Since its release, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has continuously added new characters to the mix, with SNK's Terry Bogard being the most recent to join the roster. However, unlike Joker from Persona or the titular Banjo-Kazooie, Bogard is less known. Many are likely now wondering exactly who he is, so here's everything Smash fans need to know about the latest DLC character.
Terry Bogard is the main character of the SNK series, Fatal Fury, and he was known as the Legendary Wolf. The property debuted back in 1991 as Fatal Fury: King of Fighters, where it also introduced Bogard, and ended with Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves. His origin story sees him join a fighting tournament, aptly titled King of Fighters, to kill the criminal, Geese Howard, who killed his father. After killing him, he becomes the gaurdian of his son, Rock Howard. All of this, of course, before he joined the ranks of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Later on, Rock meets Kain R. Heinlein during a new fighting tournament. It seems Kain and Terry have some philosophical differences, and it turns out that Kain initiated the new fighting tournament to bring Rock to him. This is because he is Rock's Uncle and needed him to gain access to Geese's will. Kain claims that Rock's mother, who died of a mysterious illness long ago, is still alive.
Terry understands Rock's decision and allows him to leave and become Kain's new partner, though Rock promises to return. This has been a huge cliffhanger for some time, as the follow up sequel was reportedly canceled. Many have the inkling that Rock and Terry comes to blows, in a student-master full circle relationship, but there's other questions that have gone unanswered: is Rock's mother still alive? Is Geese and what is his legacy? to name a few.
In 2016, the King of Fighters 14 team revealed sprites of the sequel: Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolf 2. Seemingly, nothing has yet to manifest of that, though many are concerned with concluding the game's story. After all, despite the years since the last release, Terry Bogard has remained an incredibly popular character, which is not just evidenced by his inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Much like Mario to Nintendo, Terry Bogard is the animated face of SNK. For the gaming company's crossovers, merchandise, and publicity, Bogard is the typical go-to. When it was revealed that SNK was coming to Smash Bros. Ultimate, he was the #1 guess as a result. He has also ranked high in several popularity polls by SNK, publications, fan events, and more, with many praising Bogard's personality, Bogard's fighting style, and Bogard's character development.
When and where Terry Bogard pops up next remains to be seen, but perhaps SNK will see fit to add him as a crossover in other games besides Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It also seems like a pipe dream to hope for Mark of the Wolves 2, but for many fans of the franchise, it is a good dream indeed.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is out now, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
