In the vast universe of the Street Fighter series, few are as iconic and enduring as M. Bison. The immortal tyrant is known for his relentless pursuit of power and his ability to cheat death, M. Bison stands as one of the most formidable and recognizable villains in video game history. His presence has loomed large over the franchise since its inception, making him a perennial antagonist whose influence shapes the destiny of many characters within the series. We see multiple references and clues to his story and character development in his most recent resurrection in Street Fighter 6.
I Have Dwelled in Darkness, and I Have Conquered It
One of the defining aspects of M. Bison’s character is his apparent immortality. Throughout the series, Bison has been defeated numerous times, only to return stronger and more determined than ever. This resilience is attributed to his ability to transfer his consciousness into new bodies, a process made possible by his mastery of Psycho Power. Bison’s first major resurrection occurs after the events of Street Fighter II, where he is seemingly destroyed. However, he returns in Street Fighter Alpha 3, having transferred his consciousness into a new body. This ability to cheat death and return repeatedly underscores his role as a persistent and unyielding adversary. All these powers can be attributed to Bison’s mastery of Psycho Power, a form of energy fueled by negative emotions such as hatred and anger. It is the antithesis of Ki, the positive spiritual energy wielded by characters like Ryu and Ken. Psycho Power is chaotic and destructive, granting its user tremendous offensive capabilities at the cost of their humanity and moral integrity. In Bison’s case, it also fuels his immortality. Through a process known as “soul transfer”, Bison can project his consciousness into new host bodies, allowing him to create clones of himself and transfer his consciousness into them or other host bodies. The cycle of death and rebirth fueled by Psycho Power ensures that Bison will continue to return, but that doesn’t mean he will stay the same forever.
Everybody’s Got a Bit of Good in Them
At the end of Street Fighter V, we see Ryu finish off M. Bison with a Hadouken. Rather than be blasted away by the attack, Bison stays standing for quite some time before holding up his right hand, which begins to crack at the fingertips, leading all the way down his arm and up to his face with bright blue cracks. He disintegrates, and that’s the last we see of him. In his return in Street Fighter VI, we see the same cracks light up whenever he channels his Psycho Power and his pained reaction to using it. He cries out and claims that he will tame this power in due time. One of the defining characteristics of Psycho Power is the fiery purple energy that emanates from the user. In SF6, Bison’s powers now have a teal tinge to them, unmistakably showing that he now also wields Soul Power. This type of power is similar to Ki, which is fueled by positive emotions. Rose and Menat both exhibit mastery over soul power, so it’s interesting to see the same positive energy manifesting in Bison. This could possibly be a turning point in his character development, showing us a different side of Bison.
And Lo a Black Horse, and He that Sat on Him Held Balances
Taking a closer look at M. Bison’s new threads gives us more insight to what his new role may be in the story. The first, and probably biggest, new part of his character design is the horse. Bison now rides a muscular black stallion as fights begin, much like the one seen in the 1994 Street Fighter movie with a painting featuring Bison riding a horse, symbolizing his power as a dictator. While his lower body remains mostly the same design as in previous games with his steel capped boots and red pants, his upper body has lost the sleek uniform, replaced by a tattered cloak and bandages covering the entirety of his right arm. There have been numerous theories comparing Bison’s new look to a character in the Darksiders franchise: War, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. If we were to go based on the color of his horse, which is extremely relevant in the tale of the four horsemen, Bison would be seen as Famine. The scales which are mentioned in the tale, while not explicitly visible on Bison’s person, instead can be seen in Bison’s internal struggle with the previously mentioned Psycho and Soul Powers. He’s always been hungry for power, but now we see a potential inner conflict raging within him.
M. Bison’s enduring legacy in the Street Fighter series is a testament to his design as a character and his importance to the franchise’s narrative. His ability to return from the dead, fueled by his mastery of Psycho Power, ensures that he remains a constant threat and a compelling antagonist. Now with this new design, we’re excited to see what role he will play in the story, and if he will overcome his Psycho or Soul Power as time goes on. As long as the Street Fighter series continues, it is likely that M. Bison will continue to loom large as the immortal tyrant, ever-ready to challenge the world’s greatest fighters in his quest for ultimate power.
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