Kula Diamond
The King of Fighters character
Kula in The King of Fighters XI
First gameThe King of Fighters 2000 (2000)
Voiced byJapanese
Yumi Kakazu
English
Kat Cassteneda (KOFMI2)
In-universe information
Fighting styleAnti-K' Arts

Kula Diamond (Japanese: クーラ・ダイアモンド, Hepburn: Kūra Daiamondo) is a fictional character from SNK's fighting game franchise The King of Fighters. She first appears as the sub-boss and playable character in The King of Fighters 2000; she enters as a normal participant in her other appearances. She is also present in a number of spin-off games in the franchise, most notably SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy as well as Akihiko Ureshino's novelizations of the games and comic books from China.

Originally a member of the organization NESTS, Kula is the result of an experiment to kill the rebellious K', earning the title of "Anti-K'" (アンチK', Anchi-Kei Dasshu). However, during NESTS' destruction, Kula forms a bond with K' and his allies to the point of joining his team. In following titles she lives with K' under the care of the cyborg Maxima.

Kula was created to add more characters to the NESTS syndicate and to add more depth to the series' second story arc. Her physical appearance was carefully designed to appeal to female players. Yumi Kakazu has voiced Kula in all of her appearances, while Kat Cassteneda provides her English voice in the spin-off game KOF: Maximum Impact 2.

At first the character got a mixed reception as comparisons were made between her and earlier SNK fighters. Subsequently, journalists and video game reviewers have been largely positive about Kula liking her fighting style, mostly for her use of ice, as well as her contrast with K'. However, the character's attractiveness also earned a mixed reaction. Critics were divided over her beauty and her skimpy designs in SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy.

Creation and design

Although Kula has been given different outfits in some games, for Kimi wa Hero she was redesigned as an adult. Art by Falcoon

SNK created Kula Diamond to bring more complexity to the NESTS' story arc in the series. Her character added another dimension to the villainous NESTS organization in the NESTS Chronicles. She was to add excitement to the story as an enemy and a foil of K'. Newly hired female staff designed her to depict a "14-year-old girl" with "appropriately girlish" gestures. The unnamed character designer was pleased with Kula's design saying: "Kula had an easy delivery. She didn't give me any pain."[1] Despite being K''s foil, Kula's was designed to closely resemble her rival as both fighters wear similar leather outfits with contrasting colors.[2] According to artist Hiroaki, Kula does not look like a 14 year old girl in the illustrations.[3] Nevertheless, he claims he grew attached to drawing her alongside K'.[4]

Yumi Kakazu has voiced Kula in all of her appearances.[5] In KOF: Maximum Impact 2, Falcoon gave her a color palette that makes her look like fighter Ash Crimson as well as the robot Candy. Her alternative costume is that of a coquettish ice skater.[6] Falcoon also once envisioned an adult version of Kula for the game Kimi wa Hero.[7]

For The King of Fighters XIII, the staff decided to make Kula similar to her original incarnation in The King of Fighters 2000. The team had no problems in designing her gameplay and added taunts where the character becomes boring. Similar to K''s moves, the developers wanted Kula's trademarks, most notably her ice moves, to be appealing to see. A move that exemplifies this was the "Crow Bites". Kula's "Diamond Breath" move was recommended for new players, while the "Reispin" was designed to make the gameplay more complex and challenging as Kula becomes stronger when executing it. Kula's strongest technique in the game involves the appearance of Foxy and Diana who attack the enemy alongside her. This technique went through numerous trials before it was added to the game.[8]

When developing The King of Fighters XIV with the Unreal Engine, the original game had more realistic visuals but they clashed with character designs of Kula and Athena Asamiya. The designs looked like those in an anime series so the designers opted for the current look.[9] A programmer with the alias of "Ando" designed the blades on Kula's boots during special attacks. Kula was the first character in KOF XIV to be given this type of design, requiring multiple attempts to work with her 3D character model. Ando further believed Kula could wield other type of weapons based on the variety used by the cast but in the end felt using blades could prove to be more challenging.[10] An extra outfit for Kula was released for The King of Fighters XIV as downloadable content.[11]

In SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy, Kula appears wearing Ángel's skimpy clothing. Director Kaito Soranaka said during an interview that Kula was his favorite character in the game.[12] Ogura said that having Kula wear Ángel's outfit brought up the fact that Kula hates Ángel, so the game's villain, Kukri, gave her that appearance to humiliate her.[13]

Appearances

Kula Diamond is a teenage girl who was experimented on by NESTS in order to exterminate the cartel's traitor, K'. Despite the fact their subject was a mindless puppet with no sign of emotions, the NESTS cartel created an android called Candy Diamond to monitor Kula's behavior and to ensure that she would accomplish her missions. During KOF 2000, Kula can be fought as a mid-boss during her debut.[14] Shortly afterwards, Kula destroys the main Zero Cannon from its titular creator who is betraying NESTS. Candy shields Kula's descent from space by sacrificing her body in the process, as it is badly burned by Earth's atmosphere.[15] While recovering from the trauma of Candy's destruction, in the following game, The King of Fighters 2001, Kula enters into the fighting tournament with fellow NESTS' agents Foxy, K9999 and Ángel to capture K'.[16] During the story, Kula and Foxy are betrayed by K9999 and Ángel.[17] However, in K''s Team ending among others, she is seen as being safe and forms a friendship with her original target and allies.[18][19] In the story-less game, KOF 2002, Kula appears as member of a team with Ángel and K9999.[20]

In KOF 2003, she appears in the ending of the K' Team where the group go to recruit her following an apparent threat.[21] She participates in KOF XI and KOF XIII with K' and Maxima as her allies, having also joined forces with the Ikari Team. They are assigned to investigate a group known as "Those From the Past".[22][23] In KOF XIV, she once again participates in the tournament following the Ikari's orders to investigate NESTS' agents.[24] During these games, the K' Team becomes allied with the Ikari Team to help them on missions though they tend to avoid them.[25] Prior to The King of Fighters XV, Kula and K' end up having a falling out each other because he and Maxima are too busy over capturing remaining NESTS’ remnants instead of taking vacation for a while with her, causing her to join a team consisting former NESTS Agents, Angel and a mysterious agent who is in fact K9999's current identity, Krohnen McDougall, unbeknownst to Kula.[26][27]

Kula is also present in the spin-off games, Neowave which does not feature a story and KOF: Maximum Impact 2 where looks for a doctor to repair Maxima's cybernetic body.[28][29] She also appears in The King of Fighters '98: Unlimited Match Online and The King of Fighters Online.[30][31] She is also present KOF: Sky Stage, Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting and SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy.[32][33][34] In SNK Heroines, the female fighters must fight their way home but are confronted by Kukri and defeat him before he can initiate his grand plan on the kidnapped female fighters. She also makes a cameo appearance alongside Maxima in the ending of K' from NeoGeo Battle Coliseum.[35] She is playable in the mobile phone game Kimi wa Hero (as an adult) and Brave Frontier,[36][37] while also making a cameo in the dating sim Days of Memories should the player interact with K'.[38] She has since made guest appearances in more games, including the role-playing game Valkyrie Connect.[39] She also appears as a downloadable character in Koei Tecmo's fighting game Dead or Alive 6.[40] In her story chapter, NiCO pulls her into the Dead or Alive dimension while experimenting with subspace portals. Kula and NiCO briefly spar, and NiCO later thanks her for providing "interesting data" while swearing her to secrecy.

The printed adaptations of The King of Fighters retell Kula's role in the NESTS' story arc where she constantly clashes with K', having a more antagonistic characterization until the events of 2001 and 2002.[41] She also appears in the CD dramas from KOF 2000, in which she attacks K' before the events of her the story. However, this ends when K' is knocked out by Maxima for fighting with his wounded arm and the fugitive escapes with the unconscious K' from Kula.[42] A cyborg named Rugal Bernstein kidnaps Kula during the 2002 storyline to absorb her powers. Using this, Rugal manages to defeat the fighters Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami, but in the end he is stopped by K' and Maxima who rescue their former enemy. In the comic of The King of Fighters XII, Kula engages the mysterious Magaki alongside K' and former NESTS' agent Nameless.[43]

Reception

Kula's character has been mostly well received. Den of Geek listed her as the 35th best character of the franchise, citing her appealing upbeat characterization while liking the idea of her not only being a foil for K', but how she "simply centers him by being his loving opposite".[44] In an article on the history of SNK, GameSpot described Kula as the yin to the yang due of K' to how different both characters are in terms of the elements they control while fighting.[45] Falcoon noted the character had become popular with fans of the series as after a poll on his Twitter account asking what character he should draw.[46] GameSpot, however, criticized Kula and Hinako as the least interesting additions to the cast of The King of Fighters 2000.[47]

IGN found Kula to be one of the most appealing characters in The King of Fighters 2000 though the reviewer felt newcomer Lin might be superior.[48] In another article, the same site liked the fact Kula was as a regular playable character unlike the original version, but felt she was still overshadowed by Lin.[49] In a later review, IGN lamented the lack of Geese Howard but believed both Kula and K' could fill the gap.[50] IGN felt Kula's inclusion in The King of Fighters 2002 alongside K', rather than other famous characters in the series, works with those that are included.[51] Eurogamer and other publications enjoyed return of the originally "inexplicably" absent from The King of Fighters XII in following titles of "familiar faces" alongside Maxima and K'.[22][52][53][54] 4thLetter enjoyed the contrast between K''s characterization from that of his teammates, Maxima and Kula, noting that the team's ending from XIII had him enjoying his vacation by beating up unknown enemies.[55] PlayStation Universe opined fans should look forward to Kula and K' in The King of Fighters XIV as their game styles would appeal to gamers.[56] In a review for KOF: Maximum Impact 2, GameSpot felt Kula and Billy Kane were two of the best new characters.[57] In a museum of videogames sponsored by the municipality of Rome, a special illustration lists Kula as the mascot of the new millennium era of Neo Geo.[58]

GameZone enjoyed her fighting mechanics in The King of Fighters XI, comparing her style to "athletes participating in the acclaimed Olympic event" enjoying SNK's execution of the character despite the reviewer's dislike of the concept.[59] 3DJuegos felt that Kula's moves in The King of Fighters XI were overpowered; she was far more balanced in XIV.[60] Siliconera found her fighting style in SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy to be ridiculous due to the use of "cups of what appears to be sorbet".[61]

Other reviewers focused on the character's sex appeal. Universo Nintendo also enjoyed the alternative outfits for Kula, especially her dancer costume.[62] Shoryuken liked Kula's alternative outfits in SNK Heroines, noting how they give her distinct looks. However, the site noted the fact that Kula can wear skimpy dresses might divide players and make them uncomfortable due to her young age.[63] Atomix was more critical of the release of SNK Heroines for having their female characters fight in skimpy dresses.[64] A similar response was given when Kula appeared as a guest character in Dead or Alive 6 for her young age. Nevertheless, Destructoid found the character's moves appealing.[65] The sexualization was once again pointed out in October 2020 through a commercial for the mobile phone game SNK Allstar where Terry Bogard harasses her alongside Mai Shiranui and Blue Mary.[66]

References

  1. ↑ "Kula Diamond's KOF 10th anniversary profile". King of Fighters 10th Anniversary Official Website. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
  2. ↑ エンターブレインムック ARCADIA EXTRA VOL. 2 THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2000 ALL CHARACTERS BIBLE (in Japanese). Arcadia. 2000. ISBN 4-7577-0231-0.
  3. ↑ Hiroaki [@SUPER_HIROAKI] (January 20, 2020). "『KOF2000』ネオジオフリーク攻略本表紙（結局紹介しとるw）表1が『K'』、表4は血色の悪い『クーラ』です。クーラは全く14歳に見えないですね・・・" (Tweet). Retrieved March 22, 2020 – via Twitter.
  4. ↑ Hiroaki [@SUPER_HIROAKI] (May 31, 2020). "『KOF2000』ネオジオフリーク攻略本表紙（結局紹介しとるw）表1が『K'』、表4は血色の悪い『クーラ』です。クーラは全く14歳に見えないですね・・・" (Tweet). Retrieved May 31, 2020 – via Twitter.
  5. ↑ "Kula Diamond". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on July 20, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  6. ↑ The King of Fighters Maximum Impact Artbook (in Japanese). SNK Playmore. June 17, 2006. p. 51. ISBN 978-4-7973-3543-9.
  7. ↑ "キミヒロに登場しているアンチＫ'Ｉクーラ）がようやく育ってきました！みなさんはもうゲットしましたか？？？". Falcoon. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  8. ↑ "チーム紹介 K'チーム" (in Japanese). SNK Playmore. July 18, 2011. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  9. ↑ "新生SNKのモノ作りはここから始まる。「餓狼MOW2」の話題も飛び出した，「THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV」開発陣インタビュー". Four Gamer. June 25, 2016. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ The King of Fighters XIV artbook. SNK. 2016. p. 53.
  11. ↑ "King of Fighters XIV's Kula Is Getting A Cool New DLC Outfit On April 12". Siliconera. 2017-04-10. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  12. ↑ "SNK HEROINES: TAG TEAM FRENZY INTERVIEW: LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE ALL-FEMALE FIGHTER". Nintendo Insider. 2018-02-20. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  13. ↑ "El artista de SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy nos explica la creación de los trajes". PrimerPlayer. 2018-08-13. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ SNK. The King of Fighters 2000. SNK. Zero: So that's the anti-K'?
  15. ↑ SNK. The King of Fighters 2000. SNK. Level/area: Kula Diamond's ending.
  16. ↑ "NESTS Team Story". SNK. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  17. ↑ Eolith. The King of Fighters 2001. Playmore. Level/area: K9999: Failures like you and K'? Your days are finished.
  18. ↑ Eolith. The King of Fighters 2001. Playmore. Level/area: Hero Team's Ending.
  19. ↑ Eolith. The King of Fighters 2001. Playmore. K': Thanks to them, I am free. My long captivity is over! / Kula: Uh-huh / K': Let's blow this place
  20. ↑ "KOF 2001 Team". SNK. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  21. ↑ SNK Playmore. The King of Fighters 2003. SNK Playmore. Level/area: K' Team ending.
  22. 1 2 "This Holiday Season The King Of Fighters XIII Reigns On PS3 And Xbox 360". Siliconera. 2011-06-07. Archived from the original on 2017-11-22. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  23. ↑ SNK Playmore. The King of Fighters XI (PlayStation 2). SNK Playmore.
  24. ↑ "K's Prologue Story". SNK. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  25. ↑ SNK. The King of Fighters XIV (PlayStation 4). Atlus USA. Level/area: K' Team ending.
  26. ↑ "Team Krohnen Prologue Story". SNK. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Kula Diamond Prologue Story". SNK. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Kula Diamond". SNK. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Kula Diamond". SNK. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Guide". GG. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  31. ↑ "KOF 98" (in Japanese). OurPalm. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  32. ↑ "The X Button". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Kula Diamond". SNK. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  34. ↑ "SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy Lands on PS4 Today". PlayStation Universe. 2018-09-07. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  35. ↑ SNK Playmore. NeoGeo Battle Coliseum (PlayStation 2). SNK Playmore.
  36. ↑ "｢キミヒロ×KOF｣コラボイベント第2弾開催！" (in Japanese). SNK. 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  37. ↑ "The King Of Fighters' Competitors Are Headed To Brave Frontier". Siliconera. 2016-07-19. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  38. ↑ SNK Playmore. Days of Memories. SNK Playmore.
  39. ↑ "New Hero "Kula Diamond" Appears at 5-Stars in "THE KING OF FIGHTERS" Collab in Fantasy RPG "Valkyrie Connect"!". A TM. 19 September 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Dead or Alive 6 x King of Fighters XIV Mashup Trailer Shows Mai Shiranui, Reveals Kula Diamond". Siliconera. 2019-06-09. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  41. ↑ Ureshino, Aikhiko (2000). ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ2000―ICICLE DOLL [The King of Fighters 2000 ～ICICLE DOLL] (in Japanese). SNK. ISBN 978-4757702790.
  42. ↑ Ureshino, Akihiko (September 20, 2000). The King of Fighters 2000. Scitron.
  43. ↑ Otto, Nekketsu (2009). The King of Fighters XII, Volume 12. Lucky Dragon Comics. ISBN 978-2-07-332100-8.
  44. ↑ "King of Fighters: Ranking All the Characters". Den of Geek. 14 November 2016. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  45. ↑ "The History of SNK". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  46. ↑ "本日の投票で一位になりましたクーラ（水着）です。投票にご協力ありがとうございました！". Falcoon. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  47. ↑ "The King of Fighters 2000 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  48. ↑ "KING OF FIGHTERS 2000/2001". IGN. 11 December 2003. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  49. ↑ "THE KING OF FIGHTERS 2000 (IMPORT)". IGN. 2 December 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  50. ↑ "KING OF FIGHTERS 02/03: HANDS-ON". IGN. 6 November 2004. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  51. ↑ "KING OF FIGHTERS 02/03: HANDS-ON". IGN. 6 November 2004. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  52. ↑ Edwards, Matt (November 28, 2011). "The King of Fighters 13 Review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  53. ↑ Patterson, Eric L. (November 21, 2011). "EGM Review: The King of Fighters XIII". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  54. ↑ Holmes, Jonathan. "Review: The King of Fighters XIII". Destructoid. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  55. ↑ "The Top 200 Fighting Game Endings: Part Four". 4thLetter. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  56. ↑ "New King of Fighters XIV Roster Details Revealed". PlayStation Universe. January 29, 2016. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  57. ↑ "The King of Fighters 2006 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  58. ↑ "SNK Legends at Italian Museum of Videogames, Vigamus". Eirgames. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  59. ↑ "King of Fighters 2006 – PS2 – Preview". GameZone. 2012-05-04. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  60. ↑ "The King of Fighters XIV". 3DJuegos. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  61. ↑ "SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy Can Be Quite Silly". Siliconera. September 6, 2018. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  62. ↑ "SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy Para Nintendo Switch Podría Tener 29 Peleadoras". Universo Nintendo. 2018-02-10. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  63. ↑ "Shoryuken review: SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy subverts conventions with full-on fan service". Shoryuken. 2018-09-26. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  64. ↑ "REVIEW – SNK HEROINES: TAG TEAM FRENZY". Atomix VG. 2018-09-14. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  65. ↑ "King of Fighters' Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond headed to Dead or Alive 6". Destructoid. 9 June 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  66. ↑ "Why Does This SNK Allstar Ad Even Exist". Kotaku. 27 October 2020. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
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