One of the many characters or teams being talked about returning in The King Of Fighters XV is the Orochi Team. This team is on the top of the list of characters fans want to see return. This was back in KOF XIV when we were talking about DLC but now that we are talking about a new entry the talk is strong once more. And given SNK Heroines showing the team alive and in cannon. This can be possible. But why do we want these rockers turned dark fighters back? Hopefully we tackle that question here today. This is my take so please if you have any thoughts on it let me know.
First we need to learn how they were introduced to us. The team were originally introduced as a rival rock group to Iori Yagami entering the tournament to get there band more fan by taking him down. During the tournament though we learn they are not normal people and are in fact the other 3 heavenly kings putting them at the same status as Leopold Goenitz who was introduced in the prior tournament as the final boss. There Oriochi powers were dark reflections of Team Japan. Chris dark version of Kyo, Yashiro a dark version of Goro and Shermie a dark version of Benimaru. You can see this not just in element but in moves as special with Shermie having Benimaru light special and Chris having his own version of the Oriochinagi. Yashiro had his own version of Daimon slamming super where he slams you side to side before throwing you. They were mid bosses only to be sacrificed for the Oriochi as Yashiro kills Chris and Shermie before turning Chris into Oriochi vessel. Kyo, Chizuru and Iori then took care of him. They would become returning characters in dream matches which are not cannon but round out the saga. At least that was the case before XIV broke that tradition.
But now they are back as we saw in SNK heroines alive and well probably thanks to Verse defeat as some of the souls he had trapped inside. But I state that they could have come back before this. In KOF XIII Vice and Mature returned to team up with Iori to get back his Oriochi power. This was a plot just to bring back Iori 2 former team mates but it shows If Oriochi wanted to he can bring back any of his members. To give you an idea I think if it wanted to be serious Oriochi could have resurrected 2 of the heavenly kings or 1 with Rugal and the they would have the tournament in the bag. But with this being the case why do fans want them back? Well it can come down to 2 thing really.
1 it is gameplay. Even though they share moves with Team Japan the Orochi team still have moves of there own. Chris for example has one of the strongest fireballs in the series along with one of the most wicked uppercuts as his normal upper cut is a double. Yashiro has an over head grab and a ground slam. Shermie has Benimaru drill that moves diagonally across the screen. We haven’t seen anyone pick this gameplay and then there is the normal version who have there own move sets. This is why we enjoyed playing as them while we did and why we look forward to them coming back.
2nd reason is for story. We are introduced to these 3 in the same game they die in giving us very little time to get to know them. if that is not enough they have duel personalities as there normal selves reflect there lives in this time line where as the Orochi versions shows us how they lived in the past. This contrast is barely mentioned and seems lost as some see it as a disguise while other fans note as them remembering who they are. This as character growth would be nice to see. Especially when you look at there bios they seem to be opposite persona between normal and heavenly king. Shermie for one is kind and out going when she changes this is replaced by a sadistic nature as she preaches about the Orochi coming to destroy all. Chris and Yashiro are the same.
This is due to hakkeshu seeing themselves as beyond humans. If that sounds familiar it is because Saki those of the past view themselves the same way in that human are beneath them and they should die. So you can understand why when they transform there is a difference. But this difference seems to hamper there personalities in this form. Yes they want to destroy humanity but why do they want for each of them would be nice to see. Remember that when talking about these 3 we are talking about them getting memories back from long ago. The events that made them decide or there families join and how they saw it would be nice to see.
There power is also something to note. They are part of the heavenly kings but Goenitz was the only one who showed of his elemental power to be on an insane level. Team Orochi has shown the power to trigger blood riot as well as other emotions. They can also syphon power as that was part of how they were able to summon Orochi. But given that they are part of the same group as Goenitz they are probably capable of the same level of power. Since they were introduced as a team we didn’t get the same effect. But you would guess they would as you can imagine what they did at the end of the tournament Goenitz can do as he trigged Leona blood riot to make her killer her parents. Yet you feel there is more that there is something more than can do and hopefully we see that mix with there non Orochi forms.
I say that as if we look at the personalities there past and present seem to be at different side of the spectrum. This can give us a nice story point in that we can see how they coupe with it or if they can. Iori and Leona have learn to coup with there abilities to a degree as both have been shown tapping into Orochi power when doing there strongest moves even blood riot as some have noticed with there Iori glowing red eye. For the Heavenly king they just gave into it and they seem to in order to access this power. As to whether they will be that way going forward is something I bet die hard fans are asking. Remember what I said above we see in Shermie ending having music practice as there human selves.
Then again that is my take on why fans are want these 3 back so much. If you have any opinions about it please let me know.
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