For now, it’s too early to talk about the game. The only thing that SNK has revealed at EVO 2022 has been a teaser that has achieved thousands of views in a few hours and an artwork image. In it appears Rock Howard, son of Geese Howard and apprentice of Terry Bogard, who already had the leading role in the last installment of the franchise: Garou: Mark of the Wolves, released in 1999.
It looks like SNK will continue the storyline of the franchise from where it ended in Garou: Mark of the Wolves. In Rock Howard’s ending, he came face to face with the final boss of the story, Kain, the fighter’s uncle, who told him that his mother was still alive. Terry Bogard appears at that moment to help him, but Rock says goodbye to him saying that now he has business to attend to. The ending ends with Kain asking Rock what they are going to do now, with Rock’s face not being very happy.
Rock Howard appears in the new Garou’s artwork, but behind him are two silhouettes. The first one seems to be Kain’s, which would explain why the story continues from the first Garou. The second of the silhouettes is clearly Billy Kane. The British, Geese Howard’s faithful bodyguard, returns with the logic of being by Rock’s side now that his boss is gone.
During these years we have seen Rock Howard in the following SNK games:
- Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2021
- KOF: Maximum Impact
- Neo Geo Battle Coliseum
- KOF: Maximum Impact 2
- KOF Maximum Impact Regulation A
He has also been a DLC character in The King of Fighters XV and The King of Fighters XIV. He is, without a doubt, one of SNK’s favorite fighters.
Other popular fighters from Garou: Mark of the Wolves include B. Jenet and Hotaru Futaba, as well as the kids of Kim Kaphwan. If previous rumors and leaks are taken into account, the game will feature six new fighters and a total of around 20 characters. Among the new faces could be Kuan Konta, apprentice of Joe Higashi, and Ed Palmer, whose appearance is similar to that of Billy Kane (but the pose in the artwork is clearly Billy’s).
Although, according to rumors, Terry Bogard would be present, SNK does not seem to want to reintroduce classic characters. It is said that both Andy Bogard and Joe Higashi would only be present as a cameo on stage or in a victory pose, but these are only rumors. It’s possible that SNK wants to focus the story on Rock Howard and a new generation of fighters.
In other EVO 2022 news, SNK has announced that Nakoruru, Haohmaru, and Darli Dagger from Samurai Shodown will be the next DLC fighters for The King of Fighters XV. They will arrive with the name of Team Samurai. Not only that, with the new Season 2 Kim Kaphwan and Shingo Yabuki will finally appear. Cross-Play will also be introduced between the different versions of the game.
Source: Press Release
