Akuma = Demon?

[Wolfkiller]

In the Street Fighter:Eternal Challenge book, it mentions that in the Japanese version, Akuma did have endings. I found this quite odd, since I've always heard that Akuma being labeled as a demon came from the US side, but the Japanese ending actually sounds like it is even hinting at that. Taken from the book:

In the US release of Super Street Fighter II Turbo, the Akuma ending was a simple scoll of the production credits. For the Japanese release:

-If the last fight was against Bison-
Gouki: "Evil Emperor you say ... nothing more than words. Real victory can only come from a fist. That is all."

There was no one to stop Akuma from that moment onwards.

-If the last fight was against Akuma-
Akuma: "Something within ... what's this?

??: "I am the shadow of the condemned. You have killed the demon of this curse, and so you shall be condemned no more!"

Akuma: "I now reside in darkness. Even death is beneath me... excellent!"

...That man returned to the darkness and disappeared.

Anyone know what the hell this means? I've been firm in stomping the rumors that Akuma is demon possessed and such, but this doesn't really help my case at all.

[Kuro]

In the Street Fighter:Eternal Challenge book, it mentions that in the Japanese version, Akuma did have endings. I found this quite odd, since I've always heard that Akuma being labeled as a demon came from the US side, but the Japanese ending actually sounds like it is even hinting at that. Taken from the book:



Anyone know what the hell this means? I've been firm in stomping the rumors that Akuma is demon possessed and such, but this doesn't really help my case at all.

Akuma isn't a demon. He's just a very strong human being, who has forsaken humanity to become as powerful as he is now.

[Wolfkiller]

I know, I know. But what the hell is up with the Japanese endings then?

[gabrielzero]

Is it the original ending? The newer games surpass the old ones sometimes. Bison's original ending made him a diferent person that he is todoay. Street fighter zero 2 counts but zero 1 dosen't.
Hmm.. I know I'm not making much sense. Try reading a little of this.
http://orochi.com/?page=sffaq

Tiamatroar explains it much better than I do. :sad:

[Wolfkiller]

I've read through that a few times, which is why I am so confused. I've always agreed that Akuma isn't a demon and such and it was a product of Capcom USA, but my new knowledge of the weird Japanese ending makes me wonder. Which is why I posted this. Anyone know what is going on?

[mohammeda1i]

I've read through that a few times, which is why I am so confused. I've always agreed that Akuma isn't a demon and such and it was a product of Capcom USA, but my new knowledge of the weird Japanese ending makes me wonder. Which is why I posted this. Anyone know what is going on?

Really interesting quote Wolfkiller. gabrielzero, if an ending is changed in a later game then it can be considered to have been retroactively changed, but as this is the only ending that is like this (as far as I know), it doesn't apply.

>>Akuma: "Something within ... what's this?

We know the other voice comes from within Akuma but is technically seperate from him.

>>??: "I am the shadow of the condemned. You have killed the demon of this curse, and so you shall be condemned no more!"

The 'shadow of the condemned' seems like what remains of those that fell subject to the Raging Demon. I recon that the next part of this quote considers Akumas fight against himself as an internal struggle rather than an actual battle. Hence, when Akuma 'defeats' Akuma it means he is winning the internal struggle to fight the demon of the curse that comes with knowing the Raging Demon. So when Akuma wins the internal struggle, he will no longer be condemned by the curse and will become better than death. Just a theory based on this quote. Any other ideas?

Mohammed Ali

[Wolfkiller]

Someone on another message board offered this theory:
Akuma has always had those endings in the Japanese versions of the game. In the US they probably wanted to take out the demon references. I'm fairly sure they didn't even have "Gouki" changed to "Akuma" by the time the US cabinet got released, which is why his name doesn't appear in the lifebar or char. select screen too. Sure they just removed all mention of his name because Gouki was going to sound moderately ridiculous when pronounced by 13-year old white kids. "RYE-OOO"

I'm pretty sure the original intent was for him to be a somewhat possessed fighter, though the asian versions of the word demon might be better translated as spirit or ghost, so he's not really a demonically possessed fighter as is often implied. The japanese most likely refers to the Dark Hadou as an evil spirit/chi power, not a western connatation of demons or ghosts. So you'd probably be right in asserting he isn't possessed in a poltergeist sense, but wrong if you consider it in terms of Dark Hadou as a spiritual force.

[Sagatryu]

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28959

[Wolfkiller]

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28959

Are you posting in the wrong thread or am I missing something?

[Kuro]

Perhaps what you saw in that ST credit was there only because Akuma probably wasn't all that developed as far as story goes, in the game. He was only given a more concrete story in Alpha 2, after all.

[gabrielzero]

Perhaps what you saw in that ST credit was there only because Akuma probably wasn't all that developed as far as story goes, in the game. He was only given a more concrete story in Alpha 2, after all.

Besides one of Bison's endings described him looking for an ancient power. {early sf 2 game} which they put in there back then cause he didn't have a story back then either.

[DeadlyRaveNeo]

Someone on another message board offered this theory:

that makes the most sense to me so far.

[gabrielzero]

Capcom has been known to retroactively change their storylines and established canon. Due to this , if you see something in an older game and there's a new version {aka, STreet fighter revial} of it in a newer game , take the new version and forget the old.

I'm not trying to sound like I know it all. I won't get into an arguement over this either. But nothing here convinces me that Akuma/Gouki is or should still be a demon.

It makes more sense that he's not "evil" but just a fighter who won't let anything stop him from wining.

If your really looking to stop the rumors That Gouki is a demon then this is the best I can give you.
If you wanna believe that he's a demon that's fine to. :pleased:

mohammeda1i's theory makes alot of sense too.
So which game is this ending from? The first release of Revial?
Street Fighter 2 Revial overrides all previous ones.

[Moogleborg]

Really interesting quote Wolfkiller. gabrielzero, if an ending is changed in a later game then it can be considered to have been retroactively changed, but as this is the only ending that is like this (as far as I know), it doesn't apply.

>>Akuma: "Something within ... what's this?

We know the other voice comes from within Akuma but is technically seperate from him.

>>??: "I am the shadow of the condemned. You have killed the demon of this curse, and so you shall be condemned no more!"

The 'shadow of the condemned' seems like what remains of those that fell subject to the Raging Demon. I recon that the next part of this quote considers Akumas fight against himself as an internal struggle rather than an actual battle. Hence, when Akuma 'defeats' Akuma it means he is winning the internal struggle to fight the demon of the curse that comes with knowing the Raging Demon. So when Akuma wins the internal struggle, he will no longer be condemned by the curse and will become better than death. Just a theory based on this quote. Any other ideas?

Mohammed Ali

I have got to get myself the Eternal Challenge one of these days....its cool though...it almost reminds me of Akumas ending on SFIITR



"The King of Darkness, how pathetic and stupid. The master of the fist will always end in the end!"

"That is the rule of nature..."

"What...whos there?"

"I am your shadow....anyone who is possessed by their own shadow must die. This means that you are finished!"

"Humph! I have always lived in darkness! I will never fear death!"

And then the demon disappeared. It can only be assumed it went to seek stronger opponents!

[gabrielzero]

Quote:
Originally posted by el cabron #1


Is this murderous intent that drives Akuma is it fueled by the anatsuken martial art that he uses or by the Satsui no Hado??

Is it some sort of demon posesion of some sort??Beacause Gouki really difers from a normal looking human being to the extent that he almost resembles a demonic creature... in his latest representation (3D strike) his face seems to resemble a demonic being.



Satsui no Hadou is the killing intent. It's linked to Ansatsuken because it is a lethal style.

Gouki's not possessed. His appearance is the result of his obsession/overwhelming desire to become the strongest and the negative emotions attatched to it, combined with his extraordinary ki. Actually, I think Gouki looks less demonic now (SF3) than he did in previous games. He has shown signs of ageing, and other demonic features (such as his sharp profile, fangs, etc...) seem to have dulled a bit. I think that he looks more human now in that portrait.
-Clay

I agree with clay on this one. Quote can be found on page 62 of the warriors of Fate thread. @ the fan fiction section. :encore:

[DeadlyRaveNeo]

what's the translation for "ansatsuken" ?

[Faight]

"Ansatsu" in Japanese means "Assassination". Ansatsuken is assination techniques, basically a combination of martial arts designed to kill someone.

FYI: Gen uses Ansatsuken as well, but a different style than Akuma. The 'Shotos' (Ken, Ryu, Dan, Sean) who were taught by Gouken or students of Gouken (Ken teaching Sean) us a much more toned down version of the Ansatsuken art; basically Ansatsuken without the killing part. I'm sure they CAN still kill people, but they're not trained to kill people.