King of Fighters XVSeason 1 is nearing its end, with Team Orochi (alternate versions of Yashiro, Shermie, and Chris) already available. Then, originally planned forKOF ’95, Team Samurai Shodown will finally appear in Autumn 2022. In95, it was going to have Haohmaru, Nakoruru, and Galford. But in 2022, Galford’s been replaced withSamurai Shodown 2019’s Darli Dagger.
Related:Awesome Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do in King of Fighters XV
SNK also said there would be a Season 2, with Shingo Yabuki and Kim Kaphwan coming back. However, they won’t be alone. They’re bound to be in their own teams, followed by two more. For now, it can only be speculated who they’ll be. So, here’s a list of likely contenders, fan favorites, and long-shots that may appear inKing of FightersXVSeason 2.
7Team Protégé: Shingo, Saisyu, Daimon
Shingo is confirmed to be on his way, but who is he going to be joined by? The cutscenes showed him sticking with Kyo’s father Saisyu, as he’s been learning under the elder Kusanagi since the end ofKOF 2001. So, having the two team up together is likely. Shingo hasn’t been playable in a mainlineKOFgame sinceKOF XI, and Saisyu’s only appeared inKOF ’95&’98. They’d essentially be new characters for most players.
But who would join them? Goro Daimon seems likely, as he’s close to Shingo and Daimon and was inKOF XIV. If SNK wanted to stick with flame users, they’d have to get really obscure and bring out Sōji or Aoi, Kyo’s cousins from the PS1 visual novelKing of Fighters: Kyo. Though, in terms of likelihood, Shingo will either fight with his beefy mentors or perhaps partner with fellow novices likeKOF ‘96’sKasumi Todoh,Garou’s Hokutomaru, or the previous game’s Alice Nakata.
6Team Korean Justice: Kim, Gang-Il, May Lee
Kim Kaphwan has been part of the defaultKOFroster since the original game in 1994. So, it was more surprising to see him miss out and be relegated to Season 2 of DLC. Still, as SNK’s premier Tae Kwon Do fighter, all that remains to be seen is who he partners up with. Chang and Choi would be the classic option, but they’re not particularly popular characters, and they were last seen hanging out with the maligned Xanadu.
He had some good chemistry with his old master Gang-Il, who was more carefree and fun-loving than his strait-laced student. Kim’s obsession with justice would clash with his interest in beer and women. Throw in May Lee, Kim’s tokusatsu-esque student fromKOF 2001, and he may be driven to the edge. Plus, while Gang-Il’s moves are dry, and Kim’s kicks are standard, May Lee’sKamen Rider-inspired supers and stances would give them more pizzazz.
5Team Hakkesshu: Goenitz, Vice, Mature
Vice and Mature fit Iori like a glove when they were introduced as playable characters back inKOF ’96. Then, he killed them, and they were kept as a ‘dream match’ team untilthey got better inKOF XIII. These lethal ladies are quite popular, with Mature slashing through her opponents while Vice slams them with unabated bloodlust. However, since Iori’s in a team with Kyo and Chizuru, they need a new person to complete the trio.
Related:The King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga, Explained
They could literally get a new character, but there is another Orochi character unaccounted for. SinceKOF XVbrought Omega Rugal as a special boss, they could bring back Goenitz too. He’s one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi, alongside Yashiro & friends, and the strongest as one ofKOF’s most notorious bosses. He’s been toned down to be a fair, playable character before, like inSVC: SNK Vs Capcom Chaos. So, he could lead his fellow Orochi members in Vice and Mature and be the next Boss Challenge after his old giant German cohort.
4Team Anti-Ash: Oswald, Duo Lon, Shen Woo
Ash Crimson got to return, joining forces with his old friend Elisabeth and the foul-mouthed edgelord Kukri. Though, what happened to his other buddies? His old teammates Shen Woo and Duo Lon turn up in cutscenes, andKOF XIVhad Oswald as a DLC character. But what are they doing there when they should be here?
Shen Woo and Duo Lon should be teaming up, with the former looking for Ash and the latter wondering what’s going on with Verse. While Oswald could be at home in a team with Hein and Najd as special agents, he has history with Shen Woo and Ash from their team inKOF XI. They contrast well with each other too, with Shen being a smash-mouth brawler, Duo Lon a tricky combo-builder, and Oswald a chain-linking card-slinger. Together or apart, they’d be a bundle of fun to play as.
3Team South America: Zarina, Nelson, Bandeiras
Despite being introduced inKOF XIV, there’s no sign of Team South America inKOF XVthus far. Nelson’s robotic arm seemed to suggest the return of a certain organization with ties to Maxima and K’. Zarina was one of SNK’s better Capoeiristas, being less awkward thanKOF XI’s Momoko, more familiar thanFatal Fury’s Bob Wilson and Richard Meyer, and less dumb looking thanMaximum Impact’s Soirée Melba.
But the highlight of that team was Bandeiras Hattori, the master of Brazilian Ninjutsu (as opposed to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)and Weeb Extraordinaire. He was funny in that regard, yet he wasn’t a pure joke character either. His skills were slick and quick enough to match other ninja characters like Mai and Andy. If he doesn’t turn up with his boxing and dancing buddies, perhaps he could form a kooky, comedy ninja clan withArt of Fighting’sEiji Kisaragi and Hokutomaru.
2Team Metal Slug: Marco, Tarma, Fio
SNK’s produced a lot of series over the years, but eventually, they focused on the ones that kept them afloat during their messier years.KOFwas one of them, and the other wasMetal Slug. Originally made by Nazca Corporation, a dev team consisting largely of ex-IREM staff, the shooter became a big hit. It had all thepyrotechnic joy a shooter could bring, but it also had beautiful animation, a quirky sense of humor, and a narrator on par with Terry Bogard with odd speech patterns (“ROCKET LAWNCHAIR!")
Related:Things You Didn’t Know About the Metal Slug Franchise
KOFmade its name in turning non-fighters into fighters. Athena Asamiya and Sie Kensou were platform stars inPsycho SoldierbeforeKOF ’94. The USA Sports Team represented SNK’s boxing, basketball, and football sims. Ralf and Clark started off as shooter protagonists before becoming fighters. So, why not do the same forMetal Slugleads Marco, Tarma, and Fio? It wouldn’t be Marco and Fio’s first fighter, having previously appeared inNeo Geo Battle ColiseumandMaximum Impact 2,respectively. So, it’d make for a fun crossover on par with Team Samurai Shodown. Unless…
1Team Street Fighter: Ryu, Luke, Chun Li
SNK Producer Yasuyuki Oda caused a ripple of excitement when he said an SNK Vs Capcom game was “something that I think everybody on all sides, in both parties,are interested in making a reality.” Recently, the two approved a re-release of the Neo-Geo Pocket Color gameSNK vs Capcom: Match of the Millennium, and the mobile gameKOF: All Starhad characters fromStreet Fighter 5appearing in it.
Oda also said an SNK & Capcom collaboration was “definitely in the future,” but in what way? Would there be aCapcom Vs SNK 3? AnSNK Vs Capcom Chaos 2? Or would the two make cameos in the other’s games? IfKOF XVgot a Team Street Fighter, chances are it would promoteStreet Fighter 6with its top man Ryu, top girl Chun Li, and new hero Luke turning up. Still, all fans have is words for now. Whatever form this tentative Capcom & SNK collab takes, it should be interesting either way.
King of Fighters XVis out now on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
More:How SNK Vs. Capcom Could Adapt For the Modern Fighting Scene
