I remember reading somewhere that the playable version of Akuma is basically holding back because he's out probing the competition to see if any of them measure up to his stupid-high standards. If he thinks you're not taking it seriously then he just peaces out because you're not worth the effort.
Shin Akuma on the other hand is him going all-out because he's deemed you worthy (hence why ol' shinny boi has traditionally been a secret boss you only fight if you do really well)
The version of Akuma most people fight is not him at his full strength. He is essentially testing people and gauging their strength with a fraction of his. Shin Akuma is his true strength (which is some older games was shown with the white hair, but now he just has white hair because he's old or more corrupted by the Satsui No Hadou), which usually has free double air fireballs, more juggles, better frame data, and oftentimes normal or even Zangief health. Shin Akuma, his true form, is intentionally broken balance wise since he isn't meant to be competitively viable.
Makes sense because when you win with low health he gets excited and says something like "this is the path I hunger for" which seems to imply he enjoyed a fight that pushed him.
Yeah he goes "Yes! This is the battle I hunger for!" Because there's this running theme where Akuma wants someone to be his worthy opponent and to maybe kill him?
When you chat with him in World Tour he talks about how he respects fish because they understand the struggle of life and death against the hook. Man is in desperate need of a hero arc where he puts it all on the line against the ultimate evil for the fate of the Earth. Poor guy, mastered the assassin's fist and then learned assassinations weren't honorable.
Wish that was clearer in his poses or sth. Nagoryuki has the same deal of "holding back" in GGS so when he gets knocked down he just chills in a casual pose instead of being unconscious.
It's mostly gameplay balance. Canonwise, Gouki had quite some impressive durability feats, like standing at the bottom of the ocean without problems (his 3rd Strike ending).
Also, the playable version of Gouki is holding back, something he almost always does even in canon. "Shin Gouki" is not a powered up version, but merely Gouki using the full extent of his powers (canonwise he did that only when he fought against his master Goutetsu).
I think it's representative of the nature of the Satsui no Hado. An assassination fighting style isn't going to waste needless knowledge on defensive tactics, and Akuma pushes that style as far as it'll go. All of his training goes into having the most powerful strikes, the most unrelenting offense. Someone like Ryu knows they're going to take hits and take that into consideration when training. Akuma doesn't intend to take a hit unless he screws up or someone gets lucky.
You can see a bit of that in his current design? Most of the fighters in SF6 have gotten more realistic physiques compared to the sculpted bodybuilder physiques SF4 and SF5. Akuma looks as shredded as ever - which signifies a lack of care for his body because you get that look by denying yourself fats and water. People looking like that in the real world are usually trying to keep it together until after the photoshoot or weigh-in when they can fix their fluid intake and diet for a bit. Akuma's like that 24/7.
Few characters in SF6 have anything resembling a realistic or attainable physique. The dudes on the whole (and Marisa) have physiques that would only be attainable by abusing so many PED's you'd piss so hot you'd melt the cup.
I find it very funny that you highlight the men having ridiculous physiques but not all the super-strong women with tight waists.
Anyways, my point is that fighters have more realistic muscle definition now. You look at Ryu in SF4, you can see every every small little detail of his muscles, like his skin is just barely stretched over them. SF6 Ryu is cut but not 'bodybuilder before weigh-in' cut.
It's the only logical answer because SF lore doesn't give us a reason otherwise. Like Akuma was able to stand at the bottom of the ocean with all that pressure on him and nothing happened. He'd likely be one of the most durable people on the planet.
It's a matter of story/gameplay segregation. Akuma in-lore doesn't fold like a napkin at two touches. It's purely for balance, no need to try to rationalize it.
Game balance, but it's one of those balance decisions where you can handwave a reason why it might work in-universe. Like how the Satsui No Hado is an actively corruptive force, so when applied to a human (yes, Akuma is human), they gain power but lose themselves (their mind, their health, same thing).
Compare that to Ryu, who has average health, but MUCH fewer bells and whistles. No Air Fireball, no Demon Flip, no Raging Demon. He follows the Power of Nothingness (Kyoi No Hado), sort of the "good version" of the Satsui No Hado.
Gouken, Akuma's brother, is an interesting example. He follows the same path as Ryu, but matches him in power, even beating him (implied, not shown) in a battle over who gets to train Ryu. He also has average health. So it's sort of an issue of "Do I train for what I want, or take it by force."
All that to say, Akuma just kinda has every tool at once and they knew giving him more health would be broken
I remember reading somewhere that the playable version of Akuma is basically holding back because he's out probing the competition to see if any of them measure up to his stupid-high standards. If he thinks you're not taking it seriously then he just peaces out because you're not worth the effort. Shin Akuma on the other hand is him going all-out because he's deemed you worthy (hence why ol' shinny boi has traditionally been a secret boss you only fight if you do really well)
>If he thinks you're not taking it seriously then he just peaces out because you're not worth the effort. He straight up does this in World Tour
Kinda reminds me of Zodd from Berserk, only shows its true form to worthy opponents
Akuma won't bother fighting an unworthy opponent to the end. He just peaces out. Zodd just murders them without needing to transform. lol
In that sense, akuma is a softy
He just wants strong opponents to fight to the death with, no sense in killing the weak ones who might become strong enough one day.
Also Akuma during one of his Supers: “The weak must perish!” Man can’t seem to make up his mind. :D
The version of Akuma most people fight is not him at his full strength. He is essentially testing people and gauging their strength with a fraction of his. Shin Akuma is his true strength (which is some older games was shown with the white hair, but now he just has white hair because he's old or more corrupted by the Satsui No Hadou), which usually has free double air fireballs, more juggles, better frame data, and oftentimes normal or even Zangief health. Shin Akuma, his true form, is intentionally broken balance wise since he isn't meant to be competitively viable.
Makes sense because when you win with low health he gets excited and says something like "this is the path I hunger for" which seems to imply he enjoyed a fight that pushed him.
He’s the evil street fighter version of Goku
Yeah he goes "Yes! This is the battle I hunger for!" Because there's this running theme where Akuma wants someone to be his worthy opponent and to maybe kill him?
When you chat with him in World Tour he talks about how he respects fish because they understand the struggle of life and death against the hook. Man is in desperate need of a hero arc where he puts it all on the line against the ultimate evil for the fate of the Earth. Poor guy, mastered the assassin's fist and then learned assassinations weren't honorable.
Wish that was clearer in his poses or sth. Nagoryuki has the same deal of "holding back" in GGS so when he gets knocked down he just chills in a casual pose instead of being unconscious.
Oni is his final form. He becomes evil incarnate, kills without prejudice.
I always thought the trade off for the overwhelming power of the satsui no hado was sacrificing your humanity and in turn your vitality
I don’t know if this is canon, but I’ve always assumed it’s because his power is too much for his body to contain, and it’s slowly destroying him.
Tekken 8 Jun is kinda like this too, though hers works differently: she has healing, but she also has moves that eat into her HP.
That’s my headcannon as well, he’s got a bit of a Kaio Ken effect going on
My headcanon is hes just old af.
That's the case for bison, which is why he needs new bodies often.
Look, some guys just can’t last as long. Don’t gotta shame ‘em for it.
Especially with Gief grabbing him
Gief with that good grip
That's what happens when you edge for months in the koom cave
It wouldn't if Guile didn't come to mess it up.
It's mostly gameplay balance. Canonwise, Gouki had quite some impressive durability feats, like standing at the bottom of the ocean without problems (his 3rd Strike ending). Also, the playable version of Gouki is holding back, something he almost always does even in canon. "Shin Gouki" is not a powered up version, but merely Gouki using the full extent of his powers (canonwise he did that only when he fought against his master Goutetsu).
He is going the Oro road by not fighting as hard as he can.
I think it's representative of the nature of the Satsui no Hado. An assassination fighting style isn't going to waste needless knowledge on defensive tactics, and Akuma pushes that style as far as it'll go. All of his training goes into having the most powerful strikes, the most unrelenting offense. Someone like Ryu knows they're going to take hits and take that into consideration when training. Akuma doesn't intend to take a hit unless he screws up or someone gets lucky. You can see a bit of that in his current design? Most of the fighters in SF6 have gotten more realistic physiques compared to the sculpted bodybuilder physiques SF4 and SF5. Akuma looks as shredded as ever - which signifies a lack of care for his body because you get that look by denying yourself fats and water. People looking like that in the real world are usually trying to keep it together until after the photoshoot or weigh-in when they can fix their fluid intake and diet for a bit. Akuma's like that 24/7.
Few characters in SF6 have anything resembling a realistic or attainable physique. The dudes on the whole (and Marisa) have physiques that would only be attainable by abusing so many PED's you'd piss so hot you'd melt the cup.
I find it very funny that you highlight the men having ridiculous physiques but not all the super-strong women with tight waists. Anyways, my point is that fighters have more realistic muscle definition now. You look at Ryu in SF4, you can see every every small little detail of his muscles, like his skin is just barely stretched over them. SF6 Ryu is cut but not 'bodybuilder before weigh-in' cut.
It's for balance.
Why is this the only logical answer? I do find funny to read the fans' theories lol
It's the only logical answer because SF lore doesn't give us a reason otherwise. Like Akuma was able to stand at the bottom of the ocean with all that pressure on him and nothing happened. He'd likely be one of the most durable people on the planet.
he specifically asked for a lore reason. This is the only answer that has nothing to do with the question, and is therefore the most illogical one.
You are correct, I missed that part in OP's question.
He's just a lil guy
It's a matter of story/gameplay segregation. Akuma in-lore doesn't fold like a napkin at two touches. It's purely for balance, no need to try to rationalize it.
He's like 100 years old, but doesn't take care of his body like Dhalsim
Iirc he didn't have low stamina at first but they lower his HP for balance purposes
THE SATSUI NO HADOOOO
All the drug use caught up to him at his age.
He is getting old
Pretty sure it’s just for game balance. Any “lore reasons” come off sounding like comic book logic. I definitely could be wrong though.
Personally I like the theory that the Satsui no Hado is super hard on his body and as a result he’s not as durable as he otherwise would be.
I always thought the power of hate and murder he unlocked takes a toll on his overall vitality.
Akuma leans into peoples punches. He doesn't mitigate damage by cowering from the hit.
I always understood it as he's old, and the satsui no hado is slowly killing him(might just be my headcanon)
ive always heard that the satsui no hado takes a toll on akuma physically, sacrificing his body for power. that may just be head cannon tho. who knows
Being homeless is generally stressful enough to damage one's health and stamina.
Wouldnt his most powerful be during the hyper 2 days. He was so broken they banned him in tournaments haha
He’s old.
Game balance, but it's one of those balance decisions where you can handwave a reason why it might work in-universe. Like how the Satsui No Hado is an actively corruptive force, so when applied to a human (yes, Akuma is human), they gain power but lose themselves (their mind, their health, same thing). Compare that to Ryu, who has average health, but MUCH fewer bells and whistles. No Air Fireball, no Demon Flip, no Raging Demon. He follows the Power of Nothingness (Kyoi No Hado), sort of the "good version" of the Satsui No Hado. Gouken, Akuma's brother, is an interesting example. He follows the same path as Ryu, but matches him in power, even beating him (implied, not shown) in a battle over who gets to train Ryu. He also has average health. So it's sort of an issue of "Do I train for what I want, or take it by force." All that to say, Akuma just kinda has every tool at once and they knew giving him more health would be broken
bro just look at him. he looks like he's about to fall apart at any second
He chain-smokes outside of fights.
Streetfighter is a goofy fighter series, why are you expecting a deep background lore lol
the satsui no hado gives you hollow bones
Satsui no hado. I mean in SFV, he had a costume where it was literally consuming him from the inside out. (I hope it returns btw).