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ROBERT GARCIA
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Birthplace: Italy
Birthdate: December 25, 1973 (26 years old)
Height: 1.80 m (5'9")
Weight: 85 kg (185 lbs)
Blood type: AB
Hobbies: Collecting cars
Favorite food: Sushi, yakisoba
Favorite sport: Motor sports
Most valuable: His collection of cars
Hates the most: Rakkyou
Fighting style: Kyokugenryo Karate
*Sushi = Japanese dish, made mainly of raw fish
Robert is the son of the wealthy Italian business man Alberto Garcia. Due
to Alberto's friendship with Takuma Sakazaki, master of Kyokugenryo Karate, and
willing to teach some discipline to Robert, the multimillionaire sends Robert to
Takuma's dojo, where he begins to train. While acting like a spoiled brat the
first few days, Takuma shows him the state of things in his dojo, and Robert had
no other choice but to stay put and obey, and began to wield the power of the
dragon. He quickly made friends with both of Takuma's children: the older son,
Ryo, and the younger daughter, Yuri. While Robert and Ryo were very good
friends, Robert had a special relationship with Yuri. He felt she was something
special, and all three grew up being the best of friends...until...
One day, Takuma disappeared, and soon after that, Yuri vanished as well.
Ryo and Robert felt something bad was behind all this, so they accepted to go
out and search for her in the hostile and crime-filled Southtown. Robert and Ryo
divided themselves to search clues for where she could be. Robert was determined
to find her, since he knew he was very much in love with her, but he wasn't able
to tell both Ryo and Takuma, fearful that they would be very angry at his idea.
Still, Robert faced most of the criminals in Southtown in order to find Yuri,
and all clues pointed towards Mr. Big, one of the more powerful gang leaders of
Southtown. Robert managed to defeat the bluffing Mr. Big, and demanded where
Yuri was. Mr. Big laughed and called for Mr. Karate. This warrior used a "tengu"
(bird) mask, but his fighting spirit was very powerful. He also seemed to use
Kyokugenryo Karate as well! Ryo was the one to fight him, and once defeated, Ryo
decided to finish him off, as he thought he was the mastermind behind all this.
But then, Yuri barged in, and tells Ryo not to harm him, as Mr. Karate was
really Takuma! Robert and Ryo were surprised by this, and decided to go after
the man who had fooled them, Geese Howard. However, he was already in trouble
for facing the Bogard brothers, whom were ready to exact revenge for the death
of their father at Geese's hands. So, the Sakazaki family and Robert decided to
go back to the dojo.
Robert, always benefited by the money of his father, always wore fancy
clothes and drived in luxurious cars. He also likes to impress Yuri with his
presents, but Ryo and Takuma always keep a handy eye on him. By 1994, Robert was
invited by Takuma to represent the Kyokugenryo Karate in the new King of
Fighters tournament, which now introduced the team battle mode. Robert was a bit
confused that Yuri would not enter with them, but he accepted anyway. After two
tournaments, the Kyokugenryo Team has shown the power of their style, and Robert
has done a pretty well role in honoring the Kyokugenryo Karate. However, Robert
and Ryo have to run away after each tournament to avoid Takuma's orders to train
again! Robert had a little pause in the action to help a childhood friend save
her brother, Wyler, who had gone berserk using a demonic power. After a short
trip to Southtown, Robert returned to the dojo, to be known that Takuma would
retire his position as leader of the Kyokugenryo Team and deliver his place to
his daughter Yuri. Robert was glad that Yuri would fight with him, but Ryo will
keep an eye on him!
Since that moment, Robert has represented Kyokugenryo Karate the best way
possible. He gets very excited when Yuri fights, and more when she wins. Problem
is, Ryo is always behind him and does not let him do anything smart. After the
tournament of 1996, Robert arrived one day to the Kyokugenryo dojo. He saw it to
be destroyed and many students to be wounded. He then consulted with Ryo and
Yuri. Ryo tells them that Takuma has told him to tell both of them to fight in
the next tournament and clean the honor of the Kyokugenryo Karate. Robert and
Yuri accept, and now, Robert is more willing than ever to fight and show that
the Kyokugenryo Karate is the best martial art in the world!
Robert decides to focus more on trying to sweep Yuri off her feet during the
two year break after the Orochi battle, but is abruptly brought back to training by
his master, Takuma, and friend, Ryo, in punishment for his insolence! Robert gets
more serious in his training, however, when he realizes the next King of Fighters
tournament coming up, and this time around, he will have both Takuma AND Yuri in
his team, so he's got a lot to prove. Despite being the only foreigner among the
team, he feels as if he was in his own family. He just can't lie back and do
nothing while the others trust in him!
Robert thinks he has put the style and finesse in the Kyokugenryo Karate,
and is always bragging about himself. He has been interested in Yuri ever since
he first met her, even though he has the money and power to get other girls. He
respects both Takuma and his best friend, Ryo, but is really bothered when both
of them interfere in his intentions to propose to Yuri. He also avoids Yuri's
wrath whenever he helps his childhood friend.
ART OF FIGHTING ROBERT GARCIA (The King of Fighters '98): Alternate
version of Robert Garcia, based on his Art of Fighting series incarnation. His
Ryu-Geki-Ken recovers it's long range, and his Genei Kyaku returns (the multiple
hit kick). He still has two DM: the Ryuko Ranbu and the Haoh-Sho-Koh-Ken, but
loses the Mu Ei Shippuu Jyu Dan Kyaku DM.
*Fun fact = Remember Robert's trusty coin which he has always flipped since KOF
'95? Well, it was included as a limited edition coin in certain Neo Geo Art of
Fighting 3 games. Now...well...you can flip it and try to catch it yourself!
(And don't feel bad if you don't, even Robert misses once in awhile, as shown in
one of his KOF '98 victory poses).
*Cloth changes = Robert had a black shirt and brown vest in KOF '94/'95, and
then dons a blue shirt with long sleeves and white neck from his AOF 3
incarnation for KOF '96. In KOF '99, he goes back to his KOF '94/'95 outfit, but
his black shirt has longer sleeves now.
Appearances: The King of Fighters '94, The King of Fighters '95, The King of
Fighters '96, The King of Fighters '97, The King of Fighters '98, The King of
Fighters '99
Other games: Art of Fighting, Art of Fighting 2, Art of Fighting 3
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