There is a game that, after it's initial release in 1991, became so popular, so addictive, so huge, that countless versions were to be released for years later.

Very rarely do we see a game of such magnitude and can say "I owned that", after a quick bit of research I last counted 10 different versions of this single game, and it still sells well, even today.
There are countless retro T-Shirts and merchandise associated with it in games retailers across the UK and the world.
This game even spawned one of the first films to be inspired by a game.
The game you ask? Street Fighter II.

Blanka's Electric Thunder Attack

The concept of the game is a simple one - select a character, brush up on there respective special move button combos, and fight your way to glory in the ultimate fighting tournament.

The game featured many selectable fighters (more so in later versions) that are instantly recognizable today. Below is an overview of some of the original and more famous:

Ryu Country of Origin: Japan. Notable special moves: "Hadoken" or Fireball, Hurricane Kick AKA Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku, Dragon Punch AKA UpperCut. Other information: A spiritual warrior, only fighting for spiritual gain. Both Ryu and Ken are trainees of a violent martial art called ansatsuken. Wears a red head band given to him by Ken (His friend) in Street Fighter Alpha.

Ken Country of Origin: United States Notable special moves: "Hadoken" or Fireball, Hurricane Kick AKA Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku AKA UpperCut. Other information: Both Ryu and Ken are trainees of a violent martial art called ansatsuken. Only took part in the second Street Fighter tournament because of a personal chellenge by Ryu, Ken promised to marry his girlfriend Eliza after getting a victory over Ryu (He does marry her).

Guile Country of Origin: United States. Notable special moves: Sonic Boom, Flash Kick. Other information: In the US AirForce. Guile entered the tournament to exact revenge on M.Bison, as Guile holds Bison responsible for the death of his friend Charlie, who Bison had captured. Guile teamed up with Interpol agent Chun-Li to find and rescue Charlie, which they did, but as Charlie and Guile set explosives to destroy M.Bisons Phyco-drive power source, Bison sees them and Charlie tells Guile to get himself and Chun-Li out of the building but the explosives go off, killing Charlie.

Chun-Li Country of Origin: China. Notable special moves: Spinning Bird Kick, Fireball Other information: One of the first female fighters playable in a mainstream fighting game. Has had notable mentions from The Arctic monkeys in the song entitled "Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick", and in a song by Wycleff Jean. Also, her special move, the "Spinning bird kick" features in Shrek 2. Entered the tournament to exact revenge on M.Bison who admitted to Chun-Li that he had killed her father. Helped Guile in finding and almost rescuing Charlie.

Blanka Country of Origin: Brazil. Notable special moves: Electric thunder attack, Rolling attack. Other information: Blanka's green skin is somewhat under question as to where it appeared from. In the game series it is due to Blanka's excessive use of chlorophyll (from plants) to blend into the jungle, which eventually became permanent, and his electric attacks being "learned from Electric Eels", but in the film "Street Fighter" Blanka is genetically altered by M.Bison.

E. Honda Country of Origin: Japan. Notable special moves: 100 Hand Slap, Flying Headbutt. Other information: First name Edmond. E.Honda has become one of the best Sumo wrestlers in Japan but feels the world does not take Sumo seriously, so has entered the tournament to prove that Sumo is a serious fighting style.

Zangief Country of Origin: USSR. Notable special moves: spinning piledriver, Flying Stomach block. Other information: USSR's best professional wrestler, the USSR asked Zangief to enter the tournament to show the world Russia's strength. Zangief, being very patriotic, accepted. Featured at #13 in a 'Top 20 Gayest Video Game Characters' countdown. Possibly due to the fact that his list of dislikes in Street Fighter Alpha 2 included "beautiful young girls".

Dhalsim Country of Origin: India. Notable special moves: Stretching Arms and legs, Yoga Fire, Yoga Blast, Yoga Spear, Teleport. Other information: Dhalsim fights in the tournament to gain money for his village.

Balrog Country of Origin: Japan. Notable special moves: Gigaton Punch, headbutt. Other information: A champion boxer that has been expelled from boxing due to him causing permanent damage to his opponents. Works for M.Bison. Killed one of Dhalsim's elephants with a Gigaton Punch.

Vega Country of Origin: Spain. Notable special moves: Backflip, Grabs background. Other information: Vega was born in Spain into a rich family, but the families wealth dwindled, forcing his mother to remarry. His step father killed his mother and using the fighting styles of Bullfighting and Ninjutsu he had learnt, Vega killed his step father. Vega works for M.Bison.

Sagat Country of Origin: Thailand. Notable special moves: Tiger Fireball, Tiger uppercut. Other information: Works for M.Bison. A powerful Muay Thai kickboxer, he lost his right eye in a fight with Go Hibiki, which cost Go Hibiki, his life. The scar on his chest was caused by Ryu, who defeated him in the first tournament. Sagat has entered the tournament in order to get a rematch with Ryu.

M. Bison Country of Origin: Thailand. Notable special moves: Psycho Crusher Other information: Leader of the evil organsiation "Shadoloo". Bison uses the psycho power to gain his strength, he has bodies engineered for his soul to enter, as the one in Street Fighter II is. Bison captured Ryu wanting to use Ryu's body as a host for his soul but Sagat intervened and Bison allowed Sagat his re-match, in which Sagat pleaded with Ryu to "snap out of the psychological conditioning" Bison had delivered to him, Ryu eventually did, and rose up against Bison.

Each of the fighters had a backdrop, and music associated with that backdrop, that was based roughly around the characters background information and stereotypes for their country of origin. For example Dhalsim, from India, had an Indian temple with elephants and insence burning, whereas Guile from the USA, being in the Air Force, had a home fighting ground in a US airbase, with whooping and cheering troops as spectators.

Guile Flash Kicks M. Bison

The games playability still holds very strong today for both novice and professional games player alike, and whilst the 2D graphics may, to some, seem dated, I feel they add something to the gameplay, that simple yet effective formula, no odd camera angles, no dual multi-directional control sets just so you can see and face your opponent.

Street Fighter II was a true 90's classic and remains so to this day and will, I believe, long into the future.

I couldn't give this game any less than 5 out of 5 Hadokens.

Rating (Out of 5 Hadokens) : 5