The Top 20 2D Fighting Game Characters Of All Time (Part 1)

15. Rock Howard (Garou: Mark of the Wolves, The King of Fighters Series)

When it comes to character design, sometimes less is more. Rock Howard is one of the coolest fighting game characters to ever embody this concept.

The son of Fatal Fury villain Geese Howard and the protege of Fatal Fury/King of Fighter’s fan favourite protagonist Terry Bogard, Rock’s design and moveset draw perfectly from the two older characters that have story connections to him, creating one of the best examples of visual storytelling in a fighting game. His red and white jacket is minimalistic but striking, signifying his connection to Terry, while his moveset is a mix between Geese and Terry’s signature moves, with his own signature style throw in to symbolise a character that is following his own path.

From his first-ever appearance in Garou: Mark of the Wolves to his latest inclusion in King of Fighters XIV, his simple but stylish appearance and his deep ties to the overarching lore of SNK’s fighting game franchise make him one of the coolest fighting game protagonists out there.

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