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Balrog
 
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BIO:

Balrog is a former championship boxer. He was permanently banned from boxing after injuring many of his opponents with illegal moves (particularly his headbutt) and accidentally killing one. Still seeking the title of world's strongest fighter, he has since taken to street fighting. Balrog's fighting skills were later noticed by M. Bison and has since joined Shadaloo as one of Bison's henchmen, working his way up from the lower ranks. Armed with the world's strongest punches, his ambition continued...

Balrog was sent on many errands by the order of M. Bison. In one mission during the timeline of SFA3, Balrog was sent to terminate Birdie. He didn't know the reason why, but he went anyway. When he confronted Birdie, Balrog was told about the Psycho Drive. Balrog agreed to help Birdie find it, after he figured that he could make money doing so. When the Psycho Drive exploded, Balrog realized that he had not been paid. When Bison was killed in SFA3, ownership of Shadaloo was fell into the hands of Balrog, but only for a brief period of time, since he ran the organization into the ground. After the fall of Shadaloo, Balrog was back on the streets, working small time jobs such as casino security.

When Bison was resurrected during the events of SF4, Balrog was re-hired by Bison to guard Bison's replacement bodies. Balrog didn't like this job, however, and started working on a new get-rich-quick scheme. He made his way into the S.I.N. building, accompanied by fellow Shadaloo member Vega. While looking for things he could sell, he stumbles across a young, bandaged girl begging for help. Balrog is resistant, until a mark in the shape of the Shadaloo symbol started glowing on the child's hand. Balrog realized the child might hold some "valuable" secrets, and takes the girl with him. On the way back to base, he questions her on what powers she has. The child said that she is powerless by herself. Balrog is disappointed, and calls the girl is worthless, but remains optimistic that she may be valuable later on, and takes her back to Shadaloo base.

As you may know, Balrog is actually known as "M. Bison" in the Japanese, but Capcom changed his name to "Balrog" in America, simply because "Mike Bison" sounds too much like "Mike Tyson" (who was the main inspiration for Balrog's design).

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ORIGIN:
Street Fighter 2

     
 
         

OTHER APPEARANCES:
Street Fighter 2: Championship Edition, Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Super Street Fighter 2, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo Revival, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo Revival, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix, Street Fighter: The Movie, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Street Fighter Alpha 3: Upper, Street Fighter Alpha 3: Max, Street Fighter Alpha: Anthology, Street Fighter 4, Super Street Fighter 4, Super Street Fighter 4: 3D Edition, Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition, Capcom VS SNK, Capcom VS SNK Pro, Capcom VS SNK 2, Card Fighters Clash, Card Fighters Clash 2, Card Fighters Clash DS, SNK VS Capcom Chaos, Street Fighter X Tekken

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Updated: May 19th, 2012

He's a classic Street Fighter character that balanced out the character roster with his brute strength and "simple" boxing style. He definitely wasn't as exciting as other SF characters, but he could get the job done (under the control of a skilled player). ;)

In the Alpha series (and after) he became more of a comic relief character, which was a wise move by Capcom. Hmmm, didn't a similar thing happen to Mike Tyson too? Kinda ironic. lol.

Balrog's SF4 incarnation was very well done, and thankfully, he learned a few new techniques, but still stays true to his straight-forward boxing style. Again, his fighting style is simple and somewhat sloppy, but some would argue that that's simply part of his design. ;)

Fighting  Style  /  Moveset
Personality  /  Charisma
Outfit(s)  /  Appearance
Effectiveness  in  series
Overall Score

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Balrog Animations