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Street Fighter is one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time. It’s lasted for over 30 years releasing over 20 games, a number of anime, comic books, and more. It’s gots fans of all ages and is one of the few game series that people are now passing down to their children. So, if you hear Hadouken in your sleep, here are 9 Things You Need as a Street Fighter Fan.
World Warrior Encyclopedia
For starters, Street Fighter has one of the richest tapestries of characters out of all video games. With characters coming from all corners of the world, it’s easy to get them all confused. But the World Warrior Encyclopedia is the #1 canon resource for all of Street Fighter giving detailed information on all of your favorite fighters.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
In 2017, The Street Fighter series turned 30 years old. And to celebrate, Capcom released a one-of-a-kind collection that included every pixel-based Street Fighter game. All versions of SF 1, 2, 3, and Alpha are included on the disc. In addition to that, there’s a unique artwork and a jukebox so you can play your favorite SF jams as well.
Undisputed Street Fighter: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective
Written by Steven Hendershot, the Undisputed Street Fighter is the definitive text on the history of Street Fighter. There are interviews with developers, artists, composers, and even a deep look into the birth of Street Fighter esports. If you’ve ever been curious about how one of the most iconic game franchises came to be, this is the way to go.
The Will to Keep Winning
Speaking of Esports, the man responsible for the most important gameplay moment in Street Fighter history, Daigo Umehara, is an author as well. His book, The Will to Keep Winning is a motivational text about his journey to Street Fighter mastery. It’s created such an impact on the Fighting Game Community that players (both as a joke and seriously) are known to pull out well-worn copies of it during competitions for a boost in confidence. To say Daigo’s been impactful would be a gross understatement.
Mad Catz EGO Fight Stick
Some of us grew up in the twilight years of the arcade. And for some, the way Street Fighter is meant to be played is on an arcade stick. The Mad Catz EGO is one of the most well-known and reliable sticks on the market and is used by a number of pros. The EGO also comes with a Sanwa stick and buttons, a mark of quality among fighting aficionados. However, you will need to plug your controller into the stick if you want to use it on PlayStation or Xbox.
Street Fighter II The Animated Movie
The Street Fighter II animated movie is lauded as one of the best video game to anime adaptations ever. And it was certainly the best of its time. Released in 1994, it took Street Fighter to a new realm by expanding on the lore exponentially. Characters like Chun-Li, Guile and Ken got personalities and tropes that would become central to their characters. The film was so well received that it became the foundation from which the Street Fighter Alpha series sprung.
Street Fighter III: The Collection Vinyl Records
It might be a pretty penny for vinyl nowadays, but this collection of the entire Street Fighter III soundtrack is totally worth it. While initially not well received, Street Fighter III’s strong point was its music. Using elements of Acid Jazz and Deep House, the first two versions had a soundscape that was vastly different from the II and Alpha series. And in its last version, Third Strike, Capcom hit the sweet spot. Combining Drum & Bass, Rap and Jazz it became one of the best Street Fighter soundtracks ever made.
