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Street Fighter (1987) – Where It All Began

Before combos, ultras, and esports crowds, there was the original Street Fighter. Released by Capcom in 1987, this arcade classic didn’t make the same splash as its famous sequel, but it laid the foundation for what fighting games would become. With its simple-but-tough controls, iconic characters like Ryu and Ken, and a worldwide fighting tournament backdrop, it quietly kicked off one of the biggest franchises in gaming history.

How It Plays

You start by picking a region to fight in — USA, Japan, England, or China — and each country has two opponents waiting. Beat them in a best-of-three format, and you’ll get a quick bonus round before heading to the next location. After clearing all four, your final challenge is in Thailand, where the toughest fighters await.

Bonus Rounds

They might seem basic now, but these mini-games were a big deal at the time:

• Smash a stack of wooden boards held by a group of burly men.
• Break through layered roof tiles with well-timed strikes.

Characters

The roster’s pretty small compared to modern standards — just two playable fighters and ten CPU opponents — but many of them laid the groundwork for future fan favorites.

Who You Can Play

• Ryu – The main character and your default pick in single-player mode. A disciplined martial artist looking to prove himself.
• Ken – Ryu’s blonde-haired rival, only playable if you’re Player 2. Same moves, different attitude.

The Fighters You’ll Face

• Retsu – A martial monk who fights in front of a traditional temple.
• Geki – A claw-wielding ninja who throws shurikens and vanishes into thin air.
• Joe – An American kickboxer brawling it out in a gritty train station.
• Mike – A heavyweight boxer near Mount Rushmore. Could be the early version of Balrog.
• Lee – A fast-hitting Chinese fighter. Fun fact: he’s the uncle of Yun and Yang from Street Fighter III.
• Gen – A deadly assassin who’d later return in the Alpha series with even more style.
• Birdie – A punk from the UK, redesigned later and brought back in Alpha.
• Eagle – A refined fighter with twin kali sticks. He reappeared in Capcom vs. SNK 2.
• Adon – A Muay Thai student of Sagat, who’d go on to appear in later games.
• Sagat – The final boss and the original “King of Street Fighters.” His fight with Ryu? That’s where the legendary chest scar came from.

The Struggles of Old-School Input

Pulling off special moves like the Hadouken or Shoryuken was no small feat in this game. The controls were stiff, and the original arcade cabinets used pressure-sensitive buttons in some versions — not exactly beginner-friendly. But landing one of those rare fireballs felt like magic when you finally got it right.

Why It Still Matters

Street Fighter (1987) may feel clunky now, but it’s where everything started. Special move inputs, the six-button setup, country-based stages — it all began here. And while Ryu and Ken would become household names in later games, this was their first appearance, standing barefoot on the global stage with nothing but grit, fireballs, and roundhouse kicks.

It’s a rough gem, no doubt — but a necessary step in the evolution of fighting games. Without it, there would be no Street Fighter II, no EVO moments, and no Hadouken memes. If you're into retro arcade history, this one deserves a look — even if just to see how far we’ve come.