"Street Fighter": The Best Warriors in the History of the Series

Besides Pac-Man, there's probably no more recognized arcade game than Street Fighter. It started a video game revolution, and introduced the world to what a fighting game could TRULY be. It's enthralling, it's deep, and it's beautiful, and behind the game are its characters, which are some of the greatest and most interesting in all of gaming history.

But who's the best character in the entire Street Fighter universe? You probably don't have to be a genius to guess number one, but you might be surprised with the characters on the way to the number one spot. So plunk in some quarters (Or put your quarters up by the screen to announce you're next), and get ready to brawl with this top 25 list of the best street fighters. HA-DOU-KEN!!

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First Appearance: Super Street Fighter II

The other big man grappler of the Street Fighter universe, T. Hawk really came into form in Street Fighter IV, where he became an absolute powerhouse. Sure, he's one giant Native American stereotype after another, but he's not the only stereotype in Street Fighter (Have you SEEN Zangief?).

Gotta love that Tomahawk buster.

First Appearance: Super Street Fighter IV

Another recent Street Fighter, Hakan is awesome because he's just so weird. We mean, who even thinks of a Turkish oil wrestler who grabs his opponents and lets them slip through his beefy biceps? We're willing to accept a teleporting Indian who shoots flames out of his mouth, but a Turkish oil wrestler? That's REALLY making us suspend our belief, Capcom.

What were you guys thinking? We mean, we like him and all, but seriously. That's just weird.

First Appearance: Street Fighter III

Oro looks like he'd suck as a character, what with having only one arm and all. But wait, he doesn't have one arm. He has two! The other one is tied behind his back because he's afraid of killing his opponent if he uses all of his strength.

How cool is that? He's a character who can get in close or keep his distance if he has to. He's up, he's down, he's all over the screen in the right hands, making him a dangerous character in a skilled Oro player's hands. One of the best characters in the underappreciated SF III, bar none.

First Appearance: Street Fighter II

Vega is probably best remembered as the only character with a weapon in Street Fighter II. That, and the fact that he could climb up onto the cage in his stage. But with or without the claw, Vega (Or Balrog as he's known as in Japan) is a dangerous character who likes to use the entire space of a stage to his advantage.

He's also a pretty boy who doesn't like getting his face cut, making him an intriguing narcicist. Plus, his fight in the first animated Street Fighter movie with Chun-Li was just priceless. Vega for the win.

First Appearance: Street Fighter Alpha

Another character from the Final Fight world, Guy is a ninja without a mask who wears Converse sneakers. What's not to love? His spin kicks get great range and he can run at you and either fake you out or kick you right in the face. He's unpredictable, which makes him a supremely complex and yet simple character to use.

Guy's the man. Always has been, always will be.

First Appearance: Street Fighter II

Balrog (Or M. Bison in Japan, because he was modeled after Mike Tyson) is a monster. Even having only punches in his arsenal, Balrog will get in your face and wreck it with his fists. There's a reason why he was one of the original bosses in Street Fighter II: The World Warrior. He's just that beastly. Projectiles used to be a problem for him, but not so much anymore.

In Street Fighter IV, he's godlike. Fear Balrog.

First Appearance: Super Street Fighter II

The girl with the ass, Cammy's backstory is one of the only interesting ones in the early Street Fighter games. Plagued with being brain washed by Bison (Or losing her memory to amnesia-the story varies), she fights because she's forced to, not necessarily because she wants to.

Her quick attacks have always been her strong suit, but she can surprise you, too, with her strong and deadly kicks and specials. Plus, Kylie Minogue played her fine ass in the movie. Canon spike!

First Appearance: Street Fighter II

Dhalsim, the stretchy dude, is so much more than one would initially suspect if they just picked him up and played with him for the first time. He's versatile with his short and long range moves, and his descending head and feet attacks can throw even the most seasoned Street Fighter player off.

And that victory dance is to die for. Throw in teleportation, and Dhalsim is that dude you want if you want to seriously mess up a Ryu or Ken abuser with a winning streak. Yoga! Yoga! Yoga FLAME!

First Appearance: Street Fighter II

The bear wrestling pride of Russia, Zangief is a grappler's dream, especially when he became able to crush Hadoukens with his fist. Zangief has always been a character you had to be patient with.

You couldn't just rush in there like with Chun-Li or Ken. You had to wait for your opponent to make a mistake, which makes Zangief an immensely satisfying character to master. We've never mastered him ourselves, but we've seen those who have and are in utter awe of them. They don't mess around.

First Appearance: Super Street Fighter II Turbo

The raging demon himself, Akuma would be higher on this list (And we know you WANT him to be higher on this list), but he's a character who must constantly be on the offense, because he takes a shit ton of damage when he's not.

Even so, Akuma is a monster. His air fireballs offset opponents, and his teleportation can throw off anybody in the right hands. Plus, his final attack (low punch, low punch, forward...) is probably the coolest in all of Street Fighter. He may have started as a joke in an EGM April Fools Day issue, but he's here to stay now. Hell yeah. Akuma rocks.

First Appearance: Street Fighter II

Sagat and Ryu have some history (the scar across his chest is from one of Ryu's dragon punches), but Sagat can hold his own in a fight, and if he had him in our hands on that fateful battle, he would have wrecked Ryu, plain and simple.

We would have done some high tiger fireballs, some low ones, and when he finally got close, we'd nail him with a tiger uppercut or a tiger knee. We don't mess around when we play with Sagat, especially in Street Fighter IV, He's deadly in that game. Dead-ly.

First Appearance: Street Fighter II

M. Bison (or Vega in Japan), is the boss of Street Fighter for a reason. He's an overlord who will crush any and all in his path with his deadly psycho power. And he's ruthless!

For us, when he came through our office, it was the worst day of our lives, but for him, it was only Tuesday (Street Fighter: The Movie reference!). He's as intimidating as he is cheap. Shadaloo scares us, and M. Bison is the reason for that. You lose, U.S.A.

First Appearance: Street Fighter II

The all-American (played by the very un-American, JCVD in the movie), Guile was the other projectile character in SF. You know, the kind you held back with for two seconds before you hit forward and punch.

Like Zangief, Guile rewarded patience. He was and always will be (unless we're talking the Capcom verses titles), the kind of character who needs to wait for his opening and capitalize on it. Personally, Guile is our favorite Street Fighter character of all time, but this isn't a list of our favorite characters, it's a list of the best, so carry on, carry on. On to number three.

First Appearance: Street Fighter

Ken Masters and Ryu were pretty much identical in Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, and the original Street Fighter, but in Street Fighter II: Turbo, that all changed.

Ken became "the fast character" and Ryu the "strong" one. And while that wasn't entirely true (Ken could be pretty strong, too, and Ryu, quick-footed), it was true to a certain extent. Relying on a flurry of attacks, Ken abusers, er, we mean users, were best suited getting in quick attacks and and retreating, using hadoukens only as a means to push the opponent back before rushing in and attacking. Ken will always be our preferred character between Ryu and himself, but that's just because we like the rush of Ken.

We like the rush.

First Appearance: Street Fighter II

Chun-Li was the only character your sister picked when you were younger, admit it. She also beat you relentlessly even though you put in countless hours practicing when she didn't play at all until you asked her to. Admit that, too.

Chun-Li is the strongest woman in world and a great representative of Street Fighter. Her attacks weren't always the strongest, but she could catch you off-guard with her extensive roster of moves and her lightning kicks. Oh, and those thighs! No girl looks bad cosplaying as Chun-Li. Not a one. And we mean it. Try to prove us wrong, ladies. (Or don't. We'd like to believe that last statement until our dying days).

First Appearance: Street Fighter

Ryu IS Street Fighter. He's probably Capcom's best mascot, outside of Mega Man, and you couldn't enter an arcade in the 90s without hearing thunderous HADOUKENS! blaring throughout the dark room. Ryu will always represent the best of both worlds of Street Fighter.

He represents the laconic, seriousness of dedicated street fighting, and the loud, exciting qualities of explosive street fighting. You can play him either way and not be wrong. Ryu might not be the most surprising character, nor is he the most fun to play with (Ken all day, baby), but for serious Street Fighters, look no further than the warrior with the red headband and the constant journey to become the greatest fighter in the world. Ryu, we love you.