Iori Yagami (The King of Fighters) (2024)

Iori is the bornenemy of Kyo Kusanagi. The Yagami clan originally helpedseal Orochi, but later made a pact with it. Thisgave them greater power, but shortened their lives. Iori joins KOF simply tofight Kyo. Beforethe King of Fighters '96 tournament, Iori is visited by Viceand Mature. They tell him about Kyoentering the tournament and try convincing him to join as well. After a brieffight, Iori agrees to enter, once the two submit to be his servants. Ioriintends to use them to help him kill Kyo. Vice and Mature agree, but are stillfollowing Goenitz'sorders.

Before theevents of KOF '97, Iori learns of Kyo entering the tournament from thelocal news. Later that night, he has a nightmare about two women mocking hisinability to defeat Kyo. The women disappear and promise him they'll meet againsoon. When he wakes up, he coughs up blood. Filled with a sudden hate and rage,Iori declares to defeat his rival. However, at tournament finals, he ends up joiningKyo and Chizuruto defeat Goenitz. During the battle, Chizurudies and leaves a warning to not underestimate the power of Orochior Yagami. Vice and Mature are left shaken by the ill omen. It is then when Iorisuddenly undergoes symptoms of the Riot of the Blood (

In KOF XI, Ioriagrees on Chizuru's request to team up with Kyo and ShingoYabuki in hopes of opposing Ash. At the end of the tournament, thestrengthening presence of Orochi caused Iori to enter the Riot of Blood, inwhich he seriously injured Kyo and Shingo. Afterwatds, Ash Crimson appeared andstole Iori's sacred treasure, the Yasakani no Magatama, and his power. Ioricould no longer wield his trademark purple flames.

Before the KOF XIIItournament, Iori pays a visit to Chizuru to see if she needs her treasure to useher power. Realizing that his predictions are true, she presents Iori with theprospect of ridding the Orochi curse from his bloodline since he is no longerhindered by his treasure. Uninterested in rectifying his family's mistake, heremarks that Chizuru's mirror will return in due time and leaves. With Matureand Vice haunting him to join the tournament with them, they perk his interestto settle matters with Ash.

In the tournamentclimax, Iori regains his magatama once Ash disappears. Mature and Vice remarksthat he can still choose to refuse the treasure, saving himself from the Orochicurse once and for all. He questions what will happen to his teammates if heshould accept the treasure again, but they voice that he should choose whateverhe thinks is right. Therefore, he mercilessly regains his flames and histeammates disappear once more from the mortal realm. Back in action, hechallenges Kyo to an undecided outcome.

PageUpdated: Sep. 15th, 2023
Iori Yagami quicklybecame a fighting game icon due to his mysterious and brutal fighting style, along with his comical,evil personality. He's crazy and proud of it. Iori is just a badass who isn't afraid tobe a little flamboyant... and sometimes he totally flips a lid (which only adds to hiscoolness factor). There are too many cool aspects of his design to count. One of my favorites? The name Yagami in Japanese means"Night God". Iori pretty much defined what's "cool" about the KOF series upon his arrival in KOF '95. Since then, he evolved quite nicely as a design while never losing his trademarks as a design. Iori made his first venture out of KOF in SNK VS Capcom: Match of the Millennium,and later, his best appearance to date... Capcom VS SNK 1 & 2 (Capcom's version of his 2D sprite was just plain amazing). It was pretty shocking when Iori lost his powers and purple flames in KOF 12/13. An interesting "era" for the character. Iori's "white pants" version was an interesting change of pace... very"rock star" which Iori is pretty much is. At theend of the day, Iori is a timeless SNK icon and one of the original characters who set the "tone" of the KOF series. "Yagami Style for life."
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