Did Kyo change his fighting style back in the new KoFs?

[jfrost]

So far as I can remember, Kyo reviews his fighting style after being defeated by Goenitz before King of Fighters '96.

Watching KoFXIII videos, however, I see that he has his ground fire move back (while Iori still hasn't gotten his flames back, weird).

Anyone know the reason why?

I mean, a plot reason (I've always enjoyed KoF plots, and one of the reasons is this: there's even an explanation for tweaking a character's moveset).

[Flake]

It's funny. I have the vast majority of the KoF games (all but 99 and XII, I think) but I never realized there was that deep a story.

Are there other fighters who have story related reasons for changing their fighting styles?

[the7k]

It's funny. I have the vast majority of the KoF games (all but 99 and XII, I think) but I never realized there was that deep a story.

Are there other fighters who have story related reasons for changing their fighting styles?

Well, Iori's fighting style changed because Ash stole his ability to use flames.

As for Kyo changing his fighting style, I think it's probably just to counter-balance Iori's change. No story-related reason has been revealed to my knowledge, although in KOFXI, Kyo had both the flaming punches and the ground spark.

[jfrost]

It's funny. I have the vast majority of the KoF games (all but 99 and XII, I think) but I never realized there was that deep a story.

Are there other fighters who have story related reasons for changing their fighting styles?

In KoF'99, Kensou's psychic powers fade (probably due to lack of training or ineptitude at the time), but he ends up saving Athena from death with a latent energy. That energy, called Dragon Spirit, is finally controlled in KoFXI.

There's also Shingo, who always dreamed of creating flames like Kyo, but can't. I recall there was a random chance in KoF'03 that a spark would come out in one of his moves, but that was just comic relief anyway.

Ash incorporates Iori's and Chizuru's powers in XIII, and Chizuru left the roster altogether due to not being able to fight without her Yata Mirror.

I don't remember anyone else who's had a change in styles, but if there are, there's probably a story explanation. I'm sad that there isn't one for Kyo.

[Flake]

Is all of this story contained in the games themselves? Character cutscenes and endings?

[the7k]

@Flake: Usually, yes. I definitely remember Kensou's lost of power being explored in his endings, and then KOF2003 ended with Ash stealing Chizuru's power, and KOFXI ended with Ash stealing Iori's power.

@jfrost: Not sure if there is a story-related explanation, but it could just be that the explanation wasn't present in KOFXII due to there being no story at all in that game. Maybe we'll get something out of KOFXIII.

[Flake]

I'm thinking I might need to break out the Orochi collection again. Sad to say I have only skimmed the surface of KOF, despite owning almost all the titles.

So which games do NOT have plot? I know '98 is supposed to be more of a 'what if' game. I also know that Maximum Impact and 2006 (MI2) aren't canon. Are there any others that don't add to the story?

[AppleQueso]

I think 2001 (or was it 2002?) is another "what-if" type game too.

[jfrost]

It's like this:

'94-'97: Orochi Saga;
'98: No story;
'99-2001: The NESTS Chronicles;
2002: No story;
2003, XI: The Tales of Ash;
XII: No story;
XIII: Conclusion of The Tales of Ash.

XII was unusual in that it didn't conclude the ongoing story arc. SNK usually made dream match games after the arcs were over.

Maximum Impact games are not canonical, as isn't KoF Neowave.

I remember back in the day I was really frustrated that '98 didn't have a story. A magazine I used to love took out points of the game because of that and everything. To this day, it's probably a big reason I prefer '97 over '98.

[Flake]

What's the best way for someone new to the series to get into it? Somehow I missed out on KoF growing up, despite my love for arcades and 2D Fighters.

I've purchased all the compilations for PS2 and Wii since they've been quite cheap these last few years but it's a real beast of a franchise to try and grapple with.

Should I just start with '94 and try to finish it with the entire cast and then move onto '95?

Or should I just pick a couple characters that I am interested in and focus on them as I play through the series?