As an orphan, Ryu's early life on the streets was difficult at best. But when the Shotokan karate master Gouken took him in, Ryu's life was given purpose. An eager student, Ryu seeks to focus his skills and perfect his art to the exclusion of all else.

During his training, Ryu was partnered with Ken Masters. Through intense sparring, each challenged the other to develop their respective talents, and the two became close friends in the process.

While Ryu pursues the path of honor, a darker presence observes him from a distance. The powerful fighter Akuma - his master Gouken's rival, longs for the opportunity to show Ryu the true depth of his power.

Ken Masters is a wealthy film action-hero in the U.S. as well as a national karate champion, but it was not always so. Ken was a brash and impetuous youth whose aggressive style often got him into trouble. As a teen, he was sent to Japan to learn the traditions of discipline and honor. While studying under the master Gouken, Ken met Ryu who would become his lifelong friend.

As a fighter, Ken is hard to beat. His style is fast and unpredictable. He is a charismatic figure, and is well known and well respected by those wise in the ways of the martial arts.

Born Gouki, once a promising fighter, Akuma stumbled upon the killing arts of Shotokan karate together with his brother Gouken. While training under their master Goutsetsu, Akuma's lust for power pushed him to uncover forbidden techniques rumored to corrupt the soul of the user. Jealous of his discovery, he killed his master and brother and now seeks to eliminate his brother's pupils Ken and Ryu.

The master of Ryu and Ken, Gouken, along with his brother Akuma, was taught the killing arts of Shotokan karate by its founder, Goutetsu. However, unlike his brother and master, Gouken abhorred the violence inherent to the system. As Akuma fully embraced the Dark Hadou, Gouken created a toned down version of Shotokan that emphasized self-defense, self-improvement, and personal cultivation. Gouken was killed by his brother Akuma in a battle to the death.

When her father, an experienced Interpol agent, disappeared during an investigation into Shadowlaw's smuggling activities, Chun Li began secretly tracking the criminal organization in the hopes of finding her father. A fast and agile fighter, Chun Li relies on outmaneuvering her opponent and delivering rapid, powerful kicks and punches. Unwary opponents quickly learn not to mistake her beauty for weakness.

A schoolgirl at Tamagawa Minami High, Sakura has a fascination with martial artists - particularly Ryu. Despite her age and lack of formal training, she has managed to duplicate many of the Shotokan techniques, even if her attacks are raw and less effective. Undaunted by her inexperience, she has been known to pick fights with older, larger fighters in order to practice her skills.

This massive Russian makes up for his obvious mental shortcomings with sheer size and an unadulterated zeal for fighting. A former employee of the Russian Wrestling Federation who enjoys wrestling bears in his free time; Zangief now takes his orders from the masterminds controlling the insidious Shadowlaw organization. Though not evil, the simple-minded Zangief is unable to distinguish loyalty from true friendship.

Birdie is an English punk-bar bouncer with a bad attitude and aspirations to power. While slow-witted, he is not an inherently evil person. In fact, he is completely unaware of Shadowlaw's intents, and only wants to join in order to demonstrate his strength.

The mysterious Rose harbors formidable psychic powers which she can employ to absorb the energy from thrown projectiles and use to send them screaming back again upon her opponents. According to some, she belongs to a secret order devoted to the development of these powers - an order in which Shadowlaw's M.Bison also claims membership.