Fighting games are one of the most popular genres in gaming, and a big reason for their appeal is the unique and memorable characters. Some fighters don’t just look cool, their outfits are designed to match their special moves perfectly.
Sol Badguy, Guilty Gear
Despite his name, Sol Badguy isn’t actually a villain in Guilty Gear. He’s the main character who embraces being “bad” as something cool. Sol literally sets himself on fire during some attacks and shouts move names like “Volcanic Viper” and “Napalm Death” when he performs them.
Creator Daisuke Ishiwatari designed Sol as a sort of alter ego and even recorded his own voice for the character. However, the story mode voice in Guilty Gear X2 is done by Hikaru Hanada. Ishiwatari’s favorite band is Queen, and he made Sol a fan of Queen too. The name Sol Badguy (real name Frederick) is inspired by Freddie Mercury’s nickname “Mr. Bad Guy.”
Sub-Zero, Mortal Kombat
Fans of Scorpion might not like this, but Sub-Zero has a more cohesive design. His ice powers look realistic and high quality, and his outfit breaks the typical 90s ninja mold.
Sub-Zero’s calm and cold demeanor contrasts perfectly with Scorpion’s fiery personality, making him stand out. Including Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat wasn’t just for story purposes but also a smart design choice.
Bonus-Kun, Waku Waku 7
From Dan Hibiki to Mr. Satan, fighting games often feature funny characters. Many players use these jokers to show off their skills against less experienced opponents. Imagine the embarrassment of losing to a literal punching bag like Bonus-Kun.
Bonus-Kun comes from Waku Waku 7, a fighting game parodying the genre. His story and look clearly mock Ryu from Street Fighter. This punching bag character was created five years before Masahiro Sakurai made Sandbag in Super Smash Bros. Melee, so there’s no doubt Bonus-Kun was the original.
Law, Tekken
You can probably tell that Law from Tekken is inspired by the legendary Bruce Lee. His original outfit closely resembles what Bruce Lee wore in the films Enter the Dragon (1973) and Game of Death (1978).
Law even uses many of Bruce Lee’s famous moves as his signature attacks, like flip kicks, flying kicks, and the legendary one-inch punch. When you see Law, you immediately think of Bruce Lee.
Arizona, Them’s Fightin Herds
Choosing Arizona means playing as a cowgirl who can throw a lasso to trap opponents. In Them’s Fightin Herds, Arizona is a half-human, half-cow fighter. Just a quick glance shows she’s fierce and ready to beat down enemies.
Arizona also represents the roots of Them’s Fightin Herds, which started as a fan-made My Little Pony fighting game. Players familiar with that will notice the strong resemblance between Applejack and Arizona. She might be the only fighting game character inspired by a cowboy.
Source: GVN360
