Sheng Long
CHARACTER
Initially an April Fool's joke in an issue of American video gaming publication Electronic Gaming Monthly, Sheng Long went on to directly inspire several characters in Street Fighter lore, and finally made his debut as a World Tour opponent in Street Fighter 6.


3477941-3233210337-Sheng.png

Sheng Long from EGM 1997

The name Sheng Long comes from a mistranslation, Ryu's quote "If you cannot overcome the Shoryuken (Concept), you cannot win!" (昇龍拳を破らぬ限り、お前に勝ち目はない!, Shōryūken wo yaburanu kagiri, omae ni kachime wa nai!) turned into "You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance. In mid-February 1992, Electronic Gaming Monthly published an April Fools prank saying that Sheng Long would be an unlockable character.

In August 1992, the port of Street Fighter II for Super NES was released, the manual says that Ryu and Ken were disciples of Sheng Long.

Sheng Long inspired the creation of the brothers Gouki (called Akuma in the Western world) and Gouken (Character) (Ryu and Ken's true master).

In 1997, the magazine came back with the prank, publishing a design for Sheng Long. The article said that Sheng Long would be the Gouken's name in the western world and that he would be in Street Fighter III (Franchise), released that year.

In Street Fighter IV (Franchise), released in 2008, Gouken became an unlocked character and he has the calling title "AKA Sheng Long".

In March 2017, Sheng Long gained a profile at the Shadaloo Combat Research Institute.


Appearances

Street Fighter: The Movie

3476862-9615059960-SFM_a.png

Influenced by EGM's joke, Sheng Long is the name of the master of Ryu (Character) and Ken and Akuma's brother, he is mentioned in these characters' endings.


Street Fighter 6

3476486-shenglong2.jpg

Sheng Long first appears as an NPC in World Tour mode.