As we’re getting nearer to the release ofKOF XV, you might be wondering if this fighting game is for you, and I strongly believeSuper Smash Brosfans in particular should give theKOFseries a try.
Culturally and historically speaking, theSuper Smash Brosseries is much closer toKOF,The King of Fighters, than you might think.
KOFwas the original fighting game crossover
One of the coolest facts aboutSuper Smash Bros. is how it includes characters from all Nintendo series, creating a massive crossover. And that’s whatKOFis all about as well.
Even mostKOFfans themselves tend to forget about it, butThe King Of Fighterswas one of the first ever game crossover series. While some of the characters were specifically created for the series, like Iori Yagami and Kyo Kusanagi, most of the fighters are from other games released on SNK’s legendary console, the Neo Geo. The originalKOFgame in 1994 brought together the protagonists ofArt of Fighting, Fatal Fury, Psycho Soldier,andIkari Warriors,in one big 3 vs 3 brawl, the staple of the series.
Super Smash Bros.Director Masahiro Sakurai is aKOFfan
That’s a fact mostSuper Smash brosfans themselves don’t know about, but Masahiro Sakurai is a huge anime and games otaku. I mean,Sakurai spent most of his 2021 birthday building a gundam model, you can’t be more otaku than that. And of course, Sakurai is really intoKOFand fighting games in general, and that’s one big reason why it became his career.
It’s pretty easy to see the cultural parallels betweenSuper Smash BrosandKOF, andSmashwouldn’t exist the way it does today if not forKOF.
The King Of Fightersis also by far one of the coolest fighting games of all time when it comes to character story and lore, another reason to get into it. Characters like Iori are so developedhe even got his own fantasy novel. And while it’s riding the isekai wave, it’s not anisekai/naroukeiper se, and one of the best novels I’ve read in years.
Super Smash Broswas partly inspired byKOF
Masahiro Sakurai already mentioned multiple times howKOFwas one of his inspirations forSuper Smash Bros, with one of theearliest examples dating from 2004.Seeing Sakurai’s enthusiasmwhen introducing the Neo Geo,Fatal Fury, andKOF, it makes you wonder how come it took so much time for Terry Bogard to finally joinSmash’s roster. While Nintendo, rather than Sakurai, decided on the DLC characters inUltimate, Terry was definitely a choice Sakurai himself would have picked either way.
I’d also recommend watching this interview of Masahiro Sakurai by Bandai Namco’s andTekken’s Katsuhiro Harada, to perceive how much Sakurai loves fighting games in general. If you’re aSmashplayer and areonlyplayingSmash, thenKOF XVis a great occasion to broaden your horizons.
If you’d like to experience more of SNK’s history, some of their old Neo Geo and Neo Geo Pocket games are now on Nintendo Switch and on Steam. As for whichKOFgame to start with, you can just go withKOF XV. I also personally recommendSNK Vs Capcom The Match of the MillenniumandCard Fighters Clashon Switch.
Are you a newcomer planning to start theKOFseries withXV? Did you find out some gameplay similarities betweenKOFandSmash?Tell me in the comments below!
