SNK, the creator of The King of Fighters XV, has revealed two new characters for the forthcoming fighting game at the Tokyo Game Show 2021. This year’s Tokyo Game Show, like many others, is entirely digital, with livestreams from publishers and developers taking place between September 29 and October 3.
Following the success of The King of Fighters XIV, which reintroduced SNK to the video game business in 2016, The King of Fighters XV was revealed during Evo 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic, on the other hand, caused several delays for the game and a general lack of information from SNK, but the company did announce earlier this year that KOF XV will feature rollback netcode. Throughout 2021, SNK has been unveiling new characters with increasing regularity, and it has just revealed details for two more of them.
SNK revealed two new playable characters for The King of Fighters XV during their livestream at the Tokyo Game Show 2021. The first is the fan-favorite amnesiac K’ (pronounced kay-dash), who initially appeared as a genetic clone of protagonist Kyo Kusanagi in The King of Fighters ’99.
The second is Isla, a brand-new fighter with spray paint and a power comparable to that of KOF XIV’s Hero Team commander Shun’ei. She will be his opponent in KOF XV, although her other two team members remain unknown for the time being.
The webcast showcased a lot of gameplay for both new characters, as well as a lot of information regarding KOF XV’s universal mechanics and roster. The entire game will feature 39 fighters, including several legendary team members as well as the protagonists from every KOF tale.
With the correct timing, the new Shatter Strike mechanism can absorb one blow before counterattacking an opponent. A faster version of Max Mode also allows players to cancel animations to lengthen combinations, akin to Guilty Gear’s Roman Cancel system.
Despite the sad impact of the pandemic on The King of Fighters XV, the game appears to be shaping up beautifully for its February 2021 release. Fans have been concerned about SNK and its games for a variety of reasons recently, particularly after a Saudi Arabian firm nearly took up the developer at the end of 2020. On the other hand, KOF XV appears to be a monument to SNK’s artistic integrity and brilliance in the face of all the changes the business has undergone in the previous several years.