Street Fighter V's character roster continues to grow, but the latest addition to the game's list of fighters isn't one most people would expect. It's not an all-new character, like the previously announced Necalli, or a classic returning fighter, like Ryu, Ken, Chun Li, M. Bison or Vega. Instead, the latest addition to Street Fighter V's roster is yet another callback to the oft-forgotten Street Fighter Alpha series.
Rainbow Mika (otherwise known as R. Mika) is the quintessential wrestler archetype: if you love fighting with style and absolutely brutal attack power, Mika is a good place to start. True, she hails from one of the most overlooked games in the series, but it's clear that Capcom is trying to bring her back in a big way.
For starters, Capcom just released the first gameplay footage of R. Mika in action. If there was ever any doubt that she'd be able to hold her own against any of the game's other fighters, there won't be after taking a look at the trailer:
First and foremost: R. Mika's fighting repertoire includes the Stone Cold Stunner, and that's amazing.
Secondly: yes, that is her actual outfit, and yes, she just finished someone off using her posterior. Why something like this exists is anyone's guess, but at the very least, her character looks like a lot of fun to play (if you don't mind some gratuitous fan-service, that is).
Questionable wrestling attire aside, R. Mika really does look like she could be one of Street Fighter V's heaviest hitters. Considering that Zangief is her hero, it's no surprise that R. Mika can deal some serious damage, but – as the video indicates – she's not nearly as slow or lumbering as her inspiration.
Plus, R. Mika's got back-up: her V-Trigger introduces Nadeshiko, R. Mika's tag-team partner, as a way to trap opponents and create new setups. Also, it allows for the double-butt finishing combo seen in the trailer, so that's got to be worth something.
From Capcom:
"As an aspiring young wrestler, Mika dreamed of one day becoming a star in the ring, much like her idol Zangief. Training under the strict tutelage of her coach, she traveled the world engaging in random matches with street fighters in order to spread her name and popularity. R. Mika's wrestling prowess will be on full display in Street Fighter V, as she dazzles opponents with a wide variety of high-flying moves.
"This time around, her wrestling tag-team partner Nadeshiko assists in the fight! By calling Nadeshiko at the right time using R. Mika's V-Trigger ability, players will be able to set up sneaky attacks and punishing command grab mix-ups that are sure to deliver devastating amounts of damage. Players who enjoy putting on a stunning display of fear-inducing close-combat guessing games will find R. Mika a colorful and rewarding way to play."
With R. Mika's debut, Street Fighter V's roster has grown to 10 characters — considering that Street Fighter IV launched with nearly twice that many, it's safe to say that Capcom still has quite a few fighters left up its sleeves.
Street Fighter V won't hit PS4 and PC until early next year, but Capcom just announced that you'll be able to play a reworked version of the beta starting August 28.
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