Loot Gaming Manuals | Page 15

THE TOUGH LADIES OF STREET FIGHTER V By Sarah Rodriguez Names like Chun-Li and Cammy are synonymous with strong women in gaming, but newcomers to Street Fighter V might not recognize some of the other tough ladies on the character select screen. Here’s a brief rundown of three “new” stars. (The new is in quotations because Karin and R. Mika both appeared in Street Fighter Alpha 3, but haven’t been in a Street Fighter game since 1998. That’s old enough to be considered new, in my book!) Karin Representing the stereotypical “ojou” (rich/popular snob anime archetype), Karin is the rival of Sakura. Although she has the laugh of an evil woman, she’s actually not that bad at this point in her timeline, and has learned that winning isn’t everything. Her play style could be described as resembling Chun-Li and Fei Long, with a focus on pacing and speed. Rainbow (R.) Mika R. Mika is a professional wrestler known for her cheery disposition and butt attacks. Yes, she launches herself butt-first at opponents. Hey, if it works it works! She looks up to her idol, Zangief, and hopes to be as strong as him one day. R. Mika is one of the most unpredictable characters to play against in SFV. As a grappler, her style focuses on setups and grabs. Laura Brand new for SFV, Laura is the older sister of Sean from Street Fighter III and the heir to the Matsuda Jiu-Jitsu style. Like most Jiu-Jitsu, this style involves grappling and breaking throws. She also has a lightning attack, much like fellow Brazilian, Blanka. LOOT GAMING / THE GAME MANUAL 15