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Oro (Street Fighter) | HearLore
Oro (Street Fighter)
Oro is an ancient martial arts master who lives a secluded life of an immortal hermit, yet his debut in Street Fighter III: New Generation on the 1st of March 1997 sent shockwaves through the gaming community for reasons far beyond his fighting style. Standing at 161 cm or 5 feet 3 inches, this wrinkled old man with solid red eyes and yellow skin was designed to be the antithesis of the typical fighting game hero. He is bald with only a few strands of long hair extending from his scalp and is missing most of his teeth, presenting a visage that many players found unsettling rather than heroic. His outfit consists of a dark red sash around his body tied up around his left shoulder, held behind his back, leaving him naked beneath his robes. This design choice resulted in some of his animations briefly exposing his genitals, a detail that sparked immediate controversy and confusion among North American audiences who had expected a continuation of the Street Fighter II aesthetic. The character was originally conceived as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter inspired by the Gracie family, but the sprite art team pushed for a different direction, eventually settling on the eccentric hermit design overseen by Yūji Imamura, who had previously worked as a graphics designer on Capcom's Darkstalkers series. Producer Tomoshi Sadamoto was unsure of how well Oro would go over with audiences, yet he formed an attachment to the character during development, while developer Chris Tang recalled his initial reaction to the new character as wondering if something terrible had happened to the team behind Street Fighter II.
The One Armed Master
Oro's fighting style is as unique as his appearance, as he fights with one of his arms held behind his back as a form of self-handicapping, forcing him to rely on a single limb to defeat opponents. This gimmick was not merely a visual quirk but a core mechanic that defined his gameplay, making him one of the strangest character designs in the franchise. When Oro was brought back for Street Fighter V, a prequel to the Street Fighter III games, the development team struggled to portray him restraining one arm without relying on the original 2D sprite art. They chose to have him holding a turtle with that arm instead during the fight, feeling it would present an interesting look when in motion. The turtle, named Yamasen, became a constant companion, and his outfit was left unchanged due to his role as a hermit, with the exception of an added loincloth to address the previous exposure issues. Oro's character portraits were designed to make him look more intimidating than his in-game sprites, and at one point in development, he was also intended to have a scar on his back. The symbolism of his fighting stages and implications on Brazilian culture have also been discussed, with some arguing that his stage in New Generation taking place in the caves of the Amazon presented a negative image of the country compared to how fellow young potential fighter Brazilian character Sean's takes place in New York City. This contrast presented America as a place where Sean could pursue his dreams fully, while the exoticized Brazil was presented as a suitable home for hermits, one that is inside and hides from the world.
When did Oro first appear in Street Fighter III: New Generation?
Oro first appeared in Street Fighter III: New Generation on the 1st of March 1997. This debut sent shockwaves through the gaming community for reasons far beyond his fighting style.
What is Oro's physical appearance and height?
Oro stands at 161 cm or 5 feet 3 inches and has yellow skin with solid red eyes. He is bald with only a few strands of long hair extending from his scalp and is missing most of his teeth.
Why was Oro's design controversial in North America?
Oro's design sparked immediate controversy and confusion among North American audiences because some of his animations briefly exposed his genitals. This detail was unexpected for players who had anticipated a continuation of the Street Fighter II aesthetic.
How does Oro fight in the Street Fighter series?
Oro fights with one of his arms held behind his back as a form of self-handicapping. He relies on a single limb to defeat opponents, making him one of the strangest character designs in the franchise.
Who is Oro's turtle companion in Street Fighter V?
Oro's turtle companion in Street Fighter V is named Yamasen. He holds the turtle with his restrained arm during fights to present an interesting look when in motion.
In which comic book series does Oro appear outside the main games?
Oro appears in the Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki comic book miniseries where Ibuki challenges him during her final ninja exam. He travels to a shrine on Mount Atago to meditate and engages with new generations of fighters.
Oro's boredom had reached its limit, and this existential fatigue drove his actions throughout the Street Fighter III timeline, as he would take on young fighters as his apprentices, but none of them lasted long. One day, he happened to hear a rumor about something secular that caught his interest, specifically a mysterious organization and someone who has mastered the art of fist, which he decided to investigate. In his ending in 3rd Strike, Oro is shown trying to make Ryu, who is unaware of Oro's presence in his training, his disciple again, highlighting his endless search for a worthy successor. In his ending in New Generation and 2nd Impact, Oro decides that the only martial artist he met worthy of inheriting his secrets was Ryu, cementing his role as a mentor figure despite his unconventional methods. Oro later reappears in Street Fighter V during Dhalsim's character story as Dhalsim encounters him while teaching a police officer named Mahesh how to breathe fire. Oro engages a discussion with the yoga master about mastering one skill before he leaves sensing another interesting person in the area. He was later mentioned in Karin's character story as Karin travels to India to find Oro, but is told by Dhalsim that he had already left a few days prior. He is also seen in Menat's character story when Menat, sent by her master Rose, warns him of an evil power in their world, which Oro is already aware of. He was made a playable character in the game's fifth season, in which he confers with Rose and Dhalsim about this lingering Psycho Power left behind after M. Bison's defeat.
The Controversial Design
Oro was met with mixed reception, with reviewers of the game feeling his design did not fit the series' aesthetic, as IGN's Rus McLaughlin cited Oro as an example of the new generation of Street Fighter games that featured genetic mutants and oddballs. He didn't come close to normal and helped contribute to returning players finding it difficult to find analogues to Street Fighter II. On the other hand, Suriel Vazquez and Eric Van Allen of Paste described him as one of the strangest character designs in Street Fighter, even moreso in light of how Street Fighter III had defined itself with unusual characters. They added that part of the character's appeal was that nobody could really figure out his fighting style, and appreciated how he handicapped himself when fighting. Retronauts on their podcast discussing Street Fighter III expressed that upon seeing Oro none of them knew what to make of the character, with some expressing they were creeped out by his alien appearance. They felt he was not a popular character with Japanese audiences either, as he not only had an odd playstyle, but his character design had notable negative traits, namely in that some of his animations appeared to expose his genitals. While they appreciated the presentation of some of his attacks, overall they felt he fit the old hermit archetype too much, comparing him to Master Roshi of the Dragonball franchise in this regard. Gavin Jasper of Den of Geek compared him to Yoda of the Star Wars franchise, in that both characters were portrayed as eccentric old hermits who could also be wise mentors with great strength.
The Final Obstacle
Gavin further enjoyed that in the context of traditional Street Fighter characters the strongest one was not a villain but instead a kindly old man, noting that while between Oro and Akuma it was difficult to ascertain which character was stronger, but in the context of Ryu while Akuma felt like an obstacle he would eventually overcome, Oro served as his final obstacle to enlightenment. The symbolism of Oro's fighting stages and implications on Brazilian culture have also been discussed, with some arguing that his stage in New Generation taking place in the caves of the Amazon presented a negative image of the country compared to how fellow young potential fighter Brazilian character Sean's takes place in New York City. This contrast presented America as a place where Sean could pursue his dreams fully, while the exoticized Brazil was presented as a suitable home for hermits, one that is inside and hides from the world. In contrast, he felt this aspect diminished as the series progressed, with both characters now located in Brazil but illustrating different aspects of who they are as fighters: the sun rising on Sean's stage to represent his role as a pupil, while setting on Oro's to represent his search for an apprentice. Oro's character portraits were designed to make him look more intimidating than his in-game sprites, and at one point in development, he was also intended to have a scar on his back, adding layers to his mysterious past.
The Ninja's Trial
Outside of the video game series, Oro also appears in the Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki comic book miniseries where Ibuki's final ninja exam is to challenge him. Together with her friends Elena and Makoto, she goes to the shrine on Mount Atago, where Oro has travelled to meditate. After the fight, Oro says that she actually made him think about using both hands and commends her on an entertaining challenge. This appearance expanded his lore beyond the main game series, showing his willingness to engage with new generations of fighters even when they were not seeking his guidance. The comic book miniseries provided a glimpse into Oro's personality beyond his fighting abilities, revealing a mentor who values the effort and creativity of his opponents. Oro's presence in the comic book series also highlighted his role as a bridge between the traditional martial arts world and the modern ninja culture, showcasing his adaptability and wisdom. The interaction between Oro and Ibuki demonstrated his ability to find value in unexpected places, reinforcing his status as a character who transcends the typical boundaries of the Street Fighter universe.
The Merchandise Legacy
To promote the release of New Generation, several items of merchandise were created featuring Oro such as phone cards, and for 3rd Strikes Online Edition, player avatar items of the character were released for Sony's PlayStation Network. For Street Fighter 6, costume items based off Oro's appearance for the game's World Tour mode were added for players to use on their custom characters. These promotional efforts highlighted the character's enduring popularity despite the initial controversy, as fans continued to engage with his unique design and fighting style. The merchandise served as a testament to Oro's impact on the Street Fighter franchise, proving that his unconventional nature resonated with a dedicated audience. The inclusion of Oro in Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode further cemented his status as a beloved character, allowing players to embody the hermit master in a new context. The legacy of Oro's design and gameplay mechanics continues to influence the franchise, with developers drawing inspiration from his unique approach to combat and his role as a mentor figure.