"I am power made flesh! Feel how weak you truly are!"

—Street Fighter Alpha 2 and Street Fighter III 2nd Impact

Shin Akuma 

Shinjin Akuma artwork from Capcom vs SNK 2
Shin Akuma
Birthdate	Unknown [1]
Birthplace	Unknown [2] (presumably Japan)
Height	5'10" (178 cm) [3]
Weight	176½ lbs (80 kg) [4]
Eye color	Red
Hair color	Red (White as Shinjin Akuma)
Blood type	Unknown
Fighting style	Full potential of the unnamed Ansatsuken Art empowered by the Satsui no Hado
Likes	Martial arts, training, Satsui no Hado, strong opponents, becoming stronger
Dislikes	Gouken (for not using their fighting style as it was intended to be used, and for sealing off the Satsui no Hado in Ryu), weaklings, anyone who interferes with his training.
Rival(s)	Ryu/Evil Ryu, Gouken, Gen, Adon (SFA3), Guy (SFA3), M. Bison, Oro (SFIII), Sean (SFIII), Gill (SF3)
Moveset	Gou Hadoken, Goshoryuken, Tatsumaki Zankukyaku, Zanku Hadoken, Shakunetsu Hadoken, Hyakkishu, Tenma Shuretto, Ashura Senku, Messatsu Gohado, Messatsu Goshoryu, Messatsu Gorasen, Shun Goku Satsu, Shin Shun Goku Satsu, Kongou Kokuretsu Zan, Demon Armageddon, Misogi
Alignment	Chaotic Evil
First game	Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Secret boss)
English voice actor(s)	Keith Burgess (Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie, Street Fighter Alpha: Generations) Dave Mallow (Street Fighter IV, Marvel vs. Capcom 3)
Japanese voice actor(s)	Tomomichi Nishimura (Up until Street Fighter IV), Taketora (SFIV, MvC 3), Daisuke Gori (Street Fighter Alpha: Generations)

Shin Akuma (真・悪魔, "True Demon" or "True Devil") or in Japan, Shin Gouki (真・豪鬼, Shin Gōki, meaning "True Great Demon", "True Great Ogre" or "True Great Devil") is a secret fighter and a boss in the Street Fighter series based on Akuma. In the Capcom vs. SNK series, a different form of Shin Akuma appears called Shinjin Akuma (神人・豪鬼, Shinjin Gōki, "Godlike Person Great Devil.")

Biography

Appearance

In his debut in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, he had red hair and a black gi, the same one he normally wears. Later incarnations have him wearing a purple gi, and eventually white hair. He also has a slightly darker shade of skin.

Personality

His personality remains more or less the same as the original. Essentially, he is Akuma using the fullest extent of his power. However, he is more competitive in battle and less merciful when he is fighting a strong warrior. He will only fight at his true potential when he has found an equal to battle with.

Gameplay

The two versions operate very similarly, but Shin Akuma is faster, deals more damage and can throw two Zanku Hadoken at once. His special moves also tend to have more priority, negligible startup and recovery compared to the playable version. Also, his Raging Demon is much faster and travels farther (making it harder to evade), and in some instances, inflicts more damage (e.g. Capcom vs. SNK 2.) In some instances, Shin Akuma also has extremely powerful specials as well (e.g. Misogi).

History

Pre-Street Fighter

The first 'appearance' of Shin Akuma in chronological order is during Akuma's fight with Goutetsu, where he unleashes his full power to gain the upper hand and eventual victory.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo

Shin Akuma is a version of Akuma the players confront as a CPU opponent in Super Street Fighter II Turbo. To face Shin Akuma, the player must reach M. Bison without losing any rounds or using any continues (including having the second player join in) and achieving at least three perfect victories. He will then interrupt the final match by performing a Raging Demon on Bison, before challenging the player's character.

Just like regular Akuma, his name is not displayed below the life bar and he does not have a Super Meter. In his later incarnations, he has a purple gi instead of Akuma's standard black gi, is faster, uses two Zanku Hadoken at once, and inflicts more damage. Shin Akuma is, however, an unlockable playable character in the Dreamcast version, and in the Game Boy Advance version of the game, Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival.

Street Fighter Alpha series

Shin Akuma reappears in Street Fighter Alpha 2, but only as a hidden boss. He was made into a selectable hidden character in the console ports of Alpha 2; the code to unlock Shin Akuma forces the player to move their character select cursor in a "Z" pattern in the PlayStation version, and an "X" pattern in the Saturn version. Shin Akuma reappears in the console ports of Street Fighter Alpha 3 (and Zero 3 Upper), where his name is displayed on-screen.

Story-wise, Shin Akuma is merely Akuma using the full extent of his power as well, and is almost one with the Satsui no Hado, compared to the 'normal' version. where he voluntarily holds back his power to avoid ending fights prematurely. Shin Akuma, not Final Bison, is Evil Ryu's final boss in Street Fighter Alpha 3.

Gameplaywise, Shin Akuma has all the above mentioned benefits. Additionally, he can release two Zanku Hadokens, one at impacting at half screen and the other travelling the full length, covering the entire screen, compared to the much lesser range of his playable counterpart. Shin Akuma's stage in Alpha 3 is a red recoloration of Akuma's regular stage.

Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact

Shin Akuma makes his only canon appearance in this series in Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact, as a hidden final boss. If the player manages to get three perfects and does not lose a single round until the last match of an arcade playthrough, Akuma challenges the player. His introduction is similar to the one in Street Fighter II, where he interrupts the last match of the arcade playthrough, performing the Raging Demon on the player character's final boss (most commonly Gill) and proceeds to challenge the player.

If the player manages to K.O. Akuma in the consecutive rounds of the match, at least once with a Super Art; he gets up and sends out a massive burst of chi, which shakes the ground and darkens the atmosphere. During this animation, he says something along the lines of "let me show you the true extent of my powers" (in Japanese). Upon this, his hair turns gray, his skin darkens and he challenges the player again, this time as Shin Akuma.

He isn't playable in the Arcade versions by regular means, but in the Dreamcast version (named Street Fighter III: W Impact) he is a secret playable character. He is the last fighter to be unlocked, as the player is required to first unlock Gill by defeating him using all the characters on the roster in the Arcade Mode, and then clear the mode using Gill while obtaining a high grade.

His physical appearance, particularly the gray hair, is similar to Shinjin Akuma from the Capcom vs. SNK series, but he retains the ten (天) kanji. On a note, the gray gi and hair palette is actually the alternate (kick) colour, which happens to be the default colour for Player 2. Shin Akuma's actual sprite is similar to his SFA sprite, with purple gi and red hair.

Shin Akuma's (and Akuma's) stage is set in Mt. Fuji, Japan.

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike

Leftovers of a playable version of Shin Akuma can be found in the CPS3-based arcade ports of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, which can be accessed using unconventional methods. However, the character is incomplete and lacks a few animations. Additionally, there is also a hidden Shin Akuma stage which consists of Akuma's Kousyu Street stage, but with a red "killing" moon casting a eerie glow instead.

Super Street Fighter IV

In Super Street Fighter IV, Shin Akuma is presented as a new boss. He is faster, uses Akuma's 7th color scheme (purple gi, red hair and darker skin tone) and can input two Zanku Hadoken without using any of the Super Combo Gauge, which is similar to Shin Akuma in Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact. Compared to the playable version, the true form of Akuma has higher stamina and stun. His Ashura Senku has no startup and recovery, allowing him to dictate the pace of the match.

By closely inspecting his frame data, the greater priorty, faster startup and recovery of his specials becomes obvious. His Super and Ultra Raging Demons both travel farther and much faster (although they can still be jumped over) and as a first have priority over attacks, including other Ultra Combos, that would normally cancel out the Raging Demon. Compared to the playable version his second Ultra Combo, the Demon Armageddon requires about half the frames to activate, making it much easier to connect with.

Compared to the other secret bosses such as Gouken, Oni and Evil Ryu who have a extremely aggressive but predictable AI, Shin Akuma relies on the player to make mistakes, reacting just a split second after the player's move(s). Although this version of Akuma was confirmed to be the new boss version fought in Arcade Mode, he is indeed Akuma using the full extent of his abilities.

Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition as Oni

Along with Shin Akuma from Super Street Fighter IV, a new variant of Akuma is present in Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. Known only as Oni, this version of Akuma possesses longer white hair and darkened blue skin. The CPU controlled version of Oni serves a role largely similar to Shin Akuma, taking the form of a new secret boss in Arcade Mode, as well as being a playable character in a toned down state.

This form of Akuma is slower but stronger in terms of brute power, compared to the original. However, Oni lacks the technical finesse displayed by the regular Akuma. This demonic transformation allows Akuma to use an air dash, and grants him several new attacks, such as a forward slide which slashes at the opponent as he passes and a overhead ground stomp. However he loses the Ashura Senku, Tenmakujinkyaku and the Hyakkishu. Oni can perform the Raging Demon in the air.

In the arcade mode, the boss version of Oni has the highest requirements amongst the four secret bosses, Akuma, Gouken, Evil Ryu and Oni, in order to be fought.^[5]

Other Appearances

Akuma has been one of the most prolific characters when it comes to non-canon crossover appearances. Like the Street Fighter games, Shin Akuma or an even more powerful version of Akuma have been featured in numerous games as hidden or final bosses. On a note; in the crossovers, even the playable version of Akuma borrows some traits from his true self, eg. In X-Men: Children of the Atom, the regular Akuma can input two Zanku Hadokens or in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 his Raging Demon can pass through projectiles, but in both cases his health is below average like usual. Some of the notable crossovers Akuma has made as a boss character are:

Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter as "Cyber Akuma"

In Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, Shin Akuma is replaced by Cyber Akuma (メカ豪鬼, Meka Gōki, Mech Gouki in Japan), a version of Akuma mechanically enhanced by Apocalypse; the enhancements include a mechanical right arm (dubbed Booster Rocket), metal wings, and four extra arms that are only seen in one of his win poses. As such, his personality is vastly different from that of Akuma's, being more servile (as reflected in his win quotes.) Gameplaywise, however, Cyber Akuma fills the same role as Shin Akuma.

Cyber Akuma is fought after the player defeats Apocalypse, in a 2 on 1 match. He has the highest stun and stamina rating in the game with a high speed rating to compliment. Cyber Akuma has his own variation of the Raging Demon dubbed "Shining Gou Shock" that has 24 hit and is more damaging than the original. He can also perform an aerial variation of the Shining Gou Shock. The kanji associated with Cyber Akuma is "destruction" (滅, metsu.) However, unlike the usual denotations, it has no hidden spiritual meaning and are simply the orders of his master, Apocalypse. Cyber Akuma is playable using cheats, but cannot have a partner.

Cyber Akuma's movelist featured most of Shin Akuma's attacks in the Capcom vs. series style, as well as attacks involving the launching of his mechanical right arm. All of his moves are renamed to more "mecha" sounding ones, as shown below:

Capcom vs. SNK series as "Shinjin Akuma"

In the non-canon Capcom vs. SNK series, a different form of Shin Akuma appears, called Shinjin Akuma (still called Shin Gouki / Shin Akuma in-game). His appearance is based on his Street Fighter III incarnation. This form of Akuma achieves a new level of power when a dying Rugal Bernstein pours his Orochi Power into him, driving Akuma insane, whitening his hair and turning his skin much darker than usual as a result of all the dark power flowing within him. As a wordplay, the 'shin' in his name denotes 'divine' instead of the usual 'true'. The unique kanji seen on his back during certain animations is composed of shin (神, "god") superimposed over to (人, "person"), expressing the idea of a person who has become godlike and much beyond that of an ordinary human. The kanji can also be interpreted as shinjin (神人), which translates to "godlike person."

Shinjin Akuma has showed some feats of incredible power, among them were destroying a large asteroid with a single attack, and causing the seas to split in two with a single punch.

Akuma in this form possesses new and enhanced moves. Akuma gains the Tenma Shuretto, which can be used as a high or a low counter move depending on the input. His Level 3 Super Combos are the Misogi and the Raging Demon, both of which are capable of outright killing characters with a low stamina rating. Shinjin Akuma can be unlocked in Capcom vs. SNK 2 by defeating him once at any difficulty. However the unlocked version lacks the high priority and damage of the CPU controlled version and has the lowest stamina of any character on the roster. Shinjin Akuma is one of the fastest characters in-game, rivalled only by God Rugal and Orochi Iori.

Capcom Fighting Evolution

This form of Akuma also makes a return in Capcom Fighting Evolution. His personality is however depicted as his normal self. In a particularly memorable ending (aforementioned), Akuma jumps into space and obliterates an asteroid threating to destroy the Earth with a single attack for training.

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos

Shin Akuma, in this version, is roughly True Akuma as he appears in Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact. He is the final boss of the Capcom side, along with SNK's Serious Mr. Karate.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as "Cosmic Akuma"

This is the version of Akuma that appears in the non-canon game of Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. By becoming one of Galactus' heralds, Akuma has access to the Cosmic Power. Cosmic Akuma, however, retains the familiar ten (天) kanji on his back, implying that the Power Cosmic has merged with his aura and the Satsui No Hado infesting it, as opposed to replacing it like the other heralds of Galactus. Due to his aura merging with the Power Cosmic, his appearance changes to a light metallic shade of gray.

In actual gameplay, Cosmic Akuma plays no differently than his regular Marvel vs. Capcom 3 form, Cosmic Akuma being little more than a palette swap. To make the boss battle more difficult, the player must fight two of Galactus's heralds at the same time.

Quotes

Gallery

Artwork Shin Akuma End of arcade mode in SF2 Start of arcade mode in SFA2 Portrait in the SFA series SSF2:THDR Artwork Silhouette in the SF4 series Shin Akuma colour scheme from UMvC3 Shin Akuma's costume colors as they appear in the GBA edition of Super Street Fighter II Turbo Shin Akuma's costume colors as they appear in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike (unused character) Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery Cyber Akuma Intro graphic Victory graphic Artwork from MSHvSF Cyber Akuma (UMvC3 DLC Costume) Akuma's victory pose in UMvC3 (Cyber Akuma DLC costume) Cyber-Akuma's costume colors (cybernetic parts deleted) as they appear in the home versions of Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter. Only the purple outfit had golden metallic parts Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery Shinjin Akuma Artwork for C, A and P Grooves in CvS2 Artwork for S, N and K Grooves from CvS2 Portrait from SvC Chaos Full body artwork from SvC Chaos Artwork from Capcom Fighting Evolution Capcom Fighting Evolution ending by UDON Crew Shinjin Akuma card from Card Fighters DS Shinjin Akuma performing the Kongou Kokuretsu Zan Shinjin Akuma by SOTA Toys Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery Oni Oni from SSF4:AE Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery Cosmic Akuma Cosmic Akuma from UMvC3 Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery Screenshots Akuma vs Shin Akuma in SSF2:T Shin Akuma vs. Akuma in SFA2 Shin Akuma vs. Akuma in SFA3 (Shin Akuma Stage) Akuma vs Shin Akuma in SFIII: 2nd Impact Shin Akuma vs. Akuma in SFIII: 3rd Strike (Shin Akuma stage) Oni vs. Akuma in SSF4:AE Cyber Akuma vs. Akuma Shinjin Akuma vs. Akuma in CvS2 Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

Sprites

For more sprite animations, see Shin Akuma/Sprites.

For Cyber Akuma's sprites, see Cyber-Akuma/Sprites.

Stances

Misc.

References

1. ↑ name="capcom akuma bio"http://www.capcom.co.jp/sf4/gouki.html
2. ↑ name="capcom akuma bio"
3. ↑ name="capcom akuma bio"
4. ↑ name="capcom akuma bio"
5. ↑ http://www.eventhubs.com/news/2011/jan/22/oni-akuma-surfaces-ssf4-ae/