Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist is the first live action Street Fighter film since the terrible Legend of Chun-Li film. It more than makes up for the shortcomings of its predecessor. Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist oozes with love for the franchise it draws its name from, and pretty much every detail is spot on.
This series would not have worked if the actor’s didn’t all fit the characters to a tee, and luckily they do. Christian Howard is back as Ken from the Legacy mini-movie, and he plays the role spot on. Gouki, Ryu, and Young Gouken also do very well in their roles. Old Gouken is probably feels like the best fit of them all, both in looks and in portrayal.
The story of Assassin’s Fist revolves around Ryu and Ken training under their master Gouken in an attempt to master the Hado abilities of the Ansatsuken fighting style. Assassin’s Fist also tells the tale of Gouken, Gouki(Akuma), and their master Gotetsu in the past. Generally speaking the flashbacks are all done at the perfect times, though having roughly the last four episodes take place solely in the past feels a bit awkward. The story ultimately climaxes in a final duel between Ryu and Ken before they both set off on their Warrior’s Pilgrimage.
Street Fighter would be nothing without the fighting, and in Assassin’s Fist, the martial arts are all well done. There are multiple quality fight scenes that range from training matches to a final showdown between Gotetsu and his former pupil Gouki. The Hadoken, Shoryuken, and Tatsumaki all are represented well, and look pretty crisp in motion. I generally enjoyed the effects used to make the moves look how they should, and they’re definitely the most faithful versions that I’ve seen. The only mild complaint that I have is that someone hit by a Shoryuken looks pretty silly, almost akin to the shaking ship in original Star Trek.
Where Assassin’s Fist shines is the attention and devotion to the history of Street Fighter. Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono makes a cameo, and we even get to hear a “Round 1 Fight.” Even the little shudder done by characters using “Satsui no Hado” before throwing a Hadoken is faithfully executed. Every fan of classic Street Fighter is sure to shout with glee when Ryu’s classic theme music hits, and the fact that it’s done naturally through the story is fantastic.
Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist is a love letter to the Street Fighter franchise. It is a fantastic mini-series that isn’t just for fans of the franchise. The series shines thanks to well done fight scenes, and quality acting.
