'Street Fighter 5' Brings in New Character, Rashid (VIDEO)
Capcom recently introduced a new character with the power to harness the wind in its upcoming "Street Fighter" title.
With "Street Fighter V" scheduled to be released early next year, Japanese game developer Capcom has been rolling out the cast of characters for the fifth installment of its fighting video game, the latest of which is Rashid, a Middle Eastern fighter who can harness the power of the wind.
Capcom released the first gameplay footage of Rashid at a games event held in Dubai, showing the brand new character wearing a traditional Middle Eastern costume equipped with futuristic accoutrements, including a silver jetpack and a glass lens over his right eye.
Introducing himself as Rashid "of the Turbulent Wind," the new character's appearance resembles a mash-up of Aladdin and Jafar from the Disney movies, but sporting futuristic props that allow him to perform his wind-based attacks. Rashid is also able to summon mini tornadoes to launch at his foes, as well as a bigger twister that can move across the screen, presumably to sweep his enemies off their feet and hold them in the air to receive his barrage of strikes.
Rashid is the second brand new character Capcom has announced for the roster of its upcoming game. It initially introduced Necalli in August, a fighter sporting dreadlocks and exhibiting a "feral" combat style. It also announced a returning character, Rainbow Mika, from 1998's "Street Fighter Alpha III."
Rashid isn't the first Middle Eastern character to be introduced in fighting video games, Bandai Namco's "Tekken 7" recently brought in Shaheen, a Saudi Arabian combatant, when the ninth installment to the 3D fighting title debuted in March this year.
"Street Fighter V" is scheduled to launch for PC and PlayStation 4 on Q1 2016, with Capcom expected to introduce more new and returning fighters before the game is officially released.