The eternal challenger and Capcom's icon, continues his search for perfection
(and a red headband) in Street Fighter Alpha 3!  Since the first 2 Street Fighter
games, nearly all fighting games in existence have taken their cues from the
techniques and controls demonstrated by Ryu and his eternal rival, counterpart
and his only best friend, Ken.  An all-time favourite of scrubs and veterans alike,
Ryu is known for this balanced arsenal and overall efficiency.  It has been argued
by some that Ryu demonstrates an optimal blend of power, mobility, and  defensiveness, 
making him the technically "best" fighter throughout the series.  While this may be largely
a matter of opinion, it is irrefutable that his techniques are designed to offer Ryu and
excellent number of attack and defense options while minimizing risk to himself.  
His attacks may be tighter and offer less reach of power than some other characters 
(like Ken), but are recovered very quickly, making it more difficult for an opponent to
counter.  He does have some effective offensive options and combos, but his talents
are less rewarding in this area; Ryu is less suited to charging in for a quick win, 
but well armed for a marathon battle.