Siblings
Hall of Fame: Urien (Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact)
Model: Gill
Brothers and sisters will always rough-house when they’re little, but what happens when they become champion martial artists? Rather than tone down Street Fighter III boss Gill to make him a playable character, Capcom introduced Urien as a violent usurper who wants to be the Sword of Damocles hanging over his brother’s throne. The arrangement works out well: Gill maintains his aura as an unstoppable demigod while Urien has developed his own unique moves like the Chariot Tackle and Aegis Reflector to become a hardcore favorite.
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Above: The great Terry Bogard sees right through the Jin Twins’ overcompensating lair.
Hall of Lame: The Jin Twins (Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory)
It’s tough to make twins work: They’re either both cool or both expendable. Jin Chonrei (blue) and Jin Chonsue (red) started as powerful bosses under the possession of ancient Chinese warriors. Their search for the powerful “Jin scrolls” continued in later sequels, but aside from an appearance in Neo Geo Battle Coliseum they would fade into SNK history. Despite their impressive pedigree, these brothers didn’t intimidate anyone with their stumpy bodies, boring techniques, and wardrobe that looks more like Halloween costumes than imperial regalia.
Evil Doppelgängers
Hall of Fame: Robo-Ky
Model: Ky Kiske
Perhaps your evil twin is a product of science. Robo-Ky first appeared in the story mode of Guilty Gear X2 as a meddlesome imposter of Ky Kiske. Like most clones, he played very similarly to his inspiration, but that changed quickly when developer Arc System Works re-engineered him into a metal madman who attacked with hammers, missiles, eye lasers, and flying unicycles. With his own unique super meter and “overheat” gauge, this robot went from a rehash to one of the most complex fighters ever created.
Above: Kasumi tracks down her see-through double, Alpha-152, in Dead or Alive 5.
Hall of Shame: Kasumi Alpha/Alpha-152 (Dead or Alive 2)
Model: Kasumi
It’s clear that developers prefer basing their clones on a franchise’s most popular characters. They already have a connection with fans, so a remixed version will have a built-in audience. I’m guessing that’s what Temco thought when it copied Dead or Alive’s Kasumi so many times. Kasumi Alpha appeared in Dead or Alive 2 as an off-kilter replica of the kunoichi. She would later transform into the hypercheap boss Alpha-152 for Dead or Alive 4. While she does gain a unique fighting style, her bland translucent form makes for an anti-climatic nemesis. If you need even more Kasumi in your life, you can download a new doppelgänger, Phase 4, in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate.
Next: Suit up for action! If that fails, have your children avenge you.