Summary
The long-runningStreet Fighterfranchise has gone through numerous changes in its various iterations. Like many long-running franchises, its most major transition (on a visual level, at least) wasthe switch from 2D to 3D.SinceStreet Fighter 4and its many updated editions, there has been a continued emphasis on adding many characters from previous iterations of the series to this newer medium.
Frequently, the focus has pivoted towards theStreet Fighter 2era,with a number of characters from other titles thrown in for good measure. That being said, several characters who appeared in the 2D erahave yet to become playable fighters in the 3D versions. To qualify for this list, characters have to have been playable before in a 2D format (this means many non-playable enemies in the originalStreet Fighterdo not qualify.)
Street Fighter Alpha Series
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Street Fighter Alpha 3 exploes onto the Sony PlayStation with new features and astonishing arcade perfection. Choose from over 30 characters, each with 3 different fighting styles.Street Fighter Alpha 3 is loaded with new enhancements and modes of play - like the around-the-world, skill-building World Tour Mode and amazing 3 player Dramatic Battle. If it’s a fight you’re looking for, this is your game!
This ex-mobster is an American Japanophile, who previously served as a member of the Mad Gear Gang and a boss inFinal Fight. Like many characters in the beat-em-up series, he was added to theStreet Fighter Alphaseries, being one of the first characters from the series with this distinction, along with Guy. His character is something of a commentary on Americans who glorify and fetishize Japanese culture, as he is well-versed in certain topics and subjects to the point of pretending as though he is Japanese, but he also has a shaky understanding of the language, in both verbal and written forms.
Unlike the majority of these characters,Sodomhas not appeared as a proper fighter since theAlphaera concluded. That said, inStreet Fighter 6, he is mentioned by E. Honda, a Japanese sumo wrestler who is a regular fighter in the games. Honda notes that Sodom is a friend of his, who also patronizes his restaurant. Sodom also owns an apparel shop known as Kiss Ache Away, where an employee named Gomorrah mans the storefront.
Street Fighter 3: Third Strike
Straight Out Of The Arcade, Capcom Takes To The Mean Streets
This amazing fighter stars 19 brawlers from the STREET FIGHTER III universe and introduces the new Leap Attack. Plus, a new Grade Judge System evaluates player performance at the end of each match.
Huge characters and an innovative Hit-Frame System team up with the return of the Super Arts Fighting Styles. Experience totally seamless animation in the newest chapter of the greatest arcade series ever!
Sean Matsudais a fan and eventual disciple of Ken Masters, who utilizes a similar fighting style. He is of mixed race, as despite being a native Brazilian with ancestry from the country, his father’s ancestors originate from Japan (hence his surname). Although Sean is not considered as weak as Dan Hibiki,another “shotokan” fighter, his endings in the variousStreet Fighter 3games confirm he is not quite on the level of his idol. He notably makes continual negative mentions of Dan, and hates being compared to him.
Although Sean has not been playable sinceThird Strike, his older sister Laura was one of the first playable characters inStreet Fighter 5. Her fighting style varies greatly from Sean’s, deriving from her family’s variation of Jiu-Jitsu. Sean consistently makes appearances and references and was shown to have won a martial arts tournament in Laura’s ending in theStreet Fighter 3route ofStreet Fighter 5: Arcade Edition,which director Takayuki Nakayama confirmed was canon via social media. Ironically, Sean’s limited appearances are likely due to his similarities to other fighters. Dan, the traditional “weak shoot,” is notably a fan favorite, as are many others who echo the same style.
Street Fighter And Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper (GBA)
Capcom vs. SNK 2
More Fighters…More Fighting Styles…More Mayhem…The world’s two fighting giants collide in this colossal slug-fest! Now, it’s time to settle the score! Capcom vs. SNK 2 unleashes lightning fast animation and classic arcade fighting action on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.Choose from an arsenal of over 44 characters from the Capcom and SNK fighting universes and customize your fighting style with even more fighting “Grooves.” Capcom vs. SNK 2… a brawl buster of epic proportions!
Eaglewas one of two Englishmen to appear as enemies inStreet Fighter, alongside the similarly nicknamed Birdie. Eagle’s style was listed as Bojustu, but his usage of two sticks in many of his attacks gives it more of a resemblance to the Filipino art of Eskrima, although the two sticks can form a singular Bo. Eagle eventually notched a playable role inCapcom vs SNK 2, which gave him some mannerisms similar to Freddie Mercury, and in the Japanese version, characterized him as a homosexual.
Birdie was one of a few previous enemy characters to appear in theAlphaseries, alongside other fighters from the era. Eagle was added exclusively to certain portable editions ofAlpha 3, where he tests his skills against Guile and later aids him in defeating Bison.
Although the 3D era ofStreet Fighterintroduced a few playable characters to the series implied or confirmed to be LGBTQ+ (such as Poison, Juri, and Marisa), Eagle himself has yet to return. A likely reason behind his lack of further appearances may be thatStreet Fighter Zero 3 Upperis his only playable appearance in theStreet Fighterseries to date. Except for Yun (who was already playable in theStreet Fighter 3era), none of the characters added to the portable versions ofAlpha 3have appeared in 3D, nor any other 2D game in theStreet Fighterseries.
Street Fighter 3 Series
Street Fighter 3
Street tighter lans everywhere get a double dose of double trouble with Street Fighter Ill: Double Impact. This explosive street brawl for the Sega Dreamcast contains TWO arcade hits on one CD - Street Fighter I: New Ceneration and Street Fighter Ill: Second Impact. Loaded with a legion of new lighters, Street fighter Ill: Double Impact boasts new enhancements like parrying. Super Art fighting styles and two-punch, two kick fighting styles to inflict more damage.
Necrowas a Russian man by the name of Illia who was experimented on by Gill’s organization, referred to either as the Secret Society or the Illuminati. He has electrical powers and the ability to physically stretch his body. He is often seen alongside his girlfriend, Effie. The pair is continually on the run from the Society, being hounded by another experiment known as Twelve inThird Strike.
Little else has been noted of Necro, althoughStreet Fighter 5establishes that the experiments that transformed him were conducted around this time and that he was apparently in contact withRashidthen as well, if not also in the present. It is unclear why exactly Necro has yet to make playable appearances outside theStreet Fighter 3era, as, unlike other 2D-exclusives such as Remy, Q, and Twelve, he was in each game relating to the series.
One likely factor negating further appearances is that severalStreet Fighter 3characters were designed to fill niches that others had previously filled consistently in most other iterations. This fact is supported by the series only having four fighters who were playable beforeStreet Fighter 3. This is also likely why Remy, who has special moves similar to Guile and Charlie, has not appeared elsewhere. Necro, while having fundamentally different powers from Dhalsim, another series fixture, still fits the bill of having elongated limbs as a primary aspect of his moveset.
1Juli & Juni
The Dolls were brainwashed young women who were forced to serve as assassins and bodyguards to M. Bison.Cammy, one of the most consistently playable characters in the series and a female clone of Bison, was previously a part of this group. Other members were instead kidnapped by Shadaloo and made to serve them.
Two of their number,Juli and Juni, appeared inAlpha 3, acting as sub-bosses that took on the player at the same time. Juli was given some distinction as Julia, Thunder Hawk’s lover prior to her brainwashing, and his wife sometime after it ceased. Juni was notably rescued by Cammy, and protected by Delta Red, the same Special Operations Unit Cammy works for. Although neither Juli nor Juni are playable again, another doll, Decapre, is playable inUltra Street Fighter 4. After Bison’s “death” inStreet Fighter 5, all the surviving dolls seen since then are confirmed to have regained autonomy.
With this recent development, it is unclear why their relative playability is limited. It is likely connected, once again, to the existence of an established character who is similar enough in terms of playstyle and has a more consistent narrative, with Cammy, another ex-doll, being a far more popular character.
