Most gamers out there would agree with you if you were to say that Street Fighter is the greatest fighting video game franchise ever developed. Produced by Capcom in 1987, it took over the world with its revolutionary gameplay, attention-grabbing visuals, and general high-energy playability.

Here’s a quick look at some of the legendary characters that have held a place in all fans’ hearts down through the many years:

Ryu

No discussion of Street Fighter would be complete without mention of the game’s number one protagonist: Ryu. Along with Ken, his best friend, Ryu appeared in the first Street Fighter as a highly focused martial artist determined to win the Street Fighter tournament in order to win the chance to test his strength against the tournament champion, Sagat.

Ryu’s character stats are incredibly well-rounded and powerful, making him a great choice for people who have some familiarity with the game’s controls.

Sagat

Sagat is depicted as a Muay Thai expert who possesses legendary power and height. The Street Fighter saga began with him as an unplayable character but later releases saw this changed. Master of the “Tiger Knee,’ his signature move, Sagat is a good choice for players who don’t like to fight too close to their opponent, as his long reach and powerful moves make him a threat even from a distance.

Blanka

Originally designed as a human character, the feral savage, with long orange hair, green skin, and the ability to generate an electric charge is a massive favorite with Street Fighter fans. His backstory states that he was initially human before a plane crash in the forests of Brazil when he was still a baby, where exposure to electric eels saw him mutate into the creature known as Blanka. His motivation is to gain fame by participating in the Street Fighter Tournament, all so that his mother can feel pride in her son turned ‘monster.’

M. Bison

The quintessential villain, M. Bison’s ultimate goal is to take over the world and subject it to his will by obtaining control of all the world’s governments using his underworld crime syndicate, Shadaloo. He hosts the Street Fighter II tournament and is faced as the final ‘boss’ of the game.

Hated by almost every other playable character in the game, M. Bison seems to derive great pleasure in squashing those who would face him, making for a delightfully unlikeable high-level character in the Street Fighter universe.

Chun Li

As the first female fighter in what might arguably be considered the first fighting game franchise to hit Western markets, Chun Li’s place in video game history was already assured. She, however, owes her popularity and longevity as a fan favorite to a lot more than simply being the first of her kind.

Chun Li’s distinctive traditional Chinese attire stands out amidst the somewhat more subdued gear of other characters. Her athleticism, playability, and uniquely exciting fighting style made her a sure winner on the Street Fighter scene.

Her character’s motivation is seeking revenge for the death of her beloved father while also harboring a strong instinct to protect innocents, especially children, from harm. All that in addition to her training as an Interpol officer make her a very interesting character to note both in the game as well as in the Street Fighter universe at large.