Shun Goku Satsu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shun Goku Satsu (瞬獄殺, literally: Instant Hell Murder, a.k.a. The Raging Demon) is a powerful super move in the Street Fighter series of fighting games. It is a secret technique of Ansatsuken, the martial art practiced by Ryu, Ken, and Akuma. In the series, it is normally only found in Akuma and Satsui no Hadou ni Mezameta Ryu's moveset, although noncanonically it can also be performed by Sakura in Rival Schools, the Marvel vs. Capcom series (as Sunburned Sakura) and SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium; Rogue in X-Men vs. Street Fighter (after performing the Goodnight Sugar on Akuma); and God Rugal in Capcom vs. SNK 2. In Capcom's ongoing storyline, Akuma is the only person alive who knows how to perform it.
The Shun Goku Satsu is typically a Level 3 super move (although it was a level 1 in XvSF; still, it usually fits the strictest requirements to be perform that the game's system can usually provide for any super. In SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom, for example, it requires a less than half-full lifebar), and is performed (using fighting game notation) by pressing LP, LP, →, LK, HP in every game except Street Fighter Alpha (where the final button press is not performed) and SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium, where it uses a charge motion similar to Bison's super version of the Psycho Crusher. It is one of Akuma's most powerful attacks and often the most damaging super move in the series. However, it is slow and can easily be evaded by a skilled opponent. Usually the Shun Goku Satsu does 15 hits, but in Capcom vs. SNK 2, Shin Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu does 33 hits. It is the most notable example of a button press super move, in which the super move is performed using a sequence of button presses and joystick taps, rather than the conventional joystick movement followed by a button press. Several other moves by other characters use the same button press for their super moves that are similar to the Shun Goku Satsu: Morrigan's Darkness Illusion and Blue Mary's M. Dynamite Swing (in The King of Fighters 2001) are notable examples. Another notable example is Dan's Otoko Michi, itself a parody of the Shun Goku Satsu, which is performed by executing the Shun Goku Satsu sequence in reverse, and consequently the user is dealt a large amount of recoil damage in the process; in Pocket Fighter, Dan has a second parody of the move, called the Jun Koku Satsu, where he summons the ghost of his father to deliver a Shun Goku Satsu move to his opponent. The kanji that appears for defeating an enemy with the Jun Koku Satsu means "father." Three characters (Kakyoin, Iggy, and Pet Shop) in the fighting game JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, also made by Capcom, each have a super that has a similar button press and attack animation to the Shun Goku Satsu (a glide forward, a grab of sorts, and the special activating).
There is very little deviation in how the Shun Goku Satsu has been depicted in the series. The move starts with Akuma gliding toward his opponent. If he connects, he grabs them and the screen goes white. For a few seconds, the only things visible are several flashes. Finally, the screen returns to normal and Akuma is left standing over his unconscious victim (however, in Pocket Fighter, if you execute the move manually (as opposed to using the shortcut command), the animation will be different: the screen will go black instead of white, and you'll see momentary flashes of Akuma actually attacking his opponent). The kanji for heaven, ten (天), glows red on his back, which is turned toward the screen. In Capcom vs. SNK 2, as Shin Akuma, the kanji at the back of Shin Akuma's gi is kami (神), which stands for god, superimposed over the kanji hito (人) which means person (thus roughly meaning "godly person"), and it glows white while Akuma has his back turned, and bright yellow at the Shun Goku Satsu aftermath (using the "Kami" and "Hito" together, it would either be "Kamihito" or "Shinjin"). It is not so much a reference to Akuma being 'holy' as it much as it describes the nature of his otherworldly power. Satsui no Hadou ni Mezameta Ryu's aftermath consists of the kanji metsu (滅), which means destruction.
Storywise, during the Shun Goku Satsu the martial artist drags his victim to the Netherealm (Hell) where their bodies are both burned and simultaneously attacked by demons. The ferocity with which these demons attack depends on the amount of negative karma an individual has accrued over their lifetime. As a result, the martial artist performing the technique also puts their life in jeopardy. Even the innocent are not afforded any safety from a successfully performed Shun Goku Satsu, although they'll only be attacked for a short time before they'll go to Heaven if the victim is a good person (he does NOT have to necessarily be a saint). Against pure evil, this attack can be devastating, since all bad people go to the Netherealm to burn for eternity, even though the demons only attack the person for a short time. The only way to defend against it is by clearing the mind of all desire, guilt, hatred, and anger. Gen was able to survive the Shun Goku Satsu in this way. In the games, the amount of damage inflicted by the Shun Goku Satsu is consistent between characters and is unblockable if it connects. Effectively, the move is considered a throw super move.
Gouken excluded this move from his school (alongside other life-threatening moves) since he was against killing. He taught this move to neither Ryu nor Ken due to the high risks of using it and since Shun Goku Satsu was deemed a life-threatening move in his school.
[edit] Trivia
In the video game Ōkami, which is published by Capcom, Mrs. Orange creates some cherry cakes using the Shun Goku Satsu, with a different ending kanji.
In Capcom vs. SNK 2, the kanji on Akuma's back after the Shun Goku Satsu isn't always red. The color is actually dependent on the color of Akuma's hair. For example, an Akuma and with blue hair will display a blue kanji.
