Kyo Kusanagi

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Kyo Kusanagi
Official The King of Fighters XII artwork for Kyo Kusanagi
Game series	King of Fighters series SNK Vs. series
First game	King of Fighters '94
Voiced by (English)	Andrew Roth (Maximum Impact series)
Voiced by (Japanese)	Masahiro Nonaka Ryōtarō Okiayu (Dengeki Bunko drama CD)
Information
Birthplace	Japan
Blood type	B (RH-)
Fighting style	Kusanagi martial arts with Kenpo
Likes	Writing poems, broiled fish, ice hockey, his motorcycle, and his girlfriend, Yuki
Dislikes	Effort/Hard Work

Kyo Kusanagi (草薙 京, Kusanagi Kyō^?) is one of the main characters in SNK Playmore's King of Fighters videogame series; he was first introduced in The King of Fighters '94 as the leader of the Japan team. He is one of the iconic original characters of the series and regularly appears -in some form- for publicity and merchandise. He is the rival to Iori Yagami.

He was first introduced as a cock-sure delinquent high school student who is the heir to his clan, Kusanagi. Members of his clan possess pyrokinetic powers. In The King of Fighters universe, his clan is one of the three clans that sealed the legendary snake entity, Yamata no Orochi, 1,800 years ago with three sacred treasures. They, along with the Yasakani and Yata clans, keep one of the treasures as their own -his family's treasure being the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (草薙の剣, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi^?) or Kusanagi sword. His family crest is the sun, represented in a stylized halo of fire.

Aside from the main series, Kyo also has a spin-off manga story based on his adventure in King of Fighters '96 entitled, The King of Fighters: Kyo. A video game was also created under the same name to further expand his character.^[1][2] In addition, a number of image songs and audio dramas featuring Kyo's character have been released, including the contents of his own character image album consisting of a number of his theme songs.^[3] He is also a member of SNK's character image band, Band of Fighters.

Contents 1 Character Development and Reception 2 Personality 3 Gameplay 4 In-Game History 4.1 Clan background 4.2 Rugal Saga 4.3 Orochi Saga 4.4 NESTS Saga 4.5 Tales of Ash Saga 5 The Kyo Clones 5.1 Kusanagi 6 Game appearances 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Character Development and Reception

When designing characters for the first King of Fighters, developers wanted a new hip hero who would easily fight against Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting characters. Through most of his development, Kyo was meant to be called Syo Kirishima, and was dressed in martial arts clothing common with fighting games at the time. But late in production, his name became Kyo Kusanagi, likely due to the KOF story's change in direction towards the Yamata no Orochi legend.^[4] His change in fighting style was also made as a part of the series' overhaul in '96. To appease all fans, they also included an older version of Kyo from KOF '94 into '97 and placed the '95 version of Kyo in '98, which made both versions of Kyo popular during location tests. The idea of having two Kyos at once lead to the concept of his clones.^[5] During the early development stages of The King of Fighters '99, SNK planned to avoid adding Kyo (his clones included) or Iori to the game, as the story's focus was meant to center on the new protagonist, K'. However, they retracted this decision as "they couldn't leave these popular characters in limbo".^[6] Veteran developers for the series admit that Kyo's repeated appearances in the series is due to the marketers and the main planners' insistence to add him, Iori, and other SNK regulars in every game, making it a challenge to decide the story for each title.^[7] Along with his rival, Iori, Kyo has been noted by several of the series' designers as being one of the most difficult characters to illustrate because of his popularity amongst fans.

As of today, Kyo has sported 5 different outfits:

• The school uniform from KOF 94-98 [1]
• A black long-sleeve shirt with a white cross outline, a white jacket, brown boots, and blue jeans with a pocket chain (sometimes referred to as Shin Kyo) from KOF 99-2002
• A black leather jacket with the Kusanagi emblem, white undershirt, a new pair of Kusanagi gloves and black jeans. He wore this from KOF 2003-KOF XI -KOF XII. [2]
• His latest outfit for Maximum Impact 2 (also worn in the anime KOF: Another Day) which consists of the same black shirt with the white cross that he previously wore, a black jacket with red and white features, greyish-black jeans, and white boots.
• And the striker Kyo for KOF '99 (Dreamcast version) where he was wearing a brown leather jacket, a bandanna, jeans and oddly enough, he's not wearing gloves at all.

Kyo has also sported the most "versions" of any other character in the entire series.

• The REAL Kyo
• Kyo '94 and '95 (hidden characters in KOF '97 and '98 respectively)
• Kyo-1 & Kyo-2 from KOF '99
• Kusanagi from KOF 2002-03
• EX Kyo in KoF XI
• and Classic Kyo in KoF: Maximum Impact 2

Additionally, a character with his prototype name appears as an alternate striker for Kyo in KOF 2000 (bearing Kyo's unused character design). Sho's design reappears as Kyo's unlockable 3rd alternate outfit in KOF: Maximum Impact and in the KOF: Maximum Impact 2 as Classic Kyo's unlockable "normal" outfit. Another deviation of Kyo comes in the minor appearance of Cosplayer Kyoko, an alternate Striker in KOF 2000 who is a homage to female fans dressing up as Kyo.

In Gamest's 1997 Heroes Collection, Kyo was voted as the staff's second favorite character, placed behind his rival, Iori.^[8] Kyo's voice actor, Masahiro Nonaka, related greatly with his character as being young and reckless until he "grew up" in his later appearances. He then expressed some difficulty accepting Kyo on the same level.^[9]

[edit] Personality

Kyo is the over-confident but well meaning protagonist of the series, more interested in enjoying life than having to partake in any particular responsibilities. He is quick to dismiss subjects that don't interest him and will often carry out his actions with a devil-may-care attitude. Despite his seemingly arrogant and rude demeanor, he treasures his friends and family, enjoying their presence and particularly doting on his girlfriend Yuki. His extreme disinterest in studies has led to his chronic inability to graduate from high school (which has become subject to in-jokes even after he dropped out of school).

He takes his clan's responsibilities on a more personal level, disregarding ancient legends and predestined events as any reason for his actions. His strong sense of justice and his zeal to fight stronger opponents are what he believes to drive him to carry out his destiny. His rivalry with Iori is one of mutual hatred and was hardly spurred by their clans' history. When they join forces, it is often begrudgingly and as a last resort solution to the conflict at hand.

[edit] Gameplay

[edit] In-Game History

[edit] Clan background

660 years ago, the Kusanagi and Yasakani clans were once allies. However, due to the latter's jealousy and hatred over the former's fame, the Yasakani struck a blood pact with Orochi for more power. They renamed their family name to Yagami and their flames, previously red like their former allies, changed to violet from Orochi's taint.^[10][11] Since then, the clans have waged a generation long grudge with casualties made from both sides. It continues in The King of Fighters series with Kyo and Iori Yagami.

[edit] Rugal Saga

The Rugal saga takes place in The King of Fighters 94 and 95. Shortly after the completion of his training, Kyo competes in a preliminary held in Japan to determine the members of the country's representative team in the King of Fighters tournament. He bests Goro Daimon and Benimaru Nikaido to become the leader of the team, the two becoming his teammates and eventual friends. They reach the finals, where they met the host of the tournament, a powerful fighter named Rugal Bernstein. Rugal boasts his desire to fight powerful opponents and challenges them. After his defeat, he self-destructs his ship in attempt to bring them with him but the team escapes unharmed.

In the next tournament, Kyo and his team are invited to another King of Fighters tournament, organized once again by Rugal, who survived his craft's self-destruction. This time, Rugal also brainwashed Kyo's missing father, Saisyu, into attacking his son. Kyo's father regains his senses after he was subdued by the team. To counter the team's strength, Rugal challenges them with power sapped from Orochi. However, Rugal's body was overwhelmed by the power's immensity and he was vaporized after his defeat. Pleased with his son's prowess, Saisyu leaves unnoticed, insinuating that he entrusts the clan's duty to Kyo.

[edit] Orochi Saga

Prior to the events of The King of Fighters 96, a mysterious man -later revealed to be one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Orochi, Goenitz- challenges Kyo to a fight. Kyo arrives, powered by his overwhelming confidence in his fists, only to be defeated soundly by his challenger and sent to the hospital. In spite of his injuries, his anger and spirit from his loss drove him to invent powerful new techniques -this is the canon explanation for Kyo trading his ground-fireball attack for his now trademark flame-laced melee attack strings. He enters the year's tournament to prove his strength to his unknown attacker.^[12] In the tournament's finals, he meets the host of the tournament and the younger heiress of the Yata clan, Chizuru Kagura. At the tournament's end, he vanquishes Goenitz with Iori and Chizuru's help. Though he is warned by Chizuru of his clan's destiny with Orochi, Kyo ignores her and promptly departs.

Before The King of Fighters 97 takes place, he is pestered by fellow high school student, Shingo Yabuki, to teach him how to create his flames. Though annoyed and flustered by his persistence, Kyo partially agrees to mentor him as a means of gaining free meals.^[13] He also experiences nightmares of a strange man defeating him at the King of Fighters tournament^[14] but continues to participate. Though it's ambiguous as to which team he enters during the tournament, it is canonly accepted that Kyo joins with Iori and Chizuru for its conclusion.

He advances into the finals, where he confronts the remaining "Four Heavenly Kings" of Orochi, Yashiro Nanakase, Shermie, and Chris. When they are beaten, Orochi possesses Chris' body and attempts to destroy the three clans at once. As was done in the legends of their clans, the trio successfully defeat him. In a last-ditch effort, Orochi (manifested in Chris' body) causes Iori to enter the berserk Riot of Blood state, expecting him to turn on Kyo and Chizuru. Instead, Iori snares Orochi by the neck, and Kyo obliged his rival by crippling the great demon with one last deathblow, allowing Chizuru to reseal Orochi.^[15] Exhausted, Kyo passes out.

[edit] NESTS Saga

The King of Fighters 99 took place immediately after the events of The King of Fighters 97. Kyo was taken by the NESTS syndicate and his DNA was used to make various beings for their purposes. He awoke one day to find himself surrounded by bizarre gadgets and needles. Deciding to search for answers, Kyo broke out of captivity and managed to escape the hidden fortress despite the sedatives. While escaping, he constantly heard references to the NESTS cartel.^[16] He tries to personally gain answers from his captors but is forced to retreat when the base around him begins to collapse. He attempts to investigate privately again the following year but learns very little. As the fiasco of Southtown's destruction ensued, Iori confronts him and they fight to an unknown outcome. In The King of Fighters 2001, Kyo reunites with his old teammates and Shingo to make a comeback in the Japan Team. They join the now NESTS-sponsored KoF tournament to relive their time together as a team.

[edit] Tales of Ash Saga

In The King of Fighters 2003, Chizuru appeared to both Kyo and Iori, requesting that they form a team and investigate suspicious activities concerning the Orochi. Kyo initially protested allying with Iori (though Iori apparently did not do likewise), but relented to form the Sacred Treasures team.^[17] After besting Mukai, the team then investigated the weakening Orochi seal that they had been transported to before fighting Mukai, but were ambushed by Ash, who stole the power of the Yata no kagami or Yata mirror from Chizuru, promising to go after Iori next. Ash escaped and Kyo swore vengeance.^[18]

In The King of Fighters XI, Kyo, Iori, and Shingo formed a team to try and stop Ash once more. However, the growing presence of the Orochi (namely, the appearance of Magaki) caused Iori to snap and enter the Blood Riot state, and he trashed Kyo and Shingo in a berserk fit. Ash appeared thereafter and stole the Yasakani no Magatama within Iori's body -and presumably Iori's flames. The Rival Team (Benimaru, Duo Lon, Elisabeth) arrive after the incident to whom Ash tells them that Kyo will be next.

[edit] The Kyo Clones

In The King of Fighters '99, two clones of Kyo appeared as selectable characters: Kyo-1 and Kyo-2. Kyo was redesigned for the game but some designers wanted his return to '99 with his iconic school uniform. When they were nearing the end of their production schedule, staff members were indecisive upon which uniform the Kyo clone should wear ('94 or '95) when the project head said to just make two clones instead. To save time, the project head then drew designs for Kyo-1 and Kyo-2 on the spot.^[19] During the course of the King of Fighters 99', Kyo-1 and Kyo-2 were merely two of thousands ready to be activated by Krizalid. They were presumably destroyed, since both characters don't have a personal ending and don't belong to any team. Kyo-1 is available as an extra costume for Kyo in SVC Chaos for PS2, and is obtainable when pressing the Circle button to select Kyo. In his intro in KoF 99, Kyo takes off his bandana and burns it to avoid being confused for a clone; his winquotes in this game further support his awareness of his clones.

[edit] Kusanagi

Kusanagi
Game series	King of Fighters series
First game	King of Fighters 2002
Voiced by	Mitsuo Iwata
Information
Fighting style	Kusanagi style of ancient martial arts + personal style of Chinese boxing (Kenpo)

Another Kyo clone was introduced in 2002: Kusanagi. He was believed, by many fans, to have been originally created as a NESTS experiment, because he has a special intro with K9999. During this intro, K9999 yells "Kusanagi!" and he acknowledges him as if they both knew each other. This introduction is, in fact, a homage to Akira, because K9999 and Kusanagi have the same voice actors as Tetsuo and Kaneda, respectively. However, his actual backstory is revealed in KoF 2003, which says that he is the product of Chizuru Kagura's magic, used to test the strength for the tournament's contestants.^[20] His evil appearance is possibly due to the fact that he was created by Chizuru while under the control of Those From The Past members Mukai (the leader of the KOF 2003 operation) and Botan (the puppeteer who had Chizuru under her control). However, contrary to this, a piece of official art for King of Fighters 2002 shows Kusanagi's flames burning off the flesh on his arm revealing robotic musculature, suggesting he was in fact originally intended to be one of NESTS' Kyo clones.

His moves are the same as the original Kyo Kusanagi, being the first set of moves he had used in the series. Also, in KOF 2002, he has a special intro with some characters that use weapons in battle, like Choi, Chang, Billy and Whip, being "Temae! Sude de shoubu shiagare!" (You! (bastard!) Fight me with your bare hands!)

Also, in KOF: Another Day, episode 3, the Ikari team briefly mentions a Kyo clone walking around the vicinities of South Town. While there's no evidence to this fact, some fans consider the "Kyo clone" that Heidern mentioned to be Kusanagi (although it is actually them mistaking the actual Kyo for an escaped NESTS copy).

[edit] Game appearances

The King of Fighters '94 (1994) The King of Fighters '95 (1995) The King of Fighters '96 (1996) The King of Fighters '97 (1997) The King of Fighters '98 (1998) SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash (1999) SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (1999) The King of Fighters '99 (1999) SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters 2 Expansion Edition (2000) Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 (2000) Capcom VS SNK: Pro (2000) The King of Fighters 2000 (2000) Capcom vs. SNK 2 (2001)

The King of Fighters 2001 (2001) The King of Fighters EX: Neo-Blood - (2002) The King of Fighters 2002 (2002) SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom (2003) The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood (2004) The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact (2004) The King of Fighters Neowave (2004) The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact: Maniax (2005) The King of Fighters XI (2007) Neo Geo Battle Coliseum (2005) The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2 (2006) The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact Regulation A (2007)

[edit] References

1. ^  K-Lantis (1994). Story Guide. Gamefaqs. Retrieved on May 25, 2006.
2. ^  Basel (2003). Character background FAQ. Gamefaqs. Retrieved on May 25, 2006.
3. ^  David Conaway (2003). "King of Fighters: The History". "GamingWorldX". Retrieved on May 25, 2006.

[edit] External links

• The King of Fighters 10th Anniversary Official Website

v • d • e Notable characters in The King of Fighters series Original Angel · Iori Yagami · Kyo Kusanagi · May Lee · Rugal Bernstein · Yuki Orochi saga characters · NESTS agents · Maximum Impact characters · EX characters From Fatal Fury Andy Bogard · Billy Kane · Blue Mary · Geese Howard · Joe Higashi · Kim Kaphwan · Mai Shiranui · Terry Bogard · Wolfgang Krauser From Art of Fighting King · Mr. Big · Robert Garcia · Ryo Sakazaki · Takuma Sakazaki · Yuri Sakazaki From Ikari Warriors Clark Still · Ralf Jones From Psycho Soldier Athena Asamiya

v • d • e Neo Geo Battle Coliseum Characters A-G Ai - Akari Ichijou - Asura - Athena - Cyber Woo - Geese Howard - Genjuro Kibagami - Goodman H-K Hanzo Hattori - Haohmaru - Hotaru Futaba - Iori Yagami - Jin Chonrei - Jin Chonshu - K' - Kaede (Awakened) - Keiichiro Washizuka - Kim Kaphwan - King Lion - Kisarah Westfield - Kotaro Fuuma - Kyo Kusanagi L-T Lee Pai Long - Mai Shiranui - Marco Rossi - Mars People - Mizuchi - Moriya Minakata - Mr. Big - Mudman - Mr. Karate (Ryo) - Nakoruru - Neo Dio - Robert Garcia - Rock Howard - Shermie - Shiki - Terry Bogard - Tung Fu Rue - Yuki