Results: ROUND FOUR

Votes: 258

Kim Kap Hwan (Fatal Fury, King of Fighters, Capcom vs. SNK): 134 (51%)
Dan Hibiki (Streetfighter Alpha, Capcom vs. SNK): 124 (49%)

Winner: Kim Kap Hwan

The Good! Kim is honest, noble, just and pure - with a raspberry cream sadistic centre. He has an original storyline, interesting relationships with his fellow team members and rivals and at the very least a modicum of traffic sense. In the games he appears in, he’s always a powerful character in terms of both looks and effectiveness. What’s more, he brushes his teeth twice a day. I mean, hour.

The Bad! He does rather come across as somewhat smug and condescending, and he is basically still a guy in a white martial arts outfit - even EOLITH’s redrawing of him has done little to make him visually exciting. Furthermore, both his sons have long since managed to outshine him in terms of look, and general appeal.

The Ugly! Kim Kap Hwan? More like KIM CRAP HWAN! LOL! And those weird guys he hangs around with!? There’s something going on there!

I Coulda Beena Contenda! He’s a real underdog, second string type of hero, compared to the overwhelming fame that folks like Terry and Kyo usually endure - the sort of character that people always like to vote for. He has a (comparatively) small, but devoted fanbase and is also very popular among Korean types and fanfic authors. Don’t be surprised if these factors propel him all the way to the top!

Votes: 268

Ryu (Streetfighter 2, Streetfighter Alpha, Streetfighter 3, Capcom vs. SNK): 161 (60%)
Haohmaru (Samurai Shodown, Capcom vs. SNK): 107 (40%)

Winner: Ryu

The Good! One of the first true recognisable faces in fighting games - so much of him; his moves, the way said moves are performed, his attitude, relationships with others and the plotlines he appears in became archetypes of the genre. Taken at base level he’s also a powerful, simple-to-use, rewarding character. Oh yeah, and the “Shin Shoryuken”.

The Bad! He’s usually outshone in the personality department by the bag he carries around. Being an archetype also means in some ways he is responsible for all the half-witted rip-off nonsense games and characters that followed in the wake of SF2.

The Ugly! Man Him and Ken are like Totally gay! And That Fireball/Dragon punch trap? So Cheap!!!

I Coulda Beena Contenda! It’s Ryu. He couldn’t not be here, could he? Time and time again, his legendary, inspirational status, and sheer nostalgic value has come through for him, and it could well do so again.

Votes: 263

Geese Howard (Fatal Fury, King of Fighters ‘96, Capcom vs. SNK): 197 (75%)
Ryuji Yamazaki (Fatal Fury, King of Fighters, Capcom vs. SNK): 66 (25%)

Winner: Geese

The Good! The ultimate villain. Stylish, classy, immensely powerful and intimidating: a fighting game boss untouched by the cheese of cloning, ancient gods or demonic possession - Geese is a cold, cruel fucker because he wants to be. There’s no avoiding that.

The Bad! Entirely inappropriate name. Silly trousers. Cruddy application of the English language. Saunas.

The Ugly! Geese? More like … swan! (lol?)

I Coulda Beena Contenda! Everyone loves a bad guy (look ma, GGX humour!) - and Geese is by far the baddest and guyest guy around. One of SNK’s meanest, most finely-honed and perfectly executed characters, ever. Frankly we’re not sure if anyone can stop him.

Votes: 254

Ibuki (Streetfighter 3): 167 (65%)
Q (Streetfighter 3: 3rd Strike): 87 (35%)

Winner: Ibuki

The Good! She’s attractive without being indecent, she exudes cuteness, aptitude and determination, her (hundreds of) attacks all look fantastic, she’s drawn and animated to an impossibly high standard … and she’s a ninja girl.

The Bad! Well she wears brown, and has an irritating voice. She has a crap boyfriend, funny hair and she ruined Streetfighter 3 (apparently.) Also, she’s a ninja girl.

The Ugly! Unfortunately, even the dullest of dimwits in our dolt department were completely unable to successfully trivialise and moronify Ibuki

I Coulda Beena Contenda! Ibuki rocks the house, shack and nearby waterfall with incredible ease. Her instant appeal to everyone, not just lonely horny guys practically guarantees her access to higher rounds.

Votes: 239

Vanessa (King of Fighters): 171 (72%)
Dudley (Streetfighter 3): 68 (28%)

Winner: Vanessa

The Good! We’re rapidly running out of lame MILF/”older women” jokes, but it’s always worth mentioning that Vanessa remains a staggeringly stimulating example of a ‘mature’ female fighting game character; one who doesn’t need to giggle and blush and flash her underwear to justify her existence (although, if she’s offering…) Not only that, she practically drips power, determination and raw, fiery, spunky attitude. Plus she hates Ramon!

The Bad! Remnants of Yuri and Friends 2000 remain in our collective mind. There’s just something inherently wrong about that whole setup, and it won’t go away. You may not like red hair, either. Yes, we’re really reaching here.

The Ugly! Quite simply, no.

I Coulda Beena Contenda! Sex appeal, attitude, wholly original design, truly great in-game representation, short red hair, a cut-off shirt three sizes too small, tight pants, that tie … the suspenders …

Votes: 285

Chun Li (Streetfighter 2, Streetfighter Alpha, Streetfighter 3: 3rd Strike, Capcom vs. SNK): 187 (66%)
Shermie (King of Fighters): 98 (34%)

Winner: Chun Li

The Good! Chun Li, the “first lady of fighting games”. And like (poor analogy here) she just gets better with age. The perfect marriage of class and dignity, with just the tiniest hints of cheap fan-pleasing - at her peak she’s a super-strong, fantastically likeable and altogether near-perfect package of all positive things in the universe.

The Bad! Well, she’s getting on a bit, you know? Also, some of her various game incarnations throughout the years have been somewhat poor. Her storyline and character are also somewhat stagnant, and not everyone wants those Giant Redwood thighs crushing the life out of them.

The Ugly! Stnad fierce olo

I Coulda Beena Contenda! She’s got that “World Warrior” nostalgia kick, was most people heres’ first crush, has been hysterically overpowered in a couple of her games … plus she’s just lovely all over. And cute. And adorable. We say, she’s in with a fine, fine chance.

Votes: 272

Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury, King of Fighters, Capcom vs. SNK(all)): 173 (64%)
Iori Yagami (King of Fighters, Capcom vs. SNK): 99 (36%)

Winner: Terry

The Good! Pretty much everything Terry does is amazing. He’s just such a nice, genuine, helpful guy. He’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders, but never whines or moans - he’s tough, he never gives up and he can generate some spectacular pyrotechnics when the mood takes him.

The Bad! His dialogue coach should be (crack) shot immediately. He has girly hair. Also, isn’t raising the son of Geese Howard to be a fighter sort of like giving Hitler Junior a ‘my first ethnic cleansing’ playset?

The Ugly! hehe pizza boy lmao ^_^

I Coulda Beena Contenda! The second he stopped looking like a deformed old guy in tight jeans, Terry Bahn Knuckoo’d his way into our collective heart, mind and crotch, and has remained there ever since. Only the greatest, or, most revealingly-dressed of characters can stop this Hungry Wolf.

Votes: 273

Dizzy (Guilty Gear X, Guilty Gear XX): 165 (60%)
Athena Asamiya (King of Fighters, Capcom vs. SNK): 108 (40%)

Winner: Dizzy

The Good! A totally original character, with an extremely untypical storyline for a fighting game boss character. Her look is just pure jailbait, with some twisted extras for less stable individuals thrown in free of charge - and yet despite the blatantly (and apparently completely deliberate) sexual overtones, she still manages to be both utterly adorable, and incredibly intimidating

The Bad! The tail and wings may not be to everybody’s liking. The fact she’s three years old may not… oh, who are we kidding? Some players may also have a grudge against her, especially her Gold Boss version in Guilty Gear X2. Eurgh.

The Ugly! ha ha u loev a 3 year old

I Coulda Beena Contenda! Dizzy is the lone surviving Guilty Gear representative - and so support from that section of the fanbase is practically guaranteed. Also votes from those of us who love busty, three year-old blue-haired girls can be relied upon too. Hang in there, Dizzy! You can make it!

Next time: Round Five? Oh ma god!