Guile (Street Fighter)

Guile
Street Fighter character
Guile in Super Street Fighter II (art by Bengus)
First appearanceStreet Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991)
Created byAkira "Akiman" Yasuda[1]
Portrayed byJean-Claude Van Damme (Street Fighter film, game)
Voiced by
In-universe information
Fighting styleMarine Corps Martial Arts Program[2]
OriginUnited States
NationalityAmerican

Guile (Japanese: ガイル, Hepburn: Gairu) is a fictional character from Capcom's Street Fighter series of fighting games. He debuted as one of the original eight World Warriors in 1991's Street Fighter II and appeared in the game's subsequent updates. In the games he is portrayed as a pilot in the United States Air Force who is seeking to avenge the death of his Air Force buddy Charlie at the hands of the villainous dictator M. Bison. He started out as a major of the Air Force, until he is promoted to a colonel rank in Street Fighter V.

One of the most popular characters in the series, Guile has appeared in other Street Fighter games, including the home port versions of Street Fighter Alpha 3 (where he is a playable character alongside Charlie), and Street Fighter IV. He is also a playable character in various spin-off titles, such as the Street Fighter EX, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and SNK vs. Capcom series.

Guile has also appeared in other Street Fighter media: the main protagonist in the 1994 live-action Street Fighter film and its animated spin-off, as well as one of the main characters in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie. The character has also been featured in various official comics and merchandise. His music theme, known simply as "Guile's Theme", has been used multiple times, usually to give a sense of victory.

Guile has been perceived as unique among Street Fighter II characters in both appearance and gameplay. He is noted as having only two signature moves in the game, both of which are performed by first holding a direction on the joystick and then pushing in the opposite direction with a punch or kick - the Sonic Boom and the Flash Kick, respectively. Guile has been well received, with the character often placing highly in various lists of the best Street Fighter characters of all time.

  1. ^ Yasuda, Akira [@akiman7] (May 12, 2012). "スト１組、リュウケンサガットのリニューアル、春ガイル本田ブランカザンギは俺で、ベガが中山、バイソンが松なんとか、ダルシムは王子、バルログが影山、ドッターはまたそれぞれ分担が違ってて、ドッターによってまたデザインが微妙に変質しています RT @tekkotz: スト2のキャラデ" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-10-02 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Street Fighter IV: Master Guide (in Japanese), Enterbrain