Necro (Street Fighter)
A modified bioweapon longing for freedom from the Illuminati.
Necro (Japanese: ネクロ, Hepburn: Nekuro) is a character from Capcom's Street Fighter fighting game series, introduced in the 1997 game Street Fighter III: New Generation. He is a young Russian man codenamed Necro, whose DNA was altered by the Illuminati to become a living bioweapon with an elastic body and built-in power generator. His unusual design and tragic backstory have made him a notable, if divisive, figure in the franchise.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Street Fighter
- First Game
- Street Fighter III (1997)
- Designer
- Akira "Akiman" Yasuda
- Voice
- Michael X. Sommers / Lawrence Bayne (3rd Strike)
- Origin
- Russia
- Nationality
- Russian
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Necro is the codename for Ilya, a young Russian man from a lakeside village. After the fall of the Soviet Union, he traveled seeking fame and fortune but was tricked by Gill's Illuminati into having his DNA altered, giving him an elastic body and built-in power generator. He was used as a tool by the Illuminati, though he longs for freedom. After being betrayed and captured by Gill, he is rescued by his girlfriend Effie, and the two go on the run. Necro was originally voiced by Lawrence Bayne in New Generation and 2nd Impact, with Michael X. Sommers taking over the role in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike.
Reader's Guide
Necro's significance lies in his role as a symbol of the shift in Street Fighter III toward a more science-fiction aesthetic, which divided fans. His design, by Akira 'Akiman' Yasuda, was made from paper clay and was considered unusual even by the development team; producer Tomoshi Sadamoto oversaw his development directly due to concerns about audience reception. Gameplay-wise, Necro's reliance on extending his limbs put him at a disadvantage in Street Fighter III's defensive, parry-heavy system, leading some critics to view him as a collection of attack ideas that did not work well together. Despite this, he was mostly well received, praised for his personality and dynamic fighting style compared to similar characters like Dhalsim. His companion Effie was created to show that even a heavily modified person could live a normal life, though the team felt this instead acted as 'a lid on a cracked pot'. Necro has appeared in other games such as SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters and TEPPEN, and Effie was considered for Street Fighter V but rejected as 'a very difficult character'.
Did You Know?
- Necro was designed by Akira 'Akiman' Yasuda, who made a model out of paper clay for the sprite artist to reference.
- His girlfriend Effie was inspired by Yasuda's own girlfriend at the time.
- Effie's initial design was rejected; the team then decided to make her 'Roll-chan but from Blade Runner'.
- Necro's tongue is pierced, something the developers wanted to emphasize.
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