Clone

A common feature in the Street Fighter games, a character "Clone" describes two characters with near exact movesets and special attacks. From the developer's perspective, a given character's model can be used as a base template from which to build another, and it is usually evident which one is the "original" and which is the clone.

Clones in fighting games technically started in the original Street Fighter with Ryu and Ken. In Street Fighter II, they were both clones again, and later the entire series. As such, many fighting games have followed in their footsteps and made a "beginner" character and a clone of it (for example, Mortal Kombat's Scorpion and Sub-Zero).

"Semi-Clone"s are when a character shares some moves of another, while still having some variation in terms of moveset or special attacks. These are usually more debatable than regular clones whether two fighters are "semi clones" or not.

Clones

 * Ryu & Ken: Exact movesets and character model, the only difference is a color swap. Ryu was the base character for Player 1 and Ken was for Player 2.

Clones

 * Ryu & Ken & Akuma: Extremely similar movesets, though exactly how different differs from which version. In the original, Ryu/Ken were practically indistinguishable, but over some games, Ken as gained a more powerful multi hitting Shoryuken and a multi-hitting Hurricane Kick, while Ryu has a faster and more powerful Hadoken, a single hit Shoryuken and Hurricane Kick. In versions where there were super combos, their super combos were different from eachother.


 * Akuma, introduced in later iterations of SF2, is a fusion of the two. Akuma lacks a Super Combo.

Semi Clones

 * E. Honda & Blanka: (Semi Clones): In early versions, the same character model, just with a different overface, very similar special attacks and playstyle.

Clones

 * Ryu & Ken & Akuma: Extremely similar movesets, with minor differences. Ken retains the flaming Shoryuken, Ryu has one hitting, Akuma can hit a few times though no flaming effects. Ryu's Hadoken are faster, Ken's are weaker, Akuma's are in the middle, though he can launch them in the air, and has his own exclusive Red Hadoken. Ken's Hurricane Kick is multi hitting, Ryu's hits once, Akuma's can hit a few times if placed right. All have different Super Combos.
 * Guile & Charlie: Guile was introduced in Street Fighter Alpha 3, and is essentially a clone of Charlie. Charlie initially was based off Guile.

Semi Clones

 * Sakura with Ryu: Her specials function different but are clearly based off Ryu's, similar Super Combos.

Clones
Ryu & Ken:

Clones
Ryu & Ken: