One of the most thrilling fights to witness at Evo 2025 was Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. From KojiKOG’s unforgettable, emotional reaction after his top 8 defeat, to the electrifying grand finals between Go1 and ET, and every pulse-pounding moment in between—it was a powerful reminder of how much joy this game can bring. Though I didn’t get to speak with anyone from SNK at the event, Producer Yasuyuki Oda and Animator Masami Obari generously answered my questions via email about Ken’s inclusion in City of the Wolves and several other topics I knew fans of SNK and fighting games would find compelling.
One of the biggest surprises for me once I played as Ken was how closely he mirrors his SF6 version, even though this is an entirely different game. Can you share some insight into the challenges of adapting a beloved character from one franchise into a completely new set of rules and mechanics?
Yasuyuki Oda, Lead Producer on Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves: Our primary concern was bringing Ken into the Fatal Fury world without losing what makes him who he is. Our team is filled with passionate Street Fighter fans, and that love deeply influenced every small detail we added to Ken’s design. Over time, we carefully figured out how to integrate his lightning-fast speed and flashy fire-based moves into City of the Wolves’ systems, constantly asking ourselves: “What’s missing?” “What can we refine?” “Where are Ken’s strengths, and how can we highlight them?” After countless iterations, this version of Ken finally came to life.
Ken has always been a top-tier character in Street Fighter 6, thanks to his ability to turn most blocked normals into Jinrai Kicks that force risky defensive choices, his powerful Dragonlash Kick that closes gaps on block, and his strong neutral game and balanced toolkit. Did you worry any of these traits might make him too powerful in Fatal Fury?
Oda: You’re right—bringing Ken in exactly as he is in SF6 would have made him dominant in City of the Wolves. We had to make thoughtful adjustments during adaptation. Integrating mechanics like Braking and REV Accel was tricky, but we believe we preserved what makes Ken unique while offering fans a fresh playstyle within City of the Wolves’ framework. We’re eager to see how players respond to this version of him.
With Terry and Mai appearing in Street Fighter 6, and now Ken, plus Chun-Li soon joining Fatal Fury, are you interested in collaborating with Capcom again for another Capcom vs. SNK entry—or is that just a distant dream?
That would be something, wouldn't it?
Oda: That would be something, wouldn’t it? But I can’t discuss anything on that front right now. We’re always thrilled when fans ask questions like this—it shows how much passion there is for another Capcom vs. SNK, and it fuels our motivation.
How do you feel about guest characters in fighting games overall? Do you see this as a healthy trend for the genre, and could we see more in future SNK titles—or even future updates to Fatal Fury?
Oda: I think it’s a fantastic trend. Of course, we must honor the lore and world of other franchises, but guest characters open exciting possibilities for fighting games—creating unexpected “chemical reactions” that lead to new, surprising outcomes.
For City of the Wolves, our focus is still on bringing back fan-favorite characters before considering new guests. Rest assured, we’re fully concentrated on that right now. Even after Mr. Big’s release, there are still many new characters and fresh elements we’re developing, so stay tuned!
I know she’s still a bit down the line, with Joe coming first—but can you reveal anything about Chun-Li’s appearance in Fatal Fury? Will her design follow the same approach as Ken’s, using her SF6 version as the main inspiration?
We’re planning some surprises and subtle refinements. We aim to make this version of Chun-Li a true culmination of all her past iterations.
Oda: We’re using her SF6 version as a foundation, but since many of our team members are longtime Street Fighter fans, we’ve added a few surprises and refined details. Like Ken, we want this Chun-Li to embody the full history of her character—so please keep an eye out.
For Obari-san, what was it like animating such an iconic character from outside the SNK universe, like Ken? Did you get to add any signature touches, or did you aim to stay as faithful to the source as possible?
Masami Obari, Animator on Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves: First, I want to say it was a tremendous honor to work on this project—I’m deeply grateful to Capcom for this opportunity. As for the original designs, most of my effort went into adapting these characters in my own style. I’d call it Bari-Ken! (Haha). Drawing Ken within Fatal Fury’s anime aesthetic was an absolute joy.
Are there any dream crossovers you’d love to work on, whether in fighting games or beyond?
I would be extremely happy to see a collaboration with a real pro wrestler.
Obari: I’m a huge pro wrestling fan, so I’d be thrilled to work on a crossover with a real-life wrestler. In fighting games, I’d love to revisit Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer—I originally handled its story and character design!
And finally, canonically, who do you think would win between Ken and Terry?
Obari: Honestly, I think Terry would win. They’re evenly matched in strength, but Terry carries a heavier burden—and that makes his will even stronger.
That said, as the anime director, I’d rather not choose a winner. I’d prefer to see them team up to face a common enemy.
