage in Real Bout Fatal Fury Special.
Note: The sails of the yachts show the date 1994-08-25, right below the main logo. This date is the Japanese arcade release date of KOF '94, the first game and the prologue of the series.
??
Winter Forest (Tentative Name)
TBA
TBA
??
Graffiti Wall (Tentative Name)
TBA
TBA
??
Training Stage
Random
A sparse arena used for training. The back wall is covered in white tiles whilst the floor is covered in grey tiles. There are several brown lines painted across the tiles, including vertically across the center, the left edge and the right edge, as well as horizontally across the floor; the combatants stand upon this horizontal line whilst fighting.

Gallery

Trailers

Teaser Trailers

Promotional trailers of the game.

Individual Gameplay Trailers

Teamed Character Trailers

Characters with teams already revealed.

Hero Team

Sacred Treasures Team

Fatal Fury Team

Orochi Team

Art of Fighting Team

Ikari Warriors Team

Secret Agents Team

Super Heroines Team

Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team

Rival Team

K' Team

Krohnen Team

Ash Team

DLC Teams/Contents Trailers

Trailers of the DLC teams/characters/content confirmed in the game.

Season 1

DLC Teams Trailers

Garou Team
South Town Team
Awakened Orochi Team
Samurai Team
DLC Free Boss

Season 2

Solo DLC Characters

DLC Free Boss

DLC Content Trailers

Costumes

Teaser Trailers

Refinements & Breakdowns

Refinements
Characters Breakdowns

Team BGMs

Music Themes of the Teams.

Initial Teams/Boss Roster

DLC Roster

Teams

Solo Characters

Bosses

Idle Poses

Fighting poses of the teams (some with taunts and/or victory poses).

Drawing Video

A sample of the game and character's creation process.

Trailer Song Themes

Some themes played in the character trailers are references to the characters' old themes in SNK past games. Below, the list:

Character
Music Theme
Game/Series' Source
Iori Yagami (Character Trailer #4)
Saxophone Under the Moon (PS4 Menu Theme)
The King of Fighters XIV (Yagami Team Theme)
Joe Higashi (Character Trailer #5)
Thai Nanbu no Tsutaetai Atarashii Shi (A New Poem That The South Thailand Wants To Tell)
Fatal Fury 2/Special (Joe's Theme)
Kyo Kusanagi (Character Trailer #6)
Goodbye Esaka (Remix)
The King of Fighters 2000 (Kyo's Theme)
Andy Bogard (Character Trailer #8)
Pasta
Fatal Fury 2/Special (Andy's Theme)
Yuri Sakazaki (Character Trailer #9)
ART OF FIGHT
Art of Fighting (Ryuhaku Todoh's Theme)
Yashiro Nanakase (Character Trailer #11)
Bloody
The King of Fighters '97 (New Faces Team Theme)
King (Character Trailer #12)
Kabocha to Piero (Pumpkin & Piero)
Art of Fighting 2 (King's Theme)
Mai Shiranui (Character Trailer #13)
Enryuujin (Flame Dragon God) (PS4 Menu Theme)
Fatal Fury 2/Special (Mai's Theme)
Shermie (Character Trailer #14)
Re:Bloody
The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match (New Faces/Orochi Team Theme)
Leona Heidern (Character Trailer #18)
Irregular Mission
The King of Fighters XIII (Ikari Warriors Team Theme)
Blue Mary (Character Trailer #21)
Masquerade
The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match ('97 Special Team Theme)
Vanessa (Character Trailer #23)
Secret Circumstances
The King of Fighters XI (Agents Team Theme)
Ramon (Character Trailer #24)
Undercover
The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match (Agents Team Theme)
Antonov (Character Trailer #27)
I'm THE KING OF FIGHTERS Type-2
The King of Fighters XIV (Antonov's Theme [Story Mode])
Ash Crimson (Character Trailer #28)
The Second Joker
The King of Fighters XIII (Ash's Theme)

Trivia

  • The character 3D models are made in Cell-Shading, similar to the models of Samurai Shodown (2019) (the first SNK game to use the Unreal Engine graphic motor). However, the vast majority of 3D models have been reused and remodeled from The King of Fighters XIV and SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy. The exceptions are Chizuru, Yashiro and Chris, who had their models made from the scratch.
  • Similar to Fatal Fury Team's classic formation, the Art of Fighting Team's formation in this game consist of three main heroes who were first debuted playable in the first Art of Fighting game. It would mark the second time to have a team formation based on the playable fighters from the first Art of Fighting game since 2000, if counting Takuma Sakazaki as Mr. Karate.
  • This game and The King of Fighters XI are the only mainlines game with profound team changes.
  • This game is the fourth KOF mainline game, and the KOF third canonical game to have another variant of Women Fighters Team, in form of Secret Agents Team, thus making the team the third all female teams to be another variant of the original team. The other games with another team of female fighters are The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match (with the Pretty Girls Fighters Team and the NESTS Team) and The King of Fighters 2003 (the High School Girls Team).
    • Athena's inclusion to team-up with one of the original Heroines Team members was foreshadowed in two games prior from one of her dialogues against one of its original member (XIII intro dialogue with King, and XIV win dialogue against Mai). Due to King returning to join with the Art of Fighting Team, it is possibly her request on granting Athena a permission to lead the Heroines Team in her stead, as first foreshadowed by their intro dialogue in XIII.
  • Some references to the SNK World can be noticed in the promotional trailers of the game:
    • The Shibuya Crossing, in Tokyo, appears in one of the scenes of the first trailer of the game (when Benimaru and Kyo talks) and in the Story Trailer (when Shun'ei and Meitenkun are present in it). This place also appears as a fighting stage in World Heroes Perfect.
    • When Clemence Bellamy appears in the first trailer, flashes of the Kagura Staduim (The King of Fighters '96's Sub-Boss Stage) appears.
    • In Terry's Reveal Trailer (Character Trailer #10), the formation of the Fatal Fury Team reproduces the arcade cover of the first Fatal Fury game. Beside that, the song Kurikinton, from this game (Terry's Theme), plays in a small match. Also in this trailer, the theme VS. plays after the match.
    • The opening theme of the first Art of Fighting game, Dragon and Tiger, plays in Ryo and Robert's Shared Reveal Trailer (Character Trailers #16 & #17).
    • In Ralf and Clark's Shared Reveal Trailer (Character Trailers #19 & #20), they make an indirect quote to the "Cross Changer" pose, a reference to Chojin Sentai Jetman, and made by the two military men in two last games of the Orochi Saga.
    • In Story Mode (Arcade Mode) cutscenes (more precisely when the characters are in Shibuya), a poster of Athena Asamiya with the outfit of the previous tournament can be seen.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://shoryuken.com/2018/12/05/snks-ipo-press-conference-revveals-new-samurai-shodown-will-be-multi-platform-the-king-of-fighters-xv-scheduted-for-2020/
  2. ↑ https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/us/press/2020/120401
  3. ↑ https://www.snk-corp.co.jp/us/press/2021/060201/
  4. ↑ https://twitter.com/SNKPofficial/status/1412426113482039297

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