Marco's Saikyo Dojo: Ryu Breakdown

Welcome back to the Dojo! So glad you came for your next lesson! Today we will start our training journey by picking your training partner & breaking down who each of the characters are in the roster of Street Fighter V. If you’re unsure about taking this lesson & need a refresher on the systems mechanics of the game, you can go here. If you are ready for your next lesson then let us begin! First of character we take a look at is Ryu.

RYU 

Height: 5’9” 

Weight: 187 lbs 

 Job/Affiliation: Martial Artist 

Likes: Martial Arts, Mizu yokan(Japanese Dessert)

Ryu is the face of the Street Fighter series. A wandering warrior seeking to perfect his skills in the fight. Ryu’s balanced traits are the very basis on how Street Fighter V was developed. If you never played a Street Fighter game until now and want to learn the game on it’s basic level you should pick Ryu. Ryu’s style to its core is fundamentals. So let’s look what he has to offer.

Advantages: Easy to learn, Hits like a truck, & Solid buttons(Each button being of good use in numerous combo & footsie situations), Added stun on hits when V-Trigger is activated

Disadvantages: Does not stand out stats-wise

Unique Moves 

• Collarbone Breaker: A two hit over head punch. Any opponent trying to block in the crouch position will be hit. Meant to be blocked in the standing position. Solar Plexus Strike: A two hit body blow that can close in distance within mid to sweep range. Mostly used for a quick combo that uses a special move to end it like a Shoryuken. 

•  Axe Kick: A close up two hit kick. Used to set up counter hit combos. Use this move after you successfully block or parry a move or combo on reaction.

• Jodan Nirengeki/Sanrengeki: A two/three hit target combo(target combo is when a set of buttons are automatically performed when pressed in the right order no matter the timing). Can be used for big easy damage.

V-Skill 

• Mind’s Eye: A single parry that can be used to negate singular hits & projectiles. Advanced users can possibly use Mind’s Eye to parry multiple hits to full blown Critical Arts/Supers that activate on hit if timed properly(Think Evo Moment 37 or Ken parrying Chun Li’s super) not to mention having a psychological edge over the opponent.

V-Reversal 

• Hashogeki: A counter hit used to create spacing.

V-Trigger 

• Denjin Renki: Activating Denjin Renki will put Ryu in an state where electricity is visually shown on his fists. His Specials & normals add more stun and damage as well as added properties to his Hadoken.

Special Moves

• Hadoken: A fireball projectile Ryu uses as a combo ender or to keep the opponent at bay as a form of spacing. Ex Hadoken adds multiple hits. In V-Trigger adds more stun as well as the ability to charge the fireball to not only confuse your opponent but also break the opponent’s block when a V-Trigger Hadoken is fully charged. Think Denjin Hadoken from the SF3 series. 

• Shoryuken: A leaping uppercut used to stop the opponent’s jumping attacks as an anti-air. Ex Shoryuken can change to a Shin Shoryuken for added damage. Can also be used as a combo ender move. 

• Tatsumaki Senpukyaku: Like a hurricane Ryu moves forward with a leaping spinning kick to close in the distance on the opponent. It can be used to maneuver over fireballs. In its normal state it is a singular hit but the Light Kick Hurricane can be used to link to Ryu’s Critical Art/Super. It is mostly used for its Ex version that does more damage and multiple hits as a combo ender. Ryu can also do the Hurricane Kick mid jumping.

Critical Art 

• Shinkuu/Denjin Hadoken: Ryu’s Critical Art is the Shinkuu Hadoken. A buffed up version of his regular Hadoken that deals big damage. But when V-Trigger is activated it becomes a Denjin Hadoken. The difference is even more damage and added stun on hit. If blocked it will break the opponent’s guard. These supers are best used as combo enders for maximum damage.

My thoughts on Ryu: Ryu may very well be my main character for the time being before Guile is released or I may just stick with Ryu for V. I liked that this version of him is very straight forward especially because we’re delving into a new game. I want to say this iteration of Ryu hits the hardest I ever seen in any Street Fighter game. As a martial artist he’s philosophically the idea to strive for in terms of balance and always learning.




Hope you enjoy my first crack at character analysis for Street Fighter V! Next up will be the Hero of the Turbulent Wind Rashid! Let’s me know in the comments what you think, strategies or feedback on what I can add to make these better. See you next time!