The NESTS Saga was an interesting, if somewhat messy attempt to take KOF in a new direction, so when it came time for the third saga in the ongoing series, SNK decided to play things a bit safer.

Instead of changing up the genre again, the Ash saga decided to expand on the existing Orochi lore. If the earth’s will could manifest itself as a figure of Japanese mythology, why not other mythologies as well?

Enter “Those from the past”. A team that needs no excuse to terrorize mankind. Instead of Orochi’s nature first philosophy, Those From the Past mostly view humans with open contempt. It’s a bit simpler, but fits their basis on European demons.

Speaking of contempt, Ash Crimson is the most controversial KOF protagonist by far. But he’s hard to debate because he’s a character almost designed to frustrate; a young newcomer who effortlessly runs circles around fan favorites while smugly talking down to the rest.

SNK staff members have since stated they intended Ash to be an “evil, attractive hero” you felt bad rooting for, but many couldn’t forgive some young upstart treating their favorite characters like trash.

Personally? I’m fond of Ash and the way he plays off the main cast, whether it’s giving Iori someone to focus on besides Kyo, or failing to pierce Terry’s happy-go-lucky attitude.

But much like the NESTS Saga before it, the Ash Saga hit a snag two games in. Many players were growing tired of SNK recycling sprites game after game, and the company decided a shake-up was in order. So they poured their resources into creating new, gorgeous HD sprites.

The debut of these new sprites, XII, didn’t even have a story! And XIII had to drop some subplots because not recycling sprites meant far less characters.

Adelheid Bernstein, an interesting addition to Rugal’s legacy and supposedly the “other” protagonist of the Ash Saga was forced to take a backseat. Many members of Those From the Past were shuffled off to the side, their planned boss fights trashed. Even the final boss of the saga was turned into a recolored Ash Crimson.

If I didn’t have much to say about Those From the Past before, this is the main reason why. They have potential, especially how the organization is composed of both “demons” and humans given power, even as Saiki espouses his deep hatred of mankind.

But outside a few key players like Mukai and Magaki, most are given so little presence, we don’t even know the names of half the group. This makes for a far less memorable antagonist team than the Hakkesshu.

So, was going with the new sprite style a mistake? I don’t think so. KOF XIII’s sprites are breathtaking, and made for a fitting send-off to SNK’s 2D pixel art. It’s just that to make them, a few sacrifices had to be made in the story department.

At least the story ends on a strong note. Ash’s sacrifice feels earned, and the scene of Elizabeth crying to herself after he disappears is one of the most affecting in the entire series. How, Saiki not entering the portal causes a time paradox is left unclear, but it’s almost impossible to write a time travel story without a few leaps of logic.

Despite its problems, the characters and ending are what make me look back on the Ash Saga fondly. It’s not my favorite of the sagas, but the story of Ash himself has heart that’s hard to overlook.

With the new saga gaining steam, I’m hoping this time, SNK will be able to reach the finish line smoothly. But if there’s something to learn from the history of KOF, it’s that they’re hard to keep down.