History of Street Fighter: Games, Characters, and Legacy

Key Points

• By September 2022, the Street Fighter franchise had sold over 49 million units globally and earned more than $12 billion.
• Street Fighter debuted in 1987, created by Japanese video games designer Takashi Nishiyama and Hiroshi Matsumoto.
• Street Fighter II, released in 1991, received global acclaim and is credited with taking gaming to a new level, grossing over $10 billion globally by 2017.
• Street Fighter has introduced over one hundred playable and non-playable characters, with Ryu and Ken being the only characters appearing in all games.
• The Street Fighter series has inspired crossover productions, animations, comics, and even a 1994 action movie starring Jean Claude Van Damme.

When you think about the best video games of all time, the name that you’re most likely to remember is Street Fighter. For more than three decades, the Street Fighter series has kept gamers entertained and the franchise has acquired a global following and, for some time now, has been one of the highest-grossing franchises globally. The numbers vouch for Street Fighter’s popularity. By September 2022, the franchise had sold over 49 million units globally and earned more than $12 billion.

The Street Fighter has all the ingredients that game-addicted users could be looking for. There are memorable characters, great storylines, plenty of adventure, and of course, action. Apart from the huge financial proceeds from Street Fighter, the other thing that speaks volumes about the franchise’s popularity is that it has led to the creation of other games, crossovers, and spin-offs and even inspired an action movie by the same name. What makes Street Fighter globally popular? What’s the story behind Street Fighter and which are the most memorable characters? Read on to find out the history, the games, the characters, and the legacy of this blockbuster.

Five Facts About Street Fighter

• There are six games in the main street fighter video games series.
• While the entire series features over 120 playable and non-playable characters, only two characters, Ryu and Ken, have featured in all the games
• Ryu is the main and most memorable character in the Street Fighter Series.
• The series in general and Ryu in particular, has inspired a host of other productions including action films, animations, and comic books among others.
• While Street Fighter started off as an arcade game, it has since been ported into PCs, PlayStation, Xbox, and other consoles.

The History of Street Fighter: What to Know

Street Fighter is a video game that debuted in 1987. It’s the creation of Japanese video games designer, Takashi Nishiyama. For this project, the legendary Nishiyama worked alongside compatriot Hiroshi Matsumoto. Back in the 1980s, when personal computers were not as commonplace as they are today, Street Fighter was released as an arcade game and the 1980s are considered as the golden age of such games. To produce Street Fighter, Nishiyama and Matsumoto were working for the Japanese manufacturer and distributor of electronic game machines, Capcom, a company that had been in existence since 1979.

While Street Fighter was originally available in arcades, it was later available for porting in home computers. From the original Street Fighter, subsequent sequels became available in MS-DOS, TurboGrafx CD, and in the early years of the 21st century it was available on Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox.

Street Fighter Games Release History

As noted above, Street Fighter debuted in 1987 and there have been several sequels after that. What might confuse a follower of the Street Fighter games is the fact that the numbering of the sequels is rather haphazard. As an example, how would you explain that Street Fighter III appears much later than Street Fighter IV and is then followed by Street Fighter VI? The confusing numbering aside, Street Fighter is a popular series, and below is a chronology of the game’s main installments.

Street Fighter (1987)

At its release for the arcades in 1987, Street Fighter featured one main martial artist, Ryu, who fights in tournaments in five different countries against ten opponents, two from each country. To play Street Fighter, the player who controls Ryu uses kicks and punches all of which vary in strength and speed. While the kicks and punches are the basic tools in the game, the game also has special attacks in the form of rising dragon punches and hurricane kicks which can be executed by performing special movements. Ryu’s rival in the original Street Fighter is Ken who could be controlled by another player who could join the game at any time. Should the player who controls Ken win, they are allowed to continue playing as Ken.

While the original Street Fighter was released for the arcades, it was also ported to home computer systems but bore the name Fighting Street.

Street Fighter II (1991)

Official Street Fighter Sequel

Street Fighter II

$13.22

• The first official sequel in the Street Fighter series
• First player vs. player game where you could choose your characters from a lineup
• New attacks, such as grappling moves
• Play in matches against your friends

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11/26/2023 01:31 am GMT

Street Fighter II was released in 1991 as a sequel to Street Fighter. While the latter’s reception had been lukewarm at best, Street Fighter II received global acclaim and is credited with taking gaming in general to a new level. Perhaps the biggest indicator of the popularity of this series is that by 2017, the games in Street Fighter II had grossed over $10 billion globally.

Credit for the success of the games in this series is given to the designers, Akira Nishitani and Akira Yasuda, and the introduction of varying characters that are empowered to make varied moves thereby leading to a diversification in matches. All the playing characters in this series have unique fighting styles and can execute over thirty different moves.

Between 1991 and 2017, a total of eight games were released under the Street Fighter II series with Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers being the last installment that was released in 2D for Nintendo Switch. Earlier installments of this game, such as Street Fighter II Turbo were already available in PlayStation and Xbox as far back as 2008.

Street Fighter Alpha Series (1995)

Mirrors Arcade Version

Street Fighter Alpha 2

$33.48

• Features 5 new characters, including fan favorites Dhalsim and Zangief, as well as Sakura, Rolento, and Gen
• Reveal new hidden moves and reversals for each character
• Execute Custom Combos to create your own attacks
• Improved graphics and sound

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11/26/2023 01:35 am GMT

The Street Alpha Series is also known as Street Fighter Zero in some countries and was released between 1995 and 1998. This series is a sequel to the original Street Fighter and a prequel to Street Fighter II.  The first game in this series is Street Fighter Alpha: Warrior’s Dream which was released in 1995. This game features the main characters from the original Street Fighter, Ryu and Ken, as well as a host of new characters. In total, the person playing this game has ten playable characters. One remarkable thing about the characters in this game is that their English version names are sometimes different from their names in Japan. The character Charlie, for instance, is called Nash in Japan.

Following hot on the heels of Warrior’s Dreams is Street Fighter Alpha 2 which was released in 1996. This game features the same characters as the preceding game and introduces five new characters. The final game in this series is Street Fighter Alpha 3 which was released in 1998. In addition to the introduction of nine new characters, Alpha 3 also introduces new stages and features new music. The three games in the Alpha series were eventually produced as an anthology for PlayStation 2 in 2006.

Street Fighter Ex (1996)

Features Charcacter Edit Mode

Street Fighter EX3 (Renewed)

$35.94

• Final installment of the EX Series
• Released in 2000
• Features the addition of Character Edit mode
• Complete each mission to earn EXP
• Use EXP to buy Special Moves for Ace after completing a few missions

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11/26/2023 01:35 am GMT

Street Fighter EX was produced in 1996 and featured the familiar names in the preceding installments as well as a host of new ones. It was specifically aimed for use in PlayStation ZN-1 hardware. In total, three Street Fighter Ex fashions were released between 1996 and 2000 with the other two being Street Fighter EX2 (1998) and Street Fighter EX3 (2000). Each subsequent release was loaded with more features than its predecessor and, Fighter EX3, for example, enabled players to fight multiple opponents simultaneously and also introduced new and more complex moves.

Street Fighter III (1997)

Includes the Iconic Street Fighter III

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (PS4)

$26.00

• A tribute to Street Fighter's arcade legacy
• An anthology of 12 classic Street Fighter titles, including the original Street Fighter and the fan-favorite Street Fighter III
• Play against friends or the CPU
• Includes character bios, a Museum Mode with never before seen art
• Listen to your favorite Street Fighter tracks on the Music Player

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11/26/2023 01:35 am GMT

If the Street Fighter series were to run sequentially, Street Fighter III should be the true sequel to Street Fighter II. Street Fighter III was released as an arcade game in 1997 and one of the most remarkable things about this game is that it introduced a host of new characters and discarded most of the cast from the original Street Fighter, only retaining the main characters Ryu and Ken. In this game, a new protagonist, Alex, appears as does the twin pair Yun and Yang. 

Street Fighter III has two other iterations namely, 2^nd Impact: Giant Attack and 3^rd Strike: Fight for the Future. The games in this series were included in the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection for Xbox and PlayStation 2.

Street Fighter IV (2008)

One of the Best Games of All Time

Street Fighter IV – Playstation 3

$34.83

• 3D environments and characters
• Traditional 2D Street Fighter six-button gameplay
• New locations never seen before
• Classic characters re-imagined, including the original cast of Street Fighter II
• New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more!
• New special moves including Focus Attacks, Super Combos, and the Ultra Combo system

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11/26/2023 01:35 am GMT

Street Fighter IV was initially released as an arcade game in 2008 and in 2009 versions suitable for use in PlayStation, PC, and Xbox 360 were released. The list of playable characters in this series is almost similar to the list in Street Fighter II except for four characters that are dropped and replaced by another four. In total, there are over forty characters in Street Fighter IV, and the art and graphics borrow heavily from the highly acclaimed Street Fighter II.

The new characters introduced in Street Fighter IV come with new moves and the mode of play in this series is highly enhanced. In 2015, the game was released for next-gen consoles making it available on PlayStation 4.

Street Fighter V (2016)

Great Graphics

Street Fighter V - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition

$22.00

• 2D sidescroller
• Features new and returning characters
• New battle mechanics
• PS4 and PC cross-platform gameplay

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11/26/2023 01:36 am GMT

Street Fighter V was released in 2016 and was specifically aimed at PCs and PlayStation 4. As with preceding Street Fighter games, the two main characters, Ryu and Ken feature prominently. After the initial release, the game was updated through the creation of an arcade version, and in 2020 the game was available as a download. Each new edition of Street Fighter V has seen the introduction of new characters with the total number in the final edition exceeding forty.

Street Fighter VI (2023)

Features Three Distinct Game Modes

Street Fighter 6 Deluxe Edition - PS5

$84.99

• New game modes, including Fighting Ground, World Tour, and Battle Hub
• Choose one of 18 playable characters, including both new and legendary World Warriors
• Features Real-Time Commentary in 13 languages, just like a real match
• Core gameplay enhanced by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine
• Classic controls plus two new options, Modern and Dynamic controls for greater accessibility for players of all skill levels

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Capcom has completed the work on Street Fighter VI which is set for release on June 2, 2023. The latest version of the game will be playable on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox, and MS Windows.

The Characters in Street Fighter

From Street Fighter to Street Fighter VI, this fighting game has introduced players to a very huge cast of characters. The game features fighters from all over the world and each warrior has their strengths and weaknesses. In over thirty years, fans of Street Fighter have encountered over one hundred playable and non-playable characters. Despite the vast number of characters, some characters have appeared repeatedly in various versions of the game and players of the game can quickly tell you who their favorite characters are. While it’s impossible to list all the characters here, below are the most iconic characters in the Street Fighter game.

Ryu

The importance of Ryu as a character in the Street Fighter series is perhaps best indicated by the fact that he is one of only two characters who appear in the entire series. In addition, Ryu is a fan favorite as he is a character that is easy to play. And unlike some characters that are elaborately designed, the iconic Ryu’s design is simple yet highly effective.

Ryu comes out as a fighter with a heightened sense of justice and his fighting styles are diverse and therefore appropriate for different situations. While he’s strong, Ryu is also compassionate – two virtues that endear him to fans. Moreover, he’s a character who suffers many setbacks but faces them with a focused mindset.

Ken

Alongside Ryu, Ken is the only other character who appears in all Street Fighter games. While the two are friends and also highly skilled, there are subtle differences between them. Where Ryu’s humility is evident (probably because of his background as an orphan), Ken is a flashy character who demolishes opponents using his awesome strength and skills. If somebody can be counted to deliver murderous combos, Ken would be that man. Where Ryu believes in perfecting traditional martial art techniques, Ken comes out as a more aggressive person who is comfortable with his own physical strength. But when all is said and done, Ken still does impress with a host of impressive feats.

Chun-Li

Chun-Li appears in all but one game in the Street Fighter series. She is the first playable female character in the series, a member of the Interpol, and a highly skilled martial artist. Her great skills aside, she is designed beautifully and her aerial attacks help players enjoy an immersive gameplay experience.

Akuma

Akuma is an incredibly strong martial artist and, in addition, possesses the Dark Hadou, an evil and demonic energy that he can unleash on opponents with devastating consequences. The Dark Hadou is a force that the main character, Ryu, has to constantly struggle against.

Sakura Kasugano

Despite being a young high school student, Sakura Kasugano is an accomplished martial artist who gets her inspiration from Ryu. Beautifully designed and having a good backstory, Sakura has the ability to defeat opponents when the player uses her well.

Other Characters

There are many other impressive characters in Street Fighter and some notable characters include Honda, Balrog, Cammy, Dhalsim, and Sagat. To play Street Fighter effectively, you’ll need to know the special strengths that a player is endowed with and also find out their weaknesses to decide on the right moves to make.

The Legacy of Street Fighter

The popularity of Street Fighter, and especially the main character Ryu, is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that this game has inspired many crossover productions, animations, comics, and even action movies.

Lovers of the big screen will remember the 1994 action movie, Street Fighter which features Jean Claude Van Damme, Kylie Minogue, and Raul Julia. This action film is based on the Street Fighter video game series and it went on to become a huge Hollywood hit. Apart from the box office releases, the movie was released in the form of home videos and the earnings for Capcom from its sales went above $160 million.

Ryu also appears in many comic books. He appears in a comic called Street Fighter II produced by Masaomi Kanzaki and also in Street Fighter: Sakura Ganbaru by Masahiko Nakahira. In the latter comic, one of the fan favorites from the Street Fighter video games series, Sakura Kasugano, also makes an appearance. The Street Fighter plot also appears as an adaptation in a comic book by Udon Entertainment, a Canadian art studio publisher.

Street Fighter also appears in several animated film series. Ryu, together with other Street Fighter characters such as Bison, and Sagat are characters in the 1994 animated film Street Fighter II; The Animated Movie. Between 1995 and 1997, Street Fighter was aired as part of USA Network’s Cartoon Express and Action Extreme Team. Ryu also made an appearance in Disney’s animated film Wreck-It Ralph.

Final Thoughts

The global popularity of the Street Fighter series is founded on many factors. Apart from the creation of characters that have stories that players can relate to, the games in the series are immersive to the point of being addictive. For lovers of video games, a game should be both entertaining and challenging and these are some of the most important ingredients you’re guaranteed to get when you play the Street Fighter games. Considering the success that the franchise has enjoyed since its inception in 1987, we can only expect that Street Fighter VI, which is due for release on June 2, 2023, will enjoy as much success as its predecessors.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Miguel Lagoa/Shutterstock.com.