- "Fear and respect... the supreme energy that is Psycho Power!"
- —M. Bison in Street Fighter Alpha 3
Psycho Power (サイコパワー Saiko Pawā?) is the name of a spiritual energy that is utilized by combatants in the Street Fighter series.
Description
Often termed as an evil, negative or psychotic energy, Psycho Power is most notably exploited by its best known user, M. Bison. Psycho Power has been described as the dark side of Soul Power, a power demonstrated by Rose. According to M. Bison's win quotes in Street Fighter Alpha 3, Psycho Power feeds off of the fear, anger, and the hatred of others, this energy can also affect the skin, body color, eyes, mind, and the hair of people, as shown in the case of Violent Ken and Bison. According to Oro, Psycho Power is not an inherently evil power, but rather an alternate form of surpassing one's limits, much like Soul Power and the Satsui no Hado, and that labeling it as one only makes it difficult to fully suppress its negative influence. This is demonstrated by Ed and Falke, who use Psycho Power for the sake of helping others.
History
Nothing is known about the history of Psycho Power and the users before the time of Shadaloo, including how M. Bison obtained the secrets of Soul Power's negative aspects, except that it is amplified by negative emotions such as hatred,[1] and that to master it one must purge all good and light within oneself.
It is rumored that in the past, M. Bison's master was the only known person in the world who could manipulate it; it is also said that, before his death at the hands of Bison, he passed the power to only three other students, Bison himself being one of them.[2]
Known Practitioners
M. Bison
- For a complete list of Psycho Power abilities, see Category:Psycho Power Attacks.
Through its use, M. Bison has gained a considerable amount of strength, expelling all remorse, compassion, and humanity from his soul. In addition to being used in several of his moves in the series, this energy also grants him the ability to be intangible, flight (as shown in the Street Fighter Alpha manga), float, teleport, use telekinesis, soul manipulation (though he can only possess another user's body if they are exposed to Psycho Power), and control the minds of other beings, as seen with the Dolls.
He can also feel energy scourges, regenerate via the Psycho Drive, and create a wormhole for traveling, as seen during Guile's rival battle with him in the Arcade Mode of Super Street Fighter IV and the PlayStation Vita episode during his encounter with the Mishima Clan in Street Fighter X Tekken. However, Psycho Power can exceed the limits of his body; this would prove to be partially responsible for the events of Street Fighter Alpha 3, where he sought out Ryu in order to see whether his body's "ceiling" could exceed that of Bison's current body. Bison also believed that the Satsui no Hado within Ryu was "the ultimate form of Psycho Power", though he does not further explain the connection between the two powers (it is revealed by Violent Ken that the Satsui no Hado and Psycho Power are not only related, they are both bounded to the supernatural), there is also the existence of a device called the Psycho Drive within the labs of Shadaloo, which he and his henchmen used as a channel and a power amplifier, making him considerably more powerful. The Drive was destroyed at the end of the game.
An alternate form of M. Bison that uses the "maximum" Psycho Power appears in Street Fighter EX 2; his abilities are significantly enhanced in this form, and he also demonstrates the ability to create duplicates of himself, as shown in his use of the Psycho Cannon in said game.
In Street Fighter V, Bison's V-Trigger is called Psycho Power, and enables him to mix teleportation into several of his movements and attacks. Furthermore, the Black Moons used in F.A.N.G's "Operation C.H.A.I.N.S." were meant to sow and gather fear and other negative emotions in order to fuel Bison with even more strength, the supply of the Black Moons augmented him. However, after Rashid disabled the moons, his body becomes weaker and was eventually sealed by Ryu.
In Street Fighter 6, Bison's Psycho Power now looks noticeably blue similar to Soul Power but it turns purple when his power boils over. M. Bison dubs his power as his "hunger" and even though he is now amnesiac, he follows his power wherever he goes. He forgot mostly about the characters and what he done to them but he faintly knows their relationship with M. Bison thanks to his Psycho Power as it is the only power he has to remember.
Dee Jay
In the UDON Comics, Dee Jay had gained Psycho Power from Bison as a potential replacement body host for him to rule the world.
Ken/Violent Ken
In the UDON comics, Ken was exposed to Psycho Power in order for Bison to control his mind and eventually use him as a henchman for his empire. This henchman was known as Violent Ken. Violent Ken had first debuted in SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos as an unlockable mid-boss playable character. He would later make his first Street Fighter debut in Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers. His Hadoken and flames on his Shoryuken have turned purple which may be Psycho Power fusing with Ken's own fighting power.
It should also be noted that the scenario of Ken being brainwashed by Bison and his Psycho Power had previously occurred and took place from within Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, which may have served as a potential inspiration for Violent Ken.
Chun-Li
In Street Fighter II V, Chun-Li had gained Psycho Power after being mind controlled by Bison through a chip created by Shadaloo technology, in Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers, Chun-Li taps into a power the works very similar to Psycho Power, as she draws upon the negative aspects of her soul, but is able to use it without falling into its evil.
Rufus
In the Street Fighter × G.I. Joe comic, Rufus had gained a large amount of Psycho Power from a Psycho Drive tank, this turned him into a giant version of himself with purple skin.
Shadow
An altered form of Charlie known as Shadow appears as a hidden playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes series in the games. He is the result of Bison's brainwashing experiments on Charlie after he was captured in the previous game. Shadow also appears with Bison in the ending of Shadow Lady, another hidden character who is a what-if based off Chun-Li's Marvel vs. Capcom ending, where Bison plans to do the same to her; Shadow Lady's ending shows a similar fate befalling Jin Saotome, the main protagonist of Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness.
Shadow ultimately retains the same moves as Charlie, though they are now Psycho Power-enhanced and produce blue flames; while Shadow Lady underwent similar experiments, she does not appear to possess Psycho Power, instead merely been turned into a cyborg.
Juli and Juni
In the games, both Juli and Juni have two Psycho Charge abilities that can restore health or refill the Super Combo Gauge. Juni can also use the Psycho Streak Super Combo to summon a Bison clone, who then performs a Psycho Crusher.
Decapre
Decapre's moveset is comprised of many Psycho Power-charged dagger attacks, and one of her Ultra Combos creates a massive ball of Psycho Power.
Cammy
Since Cammy's creation in Shadaloo, she has shown the potential to harness Psycho Power. As shown in the UDON comic book Street Fighter Legends: Cammy, the energy can be used to affect her original programming into a Doll to serve Shadaloo and can be used to call out to people who have been exposed to Psycho Power. Furthermore, in the Marvel-based Capcom crossovers X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, on Earth-30847, Cammy is able to invoke an energy that may or may not be Psycho Power through her signature special attacks.
Abel
During Abel's creation in a Shadaloo base, it was revealed by F.A.N.G. that he, along with the Dolls they captured, has a small fraction of Bison's Psycho Power inside them, it would give Bison the ability to control them, and even possessing their body in case anything should ever go wrong with the body he currently inhabits.
Ed
Ed utilizes a boxing style similar to his mentor Balrog while infusing it with Psycho Power; referred as "Psycho Boxing".[3]
Falke
Falke can infuse Psycho Power into objects and release it through them, she does this mainly through her staff "Harmony".
Seth
Seth can use Psycho Power when he copies the moves Psycho Upper and Psycho Kugel with his Tanden Engine V-Skill.
JP
JP can use Psycho Power just like M. Bison. JP's Psycho Power is infused with his Bartitsu, which gives way to new, unusual purposes of the energy, such as spawning specters, erupt the force either below his foe or from within his target, and a strategic warp, should the need arise. JP reveals to the protagonist of World Tour that he served as the head of Shadaloo’s finance department and received Psycho Power from M. Bison.
Characters from other media
Rogue
In X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Rogue can copy Bison's Psycho Shot. Also, after copying Cammy's Spiral Arrow, Rogue produces the same flame effects as her, but like in Cammy's case, whether or not it is Psycho Power is left unclear.
Lord Raptor
In Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers, Lord Raptor was able to use Psycho Power to not only brainwash Ken, but to transform him into his Violent alter-ego after reading a book that once belong to the gypsies.
Rose's people
In the UDON comics, the clan that Rose came from had been studying upon Psycho Power as part of their culture in ancient rome, however, it was deemed to be evil and forbidden as people started to lose themselves to it while their hair turned white.
Weapons
Psycho Drive
In the Street Fighter Alpha series, Shadaloo had created the Psycho Drive, a weapon that can be used to store Psycho Power and for brainwashing people at the request of Bison himself.
Beelzebub
Beelzebub is a satellite used by Shadaloo that is referenced in various supplemental materials. In the Street Fighter X Tekken PlayStation Vita episodes, Shadaloo uses Beelzebub as a means to study the Pandora. Beelzebub is also known to have orbital laser cannon capabilities that utilizes Psycho Power as a power source, as seen in the endings of Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Street Fighter V.
Crystal Idol
In Street Fighter II V, the Crystal Idol seems to be energized by Psycho Power and has a telepathic link to Bison's mind, as it is able to call out to him, allowing him to travel into a self-contained dimension where every power that has existed beyond space-time is contained, such as his own power, and Ryu's as well.
Seth
In Street Fighter Legends: Cammy, Seth is programmed with Psycho Power as a means to gather data for Bison.
Harmony
Falke's staff "Harmony" is capable of channeling Psycho Power.
Gallery
Sprites
Trivia
- Though Gill's Psycho Headbutt shares the same naming scheme as most Psycho Power abilities, this is nothing more than a coincidental occurrence.
- Psycho Power is also the name given to SNK character Athena Asamiya's psychic abilities. This is referenced in SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium, where Athena tells M. Bison that "Psycho Power's not for evil!" after she defeats him.
- A common misconception regarding Ingrid is that she has claimed to be the true owner of the Psycho Power. This was the result of a mistranslation in Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX.
- In Street Fighter X Tekken, according to the written description text for Yoshimitsu's Swap Costume, his sword was able to absorb Psycho Power after a fight against Shadaloo and the Majin Clan.
- According to Rose's teacher in the UDON Comics, the origins of Soul Power and Psycho Power dates back to ancient European mythology.
References
- ↑ Street Fighter II Complete File
- ↑ Street Fighter: World Warrior Encyclopedia Hardcover
- ↑ Street Fighter V Stat Card