While playing
Street Fighter 2: Special Champion Edition on the
Sega Genesis for my last review, I came to an interesting realization; Ryu winning the Street Fighter tournament was the second worst ending possible.
This may sound like an odd thing to say, but bear with me here. Let's analyze the game's endings.
Worst possible outcome: Bison, Sagat, Vega and Balrog win the tournament
The ending for all four bosses is essentially the same with Shadowloo taking over the world. This is the worst possible outcome and for all intents and purposes we'll consider this as a single ending despite it unlocking for four different characters.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo takes over the world
- We're all doomed
Neutral Ending: Ryu wins the tournament
Ryu wins the tournament and the Shadowloo organization is stopped, but he doesn't care about any of that. Nothing in his life changed. His sole focus is his training, there was no character growth to speak of. Yes, the world is saved, but none of the other characters had their issues resolved.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo is stopped
- Ryu doesn't go through any character growth
- All other characters have their issues unresolved
Good Ending: Everyone else wins
Blanka's Ending
When Blanka wins, he stops the Shadowloo organization and is reunited with his mother. Blanka is no longer alone.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo is stopped
- Is reunited with his mother and finds happiness
- Blanka's character issues are resolved
Chun-Li's Ending
Chun-li stops the Shadowloo organization, avenges her father and can now carry on with her life in peace.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo is stopped
- Avenges her father
- Finds inner peace
Dhalsim's Ending
Dhalsim stops the Shadowloo organization, returns home and starts a family.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo is stopped
- Returns to his family
- Has a son and finds inner peace
Guile's Ending
Guile stops the Shadowloo organization, returns to his wife and daughter and finds inner peace.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo is stopped
- A family is reunited
- Finds inner peace
Ken's Ending
Ken stops the Shadowloo organization and marries Eliza, finding inner peace.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo is stopped
- Marries and lives happily ever after
- Finds inner peace
Honda's Ending
Honda stops the Shadowloo organization, returns to his students and finds happiness.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo is stopped
- Returns to his students to share his wisdom and knowledge
- Finds inner peace
Best Possible Ending: Zangief wins
Zangief stops the Shadowloo organization and dances "The Cossack" with ex-USSR President, Mikhail Gorbachev.
In conclusion:
- Shadowloo is stopped
- Seeing Gorbachev dance "The Cossack" is pure win
There we have it. Had anyone else won the tournament other than Ryu or Shadowloo members won the tournament, the final outcome would have simply been better.
