Five Characters Who Should Return To Street Fighter V

With the recent announcement of Vega’s return to Street Fighter V, fans are feverishly speculating about what other beloved characters could make their return. As the newest installment in a series with a character catalog that’s packed to the brim with colorful and exciting fighters, Street Fighter V has no shortage of wanted characters to go along with its new fighters. So out of the countless fighters waiting to return to the fray, who do I want to return more than any others?

5. Eagle – Street Fighter

As the only character on this list to originate from the very first Street Fighter, Eagle has a bit of seniority, not only on the characters in this list, but on most of the characters in modern Street Fighter altogether. As a cold, British bouncer, Eagle brings a certain sense of refinement, in both gameplay and character, to the often uncouth world of Street Fighter. Using two Eskrima sticks, Eagle fights with a fun style in which many of his moves, like his name, are based on golf terms. With a dynamic mix of hard hits and characteristic poise, Eagle is a refreshing character who deserves a spot in Street Fighter V’s roster.

4. Cody – Final Fight, Street Fighter Alpha 3

I may be cheating a bit by picking Cody, as he’s a character who originated in Final Fight, Capcom’s original beat-em-up, rather than a Street Fighter title. Though he may not originally be from Street Fighter, it could be argued that Cody is one of the few actual street fighters in the series, as after the story of Final Fight, Cody is arrested and imprisoned for constantly seeking excitement through street fights.

Even without his status as a legitimate street fighter, Cody has a playstyle that’s quite different from most of the other fighters. Cody’s main moves involve throwing rocks and making tornadoes, but one of the most interesting facets of his playstyle is that, in reference to the beat-em-up gameplay of Final Fight, Cody can pick up a knife from the ground, and use it as a projectile, or a melee weapon. Cody’s Final Fight-inspired playstyle makes him a prime candidate to return in Street Fighter V.

3. Dudley – Street Fighter III

Like Eagle before him, Dudley is an English gentleman who enjoys fighting with manners and decency. Dudley even looks like a stereotypical Englishman, with a short, ruffled dress shirt, suspenders, and a decently twirly mustache. As corny as these traits may be, they help to make Dudley the charming character that he is.

Unlike Eagle, however, Dudley is a boxer, meaning he’s at his best when using rapid quick attacks up close. Dudley is quick and great at punishing enemies for their missteps, which makes him a force to be reckoned with, especially against slower characters. Dudley can even throw a rose, which can hit an opponent to stun them for a moment. With his quick and deadly playstyle, and his wonderfully silly appearance, Dudley deserves to return more than almost any other character.

2. Q – Street Fighter III

Q is somewhat an enigma as a Street Fighter character, in both his story, and gameplay style. Q’s appearance stands out even among the colorful roster that can be seen in the Street Fighter series. Very little is known of Q, story-wise, other than evidence that he may be involved with, or investigating, countless major crimes around the world. Regardless of his stance in the plot, Q looks undeniably cool, with his old-school detective trenchcoat, hat, and robotic mask/face.

Though slow and strong, Q is best used defensively, as many of his moves leave him open to attack if performed with poor timing. Q has another unique ability, in that using his taunt increases his stamina, which goes a long way in making him into a formidable foe. With his odd appearance, and even odder playstyle, Q stands high on the list of characters who should return.

1. Alex – Street Fighter III

Alex was made as the main character of Street Fighter III, even above series icons Ryu and Chun-Li. A fan favorite character for his design and play-style, Alex is an incredibly unique character, even among the diverse Street Fighter III cast.

Despite his slightly clichéd storyline (mentor is attacked by the villain, villain has a tournament, Alex joins to fight him), Alex is considered to be special because of his gameplay, and interesting appearance. Alex is strong, decently fast, and has some great grabs, which makes him especially deadly up close.  Alex even has great stamina, which makes him a nigh unstoppable fighting machine, in the right hands. Because of his power, speed, and remarkable grabs, Alex’s armory of moves is as varied as it is enjoyable to use, which is what makes Alex the number one character who should return in Street Fighter V.

And those are the five characters who I think should return to Street Fighter V. Do you agree with my choices? Do you disagree? Which characters do you want to return? Leave a comment with your thoughts, and I’ll see you in the ring.