As with most new fighting games at the beginning of their media blitz, we know very little about King of Fighters XIV. Sure, the playable cast will include Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Leona Heidern, and Chang Koehan, and players can expect to get their hands on the final release sometime next year, but that’s really it.
But what if I told you the latest trailer possibly confirmed a rather lengthy roster leak?
Earlier this year, before we even knew King of Fighters XIV was a thing, a rather mysterious list appeared online purporting to detail the entire cast for an upcoming release. Although the original source has since been taken down, this leak apparently originated in China and was shared by a Twitter user named ALX. It stirred up some good discussion when it first made the scene, but quickly fell by the wayside.
That was until Chang showed up in the second teaser, decked out in a Southtown Jail outfit that seemed to indicate he had returned to the shady activity of his past at some point. It’s the prison uniform that brought this list back into the spotlight.
See, while the list names each of the characters that have already been revealed, it’s the mention of Chang’s imprisonment that really stands out. Sure, his criminal past with partner Choi Bounge is well-known by SNK lore fanatics, but could this have really been a lucky guess?
Longtime readers will know that we tend to shy away from these kinds of stories. It’s easy to jump online and put together a dream list with no factual basis, and rumors of this nature lead to dead ends more often than not. But this little detail has raised enough eyebrows that we thought it might be worth tossing out there for more folks to see. Just, please, keep in mind that these are rumors and nothing more. Hell, even if the list is real, it’s likely things have changed during development, so be sure to take this with a grain of salt and all that.
Rumored King of Fighters XIV Roster
- China Team: 恶魇青年 (?), 糖葫芦 (Tung Fu Rue), 枕头少年 (?)
- Japan Team: 草蕹京 (Kyo Kusanagi), 二阶堂红丸 (Benimaru Nikaido), 大门五郎 (Goro Daimon)
- Fatal Fury Team: Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, 东丈 (Joe Higashi)
- Art of Fighting Team: 坂崎良 (Ryo Sakazaki), Robert Garcia, 坂崎百合 (Yuri Sakazaki)
- K’ Team: K’, Maxima, Kula Diamond
- Kim Team: 金家藩 (Kim Kaphwan), 他师父 (Kim’s Master), 他师母 (Kim’s Wife)
- Criminal Team: 犯人陈 (Prisoner Chang Koehan), 犯人蔡 (Prisoner Choi Bounge), 新人囚犯 (Newcomer Prisoner)
- Women Fighters Team: 不知火舞 (Mai Shiranui), King, Alice
- Ikari Team: Ralf Jones, Clark Still, Leona Heidern
- Psycho Soldier Team: Athena Asamiya, 椎拳崇 (Sie Kensou), 摸元斋 (Chin Gentsai)
- Yagami Team: 八神庵 (Iori Yagami), Mature, Vice
- Mexico Team: Ramon, Angel, Tizoc
- Palace Wan Team: 脸谱女 (Acting Mask Girl), 电属性少女歌手 (Teenage Girl Singer with Electric Element), 神秘兜帽男 (Mysterious Hooded Man)
- South Town Team: Geese Howard, Billy Kane, 营家新人 (?)
- South America Team: 巴西忍者 (Brazilian Ninja), 残障拳击手 (Handicap Boxer), 拉丁美女 (Pretty Latin Girl)
- Alternate World Team: 娜可露露 (Nakoruru), Love Heart, 龙娘 (Mui Mui)
- Mid-boss: 俄罗斯富豪 (Russian Billionaire)
- Final Boss: 人形态非人类物种 (Non-Human Species)
As you likely noticed, there’s a few details missing here and there. Some names were left untranslated and others are simply character archetypes, leading us to believe both indicate newcomers to the series. Another interesting note is the inclusion of pachinko slot mascots Love Heart and Mui Mui alongside Samurai Shodown’s Nakoruru to make up the Alternate World team.
While many of these names are carryovers from the most recent King of Fighters entries, a few are pretty surprising. Not sure how many Tung Fu Rue fans there are out there, but he’s apparently taken the China Team mantle from the Psycho Soldiers for his own purposes. And, personally, I’m pretty stoked to see the Mexican team of Ramon, Angel, and Tizoc suit up for another go-around.
What do you think? Plausible or complete bullshit? Feel free to discuss this list in the comments and let us know which of your favorites may have made the cut.
Source: Cyber Fanatix via MMCafe, NeoGAF
