The Ultimate Showdown: Unveiling Street Fighter's Most Intense Rivalries

Highlights

Street Fighter Alpha introduced in-game rival matches, which have become a staple of the series.

Ryu has several iconic rivalries, such as Ken, Akuma, and Sagat, where each relationship has developed and flourished over time.

M. Bison, a prominent antagonist in the series, has amassed a considerable list of foes, including Seth, Cammy, Juri, Ryu, Sagat, Chun-Li, and Guile, all of whom harbor personal motivations to despise him.

Street Fighter is a legendary franchise in the gaming industry, boasting six mainline entries that have spanned over three decades. Alongside numerous spin-offs and enhanced re-releases, Street Fighter has developed a vast roster of beloved characters. These characters possess intricate relationships and are woven into a rich lore. While some rivalries within Street Fighter, like that of Ryu and Ken, are well-known and straightforward, others are less recognizable and carry more complex histories.

One pivotal development in the series was the inclusion of in-game rival matches, which was first introduced in Street Fighter Alpha. In the arcade mode, characters engage in a final match against their respective rivals, accompanied by intriguing backstory. The subsequent games in both the Alpha subseries and the mainline series implemented these rival matches in various ways. However, the tradition has endured as a core component of the franchise since its inception. Notably, rival matches make a comeback once again in the recently released Street Fighter 6.

Ryu Has Many Rivalries

In the Street Fighter franchise, the face of the game used to be Ryu, until Luke Sullivan came along in Street Fighter 6. Ryu's rivalries are considered iconic, particularly his relationship with Ken. Throughout all the series entries, Ryu and Ken have faced each other, with Ken pushing Ryu to bring out his best and support him in his battles against the Satsui no Hado and Akuma. In return, Ryu has challenged Ken to grow and provided camaraderie. Another notable rival of Ryu is Akuma, who wishes for Ryu to give in to the darkness of the Satsui no Hado and engage him in a deadly fight. Despite Akuma's morally twisted nature, he eventually respects Ryu's decision to reject the evil power, leading to their ongoing battles.

Nevertheless, Ryu's most important rivalry is with Sagat, one of his earliest opponents. In their fight in the original Street Fighter, Sagat receives a distinct chest scar when he succumbs to the Satsui no Hado. Consumed by a vengeful rage, Sagat seeks revenge against Ryu. However, as the series progresses, he regrets giving in to the darkness, especially as he witnesses Ryu's struggle to control the Satsui no Hado within him. After clashing once again, the two fighters develop a mutual respect, transforming their rivalry into a friendly one. The complex and intertwined story of Ryu and Sagat could make for a compelling plot in the upcoming Street Fighter movie.

Everyone Hates M. Bison

M. Bison, one of Street Fighter's main villains, holds the record for having the most enemies in the series. Seth and Cammy despise Bison because they were created in a lab to become his new body but managed to escape. Juri, driven to evil, lost her sanity when Bison killed her parents and left her blind in one eye. Ryu's goal is to defeat Bison since he repeatedly attempts to capture him in order to unleash the Satsui no Hado. Sagat, who greatly respects Ryu, detests Bison for manipulating him in this way. Chun-Li, a police officer, poses a threat to Bison's Shadaloo crime organization as her father was murdered by him.

However, Guile stands out as M. Bison's most iconic rival. Bison's killing of Guile's friend, Charlie Nash, ignited a burning desire in Guile to seek revenge and defeat Bison. Like Chun-Li, Guile believes that Bison's actions are a disgrace to humanity. Consequently, Guile and the other world warriors unite to dismantle Shadaloo and ultimately kill Bison in Street Fighter 5. With Bison's defeat, those who considered him their enemy are now able to move forward, creating an inviting atmosphere for new players to delve into the lore of the series in Street Fighter 6. The unfolding of this new chapter in the Street Fighter saga promises captivating new stories and rivalries for players to enjoy.