Well for one 20 years ago KOF added strikers which existed for a few years. By 2001 the amount of strikers compared to active fighters was completely customizable...which was all different than the 1 on 1 mode which has always existed. That's not even counting the tag dynamic starting in 2003 or the drastic art direction change in XII and another one in XIV
The gameplay, look, sound and experience are far different. You can argue that 94 and 95 seem the same or 99 and 00 97 and 98 but overall ....they are very different.
Imagine someone saying all Mario games are the same because he runs and jumps...
Strikers haven’t been a thing in over 10 years for KoF and art direction doesn’t signify innovation.
For all the hate some SF games get every version has innovated.
SFA = Aism Vism Xism
SF3 = Parry, Red Parry, Super Arts, Taunts
SF4 = Ultras, Focus, Red Focus
SFV = V System, V Skill
Hell you can’t even say a Mortal Kombat has played the same since 9. MK has evolved more than KoF. Don’t get me wrong love KoF is still the same.
Show me where huge system wide changes Tekken or KoF has done.