I am Akuma, and I will teach you the meaning of pain!
„
~ Akuma
“
I am power made flesh!
„
~ Akuma
“
The true fighter can stare death in the face and lash out in rage against it!
„
~ Akuma
“
Still haven't transcended humanity, eh? You lack discipline!
„
~ Akuma to Ryu.
“
These fists know no equal.
„
~ Akuma's catchphrase in Tekken 7.
Akuma, known as Gouki in Japan, is the secondary antagonist of the Street Fighter franchise. He is Gouken's younger brother, Gotetsu's student (along with Gouken) and Ryu's former arch-rival.
In Japanese, he was voiced by Tomomichi Nishimura between the Street Fighter Alpha series and Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation, the late Daisuke Gōri in Street Fighter Alpha: Generations, Yasushi Ikeda in Street Fighter" Real Battle on Film, and has been voiced by Taketora since the Street Fighter IV series.
In English, he has been voiced by the late Dale Wilson in the cartoon, Keith Burgess in Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie and Street Fighter Alpha: Generations, the late Dave Mallow in the Street Fighter IV series and its animation, as well as in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and Street Fighter X Tekken, and by Richard Epcar as of Street Fighter V.
Despite having some tragic moments, he does not care about his tragedies whatsoever. He was glad about murdering Gouken and Gotetsu and since then, he has been very sadistic and egotistical.
He brutally assaults anyone who interferes with his training, which shows that Akuma has a high intolerance to failures.
He had a bad relationship with Gouken and hated him. Even worse, he eventually killed Gouken in one of their battles and later bragged about it.
According to one of his quotes, he likes to inflict pain upon others and takes sadistic pleasure in doing so.
He murdered his master Gotetsu for failing to embrace the Satsui no Hado to the best of his ability.
He is utterly emotionless, as he is always angry and rarely ever smiles.
He holds a grudge against almost all of his rivals.
He has a different form called "Oni Akuma" which he can transform into. When he is in his Oni form, he will attack anything without warning and his sadism is twice as worse as his sadism usually is.
Unlike Gouken, Akuma has no empathy or consideration for others, which makes Akuma worse than the strong-willed and compassionate Gouken.
Why He Doesn't Stand Out?[]
While he has a low kill count, his immense cruelty and sadism towards those he killed is enough to pass the general baseline. Despite this, he massively fails the high heinous standards of Street Fighter to F.A.N.G, who eats the bodies of his victims and kidnaps people with less resources.
He is a little sympathetic as he lost his brother Gouken (even though Akuma killed him) and Akuma's master (Goutetsu) died later on. Despite that, Akuma knew how to move on, but he only moved on since he killed both of them, so this is a minor prevention in a way.
He has many honorable moments, as proven by some of his quotes. For example, Akuma is honorable when he says "These fists know no equal" in Tekken 7.
He is On & Off, as he saved Earth by using a Shroyuken to smash an asteroid into oblivion in Capcom Fighting Evolution, and even spared some time out of his training to save a lost child in Street Fighter Alpha, despite his arrogance, lack of emotions, and sadism. He has also committed many other anti-heroic acts and none of them are self-serving.
He has some comedic moments that detract from his seriousness and villainy, such as him feeling uncomfortable when he was being hugged by Elena as a way of showing gratitude.
Trivia[]
Akuma is the first ever Capcom villain to be a Villainous Benchmark, and the first Street Fighter villain to be a Villainous Benchmark as well.
