Leona Heidern

Leona (Japanese: レオナ, Hepburn: Reona), who is also known as Leona Heidern (Japanese: レオナ・ハイデルン, Hepburn: Reona Haiderun) is a fictional character from SNK's The King of Fighters series of fighting video games. Leona is Heidern's adopted daughter, who is introduced in The King of Fighters '96; she replaces him because he accepts a more active role behind the scenes. Leona suffers from a curse known as Riot of the Blood (血の暴走, Chi no Bōsō; lit. "Rampage of Blood") that causes her to become berserk; she often takes the nicknames Orochi Leona (暴走レオナ, Bousou Reona; lit. "Rampaging Leona") and "Awakened Orochi Blood from the Darkness Leona" (ヤミノナカオロチノチニメザメルレオナ, Yami no naka Orochi no Chi ni Mezameru Reona; lit. "Insane Leona with Blood of Orochi Awakened within the Darkness"). The character has also appeared in multiple spin-off games and other media, some of which also feature her Orochi form.

Leona was created by SNK to replace Heidern, her superior in the story; she had an integral role in the games' narrative form previously seen in her debut game. She is SNK's response to Street Fighter character Cammy. Leona's design was intended to contrast with previous SNK heroines, which led to her silent personality. Her design was given variations; her The King of Fighters XIV design expands her sex appeal. Leona has been voiced by Masae Yumi and Seiko Yoshida.

Critical reception to Leona's character has been mostly positive, with journalists enjoying her backstory, movesets and her Orochi form. Her relationship with her superior and adoptive father Heidern was praised as a result of similar moves and impact in the storyline.

Leona Heidern debuted in The King of Fighters (KOF) series in The King of Fighters '96 (KOF '96) as a replacement for Heidern. The game's designers created the plot element of Heidern's adopted daughter before the production of KOF '96. The details of her origins gradually came to include a crucial role as a descendant of the Orochi tribe. Leona's special moves were designed to be unique and reveal the tastes of her designers.^[1] SNK noted there were multiple conceptions that Leona's complete name is Leona Heidern as a result of being under Heidern's care but they said it is just a codename and her only name is Leona.^[2]

Shinkiro, an illustrator who worked on The King of Fighters, considered Leona with her "ice queen" persona an opposite of Mai Shiranui, another popular female character featured in the series.^[3] SNK artist Falcoon stated Leona is the company's response to Street Fighter character Cammy; both of whom are implosion assassins.^[4] While never used for fights, SNK provided Leona with a secretary outfit Falcoon found stylish.^[5] Fellow Ikari Team member Whip was originally meant to be introduced in KOF '96 but the importance of Leona in the story led to her inclusion until The King of Fighters '99. Leona's and Whip's designs were meant to contrast one another.^[6] Character designer Nao Q also named Leona as his favorite character; he comments on his fondness for ice maidens.^[3]

Leona's design has been altered since her debut; Falcoon gave her an alternative skin in Maximum Impact 2, in which she wears Heidern's clothing, including her eyepatch. Another outfit is a reference to Neon Genesis Evangelion character Rei Ayanami.^[7] Her most recent design was done by Eisuke Ogura for The King of Fighters XIV. Nobuyuki Kuroki comments on Leona's chest being more robust compared to her previous incarnations.^[8] The King of Fighters XIV producer Yasuyuki Oda states Leona and Kyo Kusanagi are his favorite characters in The King of Fighters series. Oda said "Leona’s character is reticent and she does not show so much charm. But I think that makes her cool. During her dash, you can charge her attack and I love it. The sharp sound effect when she performs her Moon Slasher is the best."^[9] For the spinoff game SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy, Oda recommended Leona alongside Yuri Sakazaki as playable characters for newcomers.^[10] Oda added that Leona's characterization was meant to make the story of the spin-off more comical as a result of her stoic traits that make her unaffected by wearing skimpy clothing in contrast to the rest members from the cast like Mai.^[11] Manga author Kyotaro Azuma has come to enjoy drawing the character across serialization of the manga A New Beginning.^[12]

The popularity of Iori Yagami's berserker form first seen in his ending from the same game inspired the idea of Leona entering into her own alter ego. The team liked this form and added multiple aspects to her introductions that would make both Orochi Leona and Orochi Iori appear threatening in The King of Fighters '97, in which Leona is revealed in the arcade run.^[13] Then character has been voiced by Masae Yumi and Seiko Yoshida.^[14][15]

Leona makes her debut in SNK's KOF '96 as a new member of the Ikari Team alongside her superiors Clark Still and Ralf Jones.^[16] As a child, Leona was cursed by a priest named Goenitz with Orochi's curse, which is also known as the Riot of the Blood. The curse caused her to murder several people, including her own family.^[17] In the next game, KOF '97, Leona's curse causes her to become a boss character if she is not used by the player.^[18] Following her and the demon Orochi's defeat, Leona regrets her actions and attempts to end her life but Ralf stops her.^[19] Leona is a playable character in all of the KOF games; her Orochi form returns in the remake of The King of Fighters '98 (Ultimate Match) and as an assistant character in The King of Fighters 2000.^[20][21]

Leona is playable in KOF '99, KOF 2000 and KOF 2001, in which she investigates the NESTS cartel.^[22][23][24] Leona is also playable in the 2002 installment, though there is no narrative in this title.^[25] In KOF 2003, Leona loses control over her inner demon, and beats up Ralf and Clark.^[26] This causes her to retire from the tournament The King of Fighters XI,^[27] and tries to control her power until KOF XIII and KOF XIV, when she returns to the tournament.^[28][29] In KOF XIV, it is said the revival of multiple individuals means the curse might come back but Leona feels she has defeated it thanks to her friends with The King of Fighters XV having Leona go to meet Gaidel.^[30][31]

Leona has also appeared in spinoff games. Both King of Fighters R-1 and King of Fighters R-2 feature Leona and her berserker form as playable characters; the latter game includes her as a teamless character.^[32][33] The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact and Maximum Impact 2 investigating the whereabouts of a doctor.^[34][35] She is also present in the storyless game The King of Fighters: Neowave^[36] and The King of Fighters EX2.^[37] Leona is also present in spinoff games SNK Gals' Fighters and SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy.^[38] In her ending in SNK Heroines, Leona has a nightmare in which her Orochi powers force her to defeat all of her allies.^[39] She also appeared as a playable skin in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang as a collaboration with SNK. In the crossover SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium and appeared as a guest in Metal Slug XX.^[40][41]

Other games that include Leona and her Orochi form include The King of Fighters All Star, Kimi wa Hero and The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Online.^[42][43] She also appears in the action-shooting cellphone game Ikari - Leona Gekitohen alongside Ralf and Clark,^[44] as well as The King of Fighters: Destiny. However, she is unplayable and simply a cameo characters in the visual novel Days of Memories.^[45]

Besides games, Leona has appeared in the manga The King of Fighters: Kyo during a mission that was also adapted into a visual novel in which the player, in control of Kyo Kusanagi, meets Leona and can recruit her into his team.^[46] She also appears in the manga The King of Fighters G, in which she reprises her role from KOF '96.^[47] In the manga The King of Fighters: A New Beginning, Leona suffers from the Riot of the Blood curse but is able to control it when facing former NESTS agent Angel.^[48][49] She makes a brief appearance in The King of Fighters: Another Day, investigating K' and Maxima's actions.^[50]

Critics have commented on Leona's traits and movements. Hardcore Gaming 101 regarded Leona as one of the most suitable additions to the franchise in KOF '96 due to the way she mimics Heidern's techniques but at the same form is overpowered. The handling of her techniques was noted to be balanced across the series while her character was noted to have an oustanding role in the narrative involving Goenitz and other servants of the demon Orochi.^[51] ThunderBoltGames liked the character's introduction and said her fighting style is one of the most notable changes from KOF '96.^[52] The removal of blood from her attacks in the English versions of KOF 2000, KOF 2001 and the first Maximum Impact drew negative comments from IGN because it removed elements that made Leona's combos appealing.^[53]

Den of Geek compared Leona with the ideal child of the superheroes Hulk and Black Widow because of their similarities in abilities and their constant struggle to control their inner rage,^[54] eventually labeling her Orochi forms of as one of the best altered video game characters based on its impact on the storyline.^[55] The same site also praised her personality anbd how it is connected with her traumatic past which she manages to surpass thanks to her bonds with the Ikari Team.^[56]

Famitsu regarded Leona as one of the characters who had the most natural transition to 3D in KOF XIV , noting her sex appeal stands out. Oda agreed, stating this was done because of her simple silhouette.^[57] Egames praised her character trailer from The King of Fighters XV for showing notable improvements to her design that made her more appealing and said that she has been one of the most famous fighters from Latin America especially when seeing her animations.^[58] IGN felt the character was redesigned much to the players' confusion but Oda said the animators did needed change after multiple installments.^[59]

Gamer Magazine said that unlike other typical Japanese characters such as mature women, lolis, and queens, Leona is a cold-blooded female soldier. While her connection with Orochi draws appeal, the magaziine lamented most of it instead is taken to Iori Yagami. As a fighting game, the most effective way to showcase a character's personality is through their actions and dialogue. Aside from the opening moves like throwing her cape and tying her headband, and checking her watch upon victory, Leona's special moves are incredibly stylish. While most of Leona's moves are inherited from Heidern, simple yet powerful, her moves, as a female character, also possess unique expressiveness. For example, "Gravity Storm," a dance-like, chaotic super move, only a female Leona can execute with such flair; while "Spinning Spark" evokes the feeling of a one-hit kill from martial arts films and period dramas, when Leona swings her arm and utters the decisive line "Farewell!" followed by countless exploding sparks on her opponent, creating an "exhilarating feeling".^[60]

Gamest in their Gals Island series of magazines compared her plain military uniform to Heidern's, but more revealing and somewhat unreliable for self-protection. Rather than sexualizing her, this is done to prioritize ease of movement, allowing her fighting style to be fully displayed. When she appears, her hair is neatly tied up so that it doesn't fall over her shoulders and doesn't get in the way, so as not to hinder her "movement. Unlike his Heidern's style, Leona's fighting style is one of constant attacking, which is probably because Leona's combat abilities are suited to it, so Heidern, seeing his potential, deliberately did not teach him exactly the same way. In regards to their relationship m Heidern sees his own daughter in him, raising her to be a warrior is terrible, which the thought at first, but he can see hidden feelings such as "I want her to be able to protect herself with her own strength no matter what situation she finds herself in."^[61]

It was noted in "Além de monstros e capoeiristas: a representação brasileira nos jogos de luta " that some of the characters studied, both on the page and in the aforementioned article, are commonly mistaken for Brazilians due to their narratives or the settings in which they are inserted. These are: Blanka and Oro, from Street Fighter, and Leona. While Blanka and Oro were born in other countries and reside in Brazil, Leona Heidern's origin is uncertain; it is only known that she lives in South America, specifically in the Amazon rainforest.^[62]