Street Fighter II

The game uses a side-view 2D one-on-one battle format. Players control fighters with an eight-way joystick and six attack buttons for light and heavy punches and kicks, along with blocking, crouching, and jumping. In arcade mode, you defeat a series of rivals before facing the four boss characters. Matches are won by taking two rounds, and success depends on spacing, anti-air timing, special move execution, and reading the opponent's habits.

Ryu

A disciplined Japanese martial artist with balanced tools and iconic moves like Hadoken, Shoryuken, and Tatsumaki Senpukyaku.

Ken

Ryu's American rival and training partner, similar in style but often played more aggressively.

Chun-Li

An Interpol officer from China, known for her speed, lightning kicks, and agile pressure.

Guile

A U.S. Air Force soldier who excels at defensive play with Sonic Boom and Flash Kick.

Zangief

A Soviet wrestler with devastating command throws and dangerous close-range power.

Dhalsim

An Indian yoga master with long-range limbs and unusual mobility options.

E. Honda

A sumo wrestler from Japan who dominates at close to mid range with headbutts and rapid hand attacks.

Blanka

A feral fighter from Brazil who pressures opponents with rolling attacks and electricity.

M. Bison

The leader of the evil organization and final boss, known for fast, oppressive offense.

Beginners should start with Ryu, Ken, or Guile to learn zoning, anti-air timing, and safe special usage. Avoid jumping recklessly; instead, control mid-range space and punish missed attacks. Keep your distance from grapplers, and against charge characters, use feints to bait premature defensive moves. Late arcade opponents react quickly, so patient defense and reliable punishes work better than constant rushing.

Tips and tricks

• Practice one reliable anti-air and one easy special move first.
• Controlling space at mid range is safer than constant jump-ins.
• Against tougher CPU opponents, low attacks and patient blocking are very effective.