STREET FIGHTER 4 AND NBA SUPERSTARS
February 19, 2009 by Andy Socrates
This week marked the return of classic. No, I’m not talking about the sudden reunion of the Kobe-Shaq duo. Street Fighter made a comeback in its fourth (official) iteration. In honor of the storied franchise, let’s take a look at which characters translate into NBA superstars.
Akuma / Kobe Bryant: Akuma is fueled by a dark power that consumes him as he fights to the death. His insatiable desire for competition and the need to prove himself superior matches Bryant’s own fierce nature. He’s the ultimate warrior with little remorse for his opponents, and will do anything for the win.
Ken / LeBron James: Ken just likes to have fun, but on the field of battle he is deadly. He is loaded with talent, and a lot more unpredictable than his Japanese counterpart and training buddy Ryu. Likewise, King James is physical freak that’s talented beyond words. But off the court he’s a jokester and one entertaining fellow. Both are at the top of their games and part of an elite class in their respective fields.
Ryu / Dwayne Wade: Just as Ryu is Ken’s counterpart, Wade has often been compared to James. Both came from the same class, and are widely regarded as some of the best players in the league. But Ryu has been tournament champion, and Wade likewise has his championship ring. Both show a supreme determination, and it’s unlikely you would ever see Ryu or Wade give up.
M. Bison / Shaquille O’Neal: The feared leader of the Shadowloo, M. Bison overwhelms his opponents with his Psycho Power. His constant barrage of powerful hits make him a deadly foe. Shaq has four rings and overpowers his opponents. He can methodically pound the ball in the paint for a devastating power jam, leaving many in awe.
Guile / Tim Duncan: Guile is the American “face” of the franchise, complete with military fatigues, dog tags and American flag tattoo. He uses finely honed military-trained martial arts to destroy his opponents. Tim Duncan is considered a wholesome, clean-cut All-American player (grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands). He also has a finely regimented game, relying on the fundamentals to bring him to victory. Guile has a long-standing feud with M. Bison, who killed his best friend Charlie. Likewise, Duncan has had many battles with rival O’Neal as the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers went head to head early in the decade.
E. Honda / Dirk Nowitzki: The sumo wrestler from Japan is surprisingly quick for a big man, and can level opponents with his fluidity and power. Nowitzki is another big man with the skills of a guard. From perimeter shooting to his handles, he’s a tough man to guard.
Blanka / Allen Iverson: Blanka raised himself in the Amazon jungle after a plane crash left him alone as a child. Blessed with heightened survival skills and supreme agility, he has shown an animal-like viciousness. Iverson broke free from his shady past to become an All-Star and one of the best players in the league. He is also blessed with super speed, a deadly crossover, and vicious killer instinct. Like any animal, you’ll never know who he’ll strike at next, including his own teammates and a coach or two.
Balrog / Dwight Howard: Balrog is all muscle, relying on brute force and his devastating fists honed from years of boxing. Howard, meanwhile, plays a power game and dominates the paint with dunks and rebound. Neither have a real finesse game, and both rely on raw skills.
Vega / Ray Allen: Vega values beauty as religion and as a result, protects his face with a mask. He darts up and down and across the arena with lightening speed, preferring the quick strike to any overpowering attack. Allen is one of the finest sharpshooters in the game with one of the most beautiful strokes. He prefers to do his damage from the outside and knows to pick his spots.
Sagat / Yao Ming: Sagat uses his height, far reach and Muay Thai boxing skills to fend off attackers. He is the tallest player in the game, and uses it to his advantage. Yao towers over his competitors with a 7′6″ frame, allowing him to dominate on the boards and with layups, dunks and put-backs.
yao ming may play ball like sagat fights, but he looks like blanka.
[...] week, I looked at which core Street Fighter characters corresponded to which NBA superstar. Well, Street [...]