| Akuma | |
|---|---|
| Street Fighter character | |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Akuma_(Street_Fighter).png) Akuma in Valkyrie Connect | |
| First appearance | Super Street Fighter II Turbo (1994) |
| Created by | Noritaka Funamizu |
| Designed by | Akira "Akiman" Yasuka |
| Voiced by |
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| Portrayed by | Various
|
| In-universe information | |
| Fighting style | Ansatsuken |
| Origin | Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
Akuma (悪魔, Japanese for "Devil", "Demon"), known in Japan as Gouki (豪鬼, lit. "Great Demon"), is a fictional character from the Street Fighter series of fighting games created by Capcom. Akuma made his debut in Super Street Fighter II Turbo as a secret character and an alternative boss to the villain M. Bison. In the storyline, he is the younger brother of Gouken, Ryu's and Ken's master. After defeating his brother, Akuma gains interest in several fighters, most notably Ryu as he senses that the protagonist has a similar power to him known as the Satsui no Hadou. In some games, he also has an alternate version named Shin Akuma or Shin Gouki (真・豪鬼, the "True Great Demon") in Japanese and Oni Akuma in Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition.
Born out of a request between developers from the franchise, Akuma was developed to contrast both M. Bison and Ryu. He often appeared as a guest character in other franchises, most notably as a guest in the Namco Bandai Games' Tekken 7. Akuma has also appeared in printed and animated adaptations of the Street Fighter series which explore his relationship with Ryu. Since his debut, Akuma has appeared in several subsequent titles and has been praised by both fans and critics. The character has often been praised for his dark personality contrasting the recurring M. Bison as well as how overpowered he is.