Akuma (Street Fighter)
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| Akuma | |
|---|---|
 Akuma from Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival |
|
| Game series | Street Fighter series |
| First game | Super Street Fighter II Turbo |
| Voice actor(s) | Tomomichi Nishimura |
| In-Universe Information | |
| Birthplace | Japan |
| Fighting style | Ansatsuken taught by Goutetsu |
Akuma (demon in Japanese), known in Japan as Gouki (豪鬼, powerful spirit), is a video game character created by Capcom.
Originally appearing in Super Street Fighter II Turbo as a secret character and hidden boss. He has red hair, wears prayer beads around his neck, and wears a black gi. The Japanese character 'ten' (天) - meaning "sky", "heaven", or "providence" - can be seen on his back when it appears during certain win animations. He is voiced by Tomomichi Nishimura in many of the games in which he has appeared.
Contents |
[edit] Story
[edit] Pre-Alpha
Akuma and his brother Gouken were students of Goutetsu. Goutetsu taught a life-threatening martial art called Ansatsuken (Assassin Fist), which incorporates elements of karate, judo, taekwondo, and koppo, and a technique called the Shun Goku Satsu (literally Instant Hell Murder also known as The Raging Demon), a technique that places the user's life in jeopardy, though it can kill one's opponent instantly.
As Gouken abandoned the violent nature of Ansatsuken, Akuma vowed to use Ansatsuken as it was intended. Akuma vowed that he would master each and every life-threatening technique Ansatsuken could teach, such as his side-stance fierce fist and the Shun Goku Satsu.
While Akuma sought to master the life-threatening Shun Goku Satsu technique, he eventually increased his strength by embracing the principle of Satsui no Hadou (The Surge of the Intent to Murder/Murderous Intent). In embracing the Satsui no Hadou, Akuma lost his compassion, but increased the killing power of his techniques, new and old. This embrace caused Akuma to transcend human limits. Akuma left Goutetsu's guidance behind him and began to train alone on a hidden island which he made into his training ground. He trained for days and nights, pushing his body and his mind to their limits in order to become the greatest Ansatsuken fighter of them all, and proving it by mastering the style completely and destroying Gouken and Goutetsu.
After mastering the Shun Goku Satsu and embracing the Satsui no Hadou, Akuma fought Goutetsu. Akuma demonstrated his strength by killing his sensei in one swift stroke with the Shun Goku Satsu. Goutetsu fell with an inner joy, realizing that one of his pupils was trying to fully master the Ansatsuken style. Akuma walked over to his master's crumpled body and removed the beaded necklace from around Goutetsu's neck placing it on his own. The next day, Akuma walked to Gouken's dojo and challenged his brother to a battle of death. This was witnessed by Gouken's daughter Ouju-San, "Little Miss". Akuma and Gouken fought a vicious battle, with Gouken gaining the upper hand. Akuma was eventually struck down by Gouken and told him to end his life, but Gouken said he could never murder his own brother. Akuma mocked Gouken and told him he would never truly master the style before taking Gouken's life with the Shun Goku Satsu. The dojo was filled with a burst of white light (from the energy of the move). Ken, who saw the flash as he was heading home from the U.S. Martial Arts tournament, rushed to the dojo to find his master lying motionless on the floor and the dojo in complete disarray. Little Miss was also gone (never to be heard from again). An enraged Ken ran into the surrounding woods looking for the killer with revenge on his mind. He found Akuma not too far away from the dojo walking further and further into the forest. Ken attacked Akuma, but was easily defeated. Meanwhile, the other student of Gouken, Ryu, had begun to search for Akuma, needing to know what inner feelings were tormenting him.
[edit] Street Fighter Alpha series
Akuma began to search the globe looking for worthy fighters to challenge. Secluding himself in the shadows, he watched small tournaments and street fights, desperately seeking someone who might be able to match his strength. He was eventually challenged by a man named Gen. Gen fought a vicious battle. He had even survived the Shun Goku Satsu by emptying his soul in time. Akuma began to wonder if this man was the worthy opponent he was searching for. However, he began to sense not all was as it seemed and when Gen's mouth began to bleed Akuma's suspicions were confirmed, his opponent was critically ill. After being knocked to the ground, Gen told Akuma to kill him. Not wanting to carry the fight on any longer, Akuma left, infuriating Gen.
Ryu eventually found Akuma's island (known as Onigami Isle or the Gokuentou) and challenged him. The intense battle that followed ended in a draw; Akuma was impressed as this was the closest he had come to a defeat yet. Telling Ryu to find him again when he had embraced the Satsui no Hadou, Akuma struck his island with a powerful blow (The Kongou Kokuretsu-Zan) and disappeared. The island fell apart around Ryu, who was left in the ocean to contemplate Akuma's words. Leaving his destroyed abode, Akuma thought about all the fighters he had encountered and wondered with excitement if one day he would fight someone strong enough to kill him in battle. This thought drove him on, finding a desolate cavern (also known as Kiga Cave) he began to train and await the day he would fight Ryu again.
Two years later, Akuma began to search once more for worthy fighters whilst awaiting Ryu to embrace the Satsui no Hadou. He could have possibly fought Adon at this time and killed him (as Adon had been searching for Akuma, yet was never heard from again). He encountered Gen once more and fought a final battle (the results of which are still unclear). However, unknown to Akuma, Ryu had rejected the Satsui no Hadou, declaring that a true warrior does not rely on violent intents.
[edit] Street Fighter II series
Akuma did not officially enter the second World Warrior tournament. He jumped into M. Bison's arena and performed a Shun Goku Satsu on Bison, killing him, and sending his soul to the underworld (This is truly the end of M. Bison).
[edit] Street Fighter III series
As with the second World Warrior tournament, Akuma did not enter the third World Warrior tournament, but once more lurked in the shadows. He even successfully pulled off a Shun Goku Satsu on the tournament sponsor Gill, although he left without realizing that Gill had resurrected himself. Over this timespan, Akuma had trained relentlessly until finally harnessing his power and learning several new techinques, some that were meant to create tidal waves, some described as strong enough to split Ayers Rock in half, and one that could kill an opponent with a single strike. Akuma's self-taught technique is called the Kongou Kokuretsuzan, in which Akuma channels all his power into both hands and then slashes away with life-threatening chops that create an aura that protects him from harm.
Akuma continued to develop his now-incredible fighting skill, and even fought with Oro in a simple, inconclusive battle, each other sensing the other's massive chi and testing their powers. Akuma has now demostrated the ability to remain underwater under massive pressure for extended periods of time, and has managed to destroy a sunken ship with the technique that he has now devised Tenshou Kaireki Jin, much to the chagrin of the naval crew who witnessed the attack performed.
[edit] Shin Akuma
Shin (真, literally true, real) Akuma (Shin Akuma = Real Demon or Shin Gouki = Real Powerful Spirit) was created as a secret character and boss. The two versions operate very similarly, but Shin Akuma is faster, deals more damage and can throw two Zankuu Hadoken at once. Also, his Shun Goku Satsu is much faster (making it harder to evade), and in some instances, inflicts more damage (e.g. Capcom vs. SNK 2). In some instances, Shin Akuma also has more life-threatening specials as well (e.g. Misogi). Shin Akuma's appearance is very similar to Akuma's except he exhibits white hair and a slightly lighter shade of skin. In the Street Fighter Alpha series, Shin Akuma had a purple-blue gi instead of a black one, but retains the red hair.
Storywise, Shin Akuma is merely Akuma using the full extent of his power, compared to the "in-game" version which is Akuma voluntarily holding back his power to avoid ending fights prematurely. In Capcom vs. SNK 2, a different form of Shin Akuma appears. This form of Akuma achieves a new level of power when a dying Rugal Bernstein pours his Orochi power into him. Shin Akuma, not M.Bison is Evil Ryu's final boss in Street Fighter Alpha 3.
[edit] Moral Code
Akuma fights only to test his strength and his opponent's. This means that he will only fight opponents that will provide a challenge, hence his refusal to fight unworthy challengers under any circumstances. Akuma will only kill opponents who are as he, which is why he stopped his fight with Gen after realizing that he was ill. While Akuma killed his brother and his teacher, he did so in the confines of the code of the warrior, where the field of battle does not distinguish between friend and foe. Akuma believes he committed no transgression whatsoever. Also, with the exception of Gouken and Goutetsu, Akuma usually only fights those who challenge him instead of picking fights.
Capcom USA initially claimed Akuma was possesed by a demon, but this was a fabrication of the American branch, and is not series canon.
[edit] Gameplay
Akuma has the same moves as Ryu and Ken, only much faster and more damaging. Akuma can perform the Hadôken (Gou Hadouken--Strong Surge Fist), including one performed mid-air (Zankuu Hadouken--Air-Cutting Surge Fist). His Tatsumaki Zankuukyaku (Air Slashing Feet) knocks the opponent down instantly and can also juggle, his Shoryuken ( Gou Shoryuken, -- Strong Rising Dragon Fist) knocks down his opponent at the first hit and does 3 hits up close, no matter the punch strength being used, and he can also juggle with a single Shoryuken in certain instances. Akuma also has the ability to warp to different places in the screen (the Ashura Senkuu technique), and is immune from being dizzied. To compensate for these advantages, Akuma is usually saddled with extremely low stamina.
Akuma's super moves consist of the Messatsu Gou Hadou (Destructive Strong Surge Fist), which is simply a high-powered Shinkuu Hadouken, a Tenma Gou Zankuu, a mid-air version of the Shinkuu Hadouken, the Messatsu Gou Shoryuu (Destructive Strong Rising Dragon Fist), which similar to Ken's Shoryu Reppa without the scorching effect, and the Messatsu Gou Rasen, an upward spiraling hurricane kick attack. There is also another move named Kongoukoku Retsuzan where Akuma pounds the ground producing waves of energy. Akuma's most well known super move is the Shun Goku Satsu, traditionally one of the strongest super moves in any game Akuma appears in.
[edit] Fighting game appearances
- Super Street Fighter II Turbo (1994) - secret character, his strongest incarnation. Since he has the highest reaction time (in addition to his top-notch fighting habits), he will only challenge those who have truly mastered the game.
- X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994) - secret character
- Street Fighter Alpha (1995) - secret character
- Street Fighter: The Movie (1995) - normal character
- Street Fighter Alpha 2 (1996) - normal character, Shin Akuma is a secret character
- Street Fighter EX (1996) - secret character
- X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996) - secret character
- Pocket Fighter (1997) - secret character
- Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997) - normal character, the final boss is called "Cyber Akuma", also a secret character (PlayStation version)
- Street Fighter EX Plus (1997) - secret character
- Cyberbots (1997) - Secret "Zero Akuma" mech, it's also worth noting that its name is a pun on Evangelion's Unit-00's Japanese name, Zerogouki. (Console versions only)
- Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1998) - normal character, Shin Akuma is a secret character
- Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact (1998) - both Akuma and Shin Akuma are secret characters
- Capcom vs. SNK: Match of the Millennium (1999) - secret character
- Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (1999) - normal character
- Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 (2000) - secret character
- Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000) - normal character (unlockable on console version)
- Capcom vs. SNK Pro (2001) - normal character, Shin Akuma is a secret boss character
- Capcom vs. SNK 2 (2001) - normal character, Shin Akuma is a secret character
- SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom (2003) - normal character, Shin Akuma is not a hidden character
- Capcom Fighting Evolution (2004) - Shin Akuma only, secret character
- Street Fighter Alpha Anthology (2006) - Akuma/Shin Akuma are playable & Secret Character(s)
[edit] List of non-fighting games featuring Akuma
- Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (1996) - final boss and unlockable character
- SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash (1999) - both "Akuma" and "Zero Akuma" cards
- SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters 2 Expand Edition (2001) - "Akuma," "Shin Akuma," and "Zero Akuma" card
- Namco x Capcom (2005) - boss character
[edit] Related characters
[edit] See also
| Adon – Akuma – Alex – Balrog – Birdie – Blanka – Cammy – Charlie – Chun-Li – Dan – Dee Jay – Dhalsim – Dudley – Eagle – E. Honda – Elena – Fei Long – Gen – Geki – Gill – Gouken – Goutetsu – Guile – Hugo – Ibuki – Ingrid - Joe – Karin – Ken – Lee – M. Bison – Makoto – Mike – Necro – Oro – Q – R. Mika – Remy – Retsu – Rose – Ryu – Sagat – Sakura – Sean – The Dolls - T. Hawk – Twelve – Urien – Vega – Yang – Yun – Zangief |
| Carlos – Cody – Dean – Guy – Kyle – Lucia – Maki – Mike Haggar – Poison – Rolento – Sodom – Other Final Fight Characters |
| Blade – Kevin Striker – Sawada – Sheng Long |
Categories: Wikipedia articles needing their fiction made clear | Wikipedia articles with plot summary needing attention | Street Fighter characters | Japanese computer and video game characters | Computer and video game villains | Fictional murderers | Fictional karateka | Computer and video game bosses
