Summary
Howard Rock is a video game character appearing in various titles published by SNK Playmore, formerly known as SNK. He makes his debut as a playable protagonist in Garou: Mark of the Wolves, serving as the final entry in the Fatal Fury series. Rock is the son of Geese Howard, the primary antagonist from previous Fatal Fury games who was defeated by Terry Bogard. After Geese’s death, Terry took responsibility for Rock, eventually teaching him how to fight. Beyond his starring role in Mark of the Wolves, Rock appears in several entries of The King of Fighters series and various SNK crossover titles. In the Japanese version, he is voiced by Eiji Takemoto, while Mike Lane provides his voice in the English editions of KOF: Maximum Impact and its sequel. Rock has also appeared in manhwa adaptations based on the games he features in, as well as in the anime series The King of Fighters Another Day. His character design and presence have drawn mixed reactions from gaming publications. Critics highly praised his debut in Mark of the Wolves, though some reviewers felt he was overly powerful compared to other characters. Conversely, his portrayal in the KOF: Maximum Impact series faced criticism regarding his English voice acting and his new costume design. Despite his father’s legacy of villainy, Rock is a warm, friendly, and compassionate young man who inherits Terry’s strong sense of justice and heroism. He constantly battles his inner evil nature and strives to escape the shadow of his father’s reputation. Rock serves as a middle ground between Geese’s extreme malice and Terry’s boisterous personality. He is deeply empathetic, often assisting those in need, such as helping Hotaru Futaba search for her missing brother. Having been raised primarily by men, Rock tends to become nervous and uncomfortable around women. His fighting style combines techniques from both Terry and Geese. He utilizes Geese’s signature moves, including the Wind Slice and the Double Wind Slice, which involve throwing multiple energy waves at the ground. He also employs the Raging Storm, which releases energy across an entire area, the Shinkunage throw, reversals, and the Deadly Rave. Moves borrowed from Terry include the Rising Tackle, a series of upward kicks, and variants of Terry’s attacks, such as the Shine Knuckle, which is a DM version of Terry’s Burning Knuckle. His Crack Counter is a directional reversal similar to Geese’s, where a successful hit results in a kick resembling Terry’s Crack Shoot. Compared to his father, Rock lacks full control over his "evil blood," which occasionally erupts after using the Raging Storm or the Deadly Rave, causing him pain and requiring more recovery time or resulting in reduced power for his father’s techniques. Nevertheless, it is suggested that Rock has not yet reached the peak of his potential.
