Alex (Street Fighter)
In the early days of Street Fighter III development, Yasuda Akiman designed a character named Alex to serve as the series' new protagonist. He envisioned Alex not as a martial artist like Ryu, but as a former professional wrestler turned police officer. This choice reflected the massive popularity of wrestling culture at that time. The team wanted a figure who stood apart from the established heroes. They intended for Alex to be simple so other characters could appear flashy. Sadamoto compared this approach to how Saint Seiya handled its supporting cast. Early versions showed him wearing green overalls and brown combat boots with long blonde hair in a ponytail. His face featured paint extending from his eyes down to his jawline. Artist Kinu Nishimura based Alex's facial features on French actor Christopher Lambert because she admired his look. The face paint itself drew inspiration from an anime version of Devilman.
The sky over New York City turns black when a satellite detonates above it during Alex's story in Street Fighter V. He wears red suspenders and slightly shorter hair without a ponytail in that installment. A red and white flannel shirt wraps around his waist or hangs unbuttoned with sleeves rolled up. Green cargo pants show signs of tearing after battles. In earlier games he sported a scar on each shoulder and sometimes ripped off a black tank top before fighting. Later appearances see him moving to Metro City where he adopts a heel wrestler persona. His appearance shifts from a bouncer-like figure to someone fitting a perceived surliness. The paint on his face remains a constant visual marker throughout the series changes.
Tom, Alex's mentor and legal guardian, lost a fight against Gill and ended up in a hospital. This event angered Alex enough to enter the third World Warrior tournament hosted by Gill. He intended to kill Gill but instead won the tournament without taking the president's life. Gill became impressed by Alex's skills and sensed something special about him. Alex eventually returned to Tom as a changed person after traveling the world. In Street Fighter III: Third Strike he met Ryu and fought him only to lose. Ryu told Alex to explore the world and find worthy fighters. Years later he re-encountered Ryu and decided to fight again though the outcome remained unknown. Shadaloo kidnapped him for assessment of his skills while he worked on his broken-down trailer. Patricia delivered a porcelain chess piece that served as a key to a Black Moon satellite capable of launching an electromagnetic pulse. Dhalsim convinced Alex not to keep the piece and teleported away promising big things would happen to him.
Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan influenced the design of Alex's pre-match introduction animation where he rips off his shirt. His rivalry with Hugo draws similarities to Hogan's real-life match with Andre the Giant. The name Alex means protector which parallels Alexander the Great as a possible source of inspiration. Gaming journalist John Learned noted how the character's appearance and moveset helped form Street Fighter III's overall design. Sadamoto had background experience developing wrestling games at Capcom before creating this fighter. Some critics described Alex as a parody of fellow character Guile since both men searched for revenge. While Guile's mission appeared righteous, Alex demonstrated a short temper and lack of full thought. His voice sounded rugged and added oomph when slamming opponents during attacks. The staff of GamesRadar enjoyed the captivating machismo in the character and how many attacks reflected real-life WWE moves.
D. F. Smith of IGN stated that Alex broke the mold for fighting heroes in all kinds of ways. He found the character unexpectedly quirky and designed for players who wanted to get close to their opponents. The shaggy appearance and face paint made him feel like someone able to act as a bouncer at rough establishments. Staff from GamesRadar felt the character was not that popular despite being positioned as the series frontman. They enjoyed the captivating machismo and how many attacks reflected real-life wrestling moves. Gavin Jasper of Den of Geek called Alex the highlight of Street Fighter III due to his moveset and portrayal during attacks. Hardcore Gaming 101 commentator Xerxes cited Alex as an example of how people found many characters offputting. Shivam Bhatt on Retronauts noted that while intended as a grappler archetype he did not play as one initially. Learned expressed surprise they made an American character the protagonist since Japanese games usually used Japanese leads.
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Common questions
Who designed the Street Fighter character Alex?
Yasuda Akiman designed the Street Fighter character Alex during the early development of Street Fighter III. Artist Kinu Nishimura based his facial features on French actor Christopher Lambert.
What is the origin story of Alex in Street Fighter V?
A satellite detonates over New York City and turns the sky black during Alex's story in Street Fighter V. He wears red suspenders, a flannel shirt around his waist, and green cargo pants that show signs of tearing after battles.
Why did Alex enter the third World Warrior tournament hosted by Gill?
Alex entered the third World Warrior tournament because Tom lost a fight against Gill and ended up in a hospital. This event angered him enough to seek revenge against Gill even though he won without taking the president's life.
How does professional wrestler Hulk Hogan influence Alex's design?
Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan influenced the design of Alex's pre-match introduction animation where he rips off his shirt. His rivalry with Hugo draws similarities to Hogan's real-life match with Andre the Giant.
What does the name Alex mean and what is its possible inspiration?
The name Alex means protector which parallels Alexander the Great as a possible source of inspiration. Gaming journalist John Learned noted how the character's appearance and moveset helped form Street Fighter III's overall design.