Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Three syllables and a joystick motion that a whole generation learned by heart. The shout turned a game command into everyday speech: people yell it when they throw anything at all, from a paper ball to a frisbee, and 'Hadouken' became the internet's default word for an energy blast. It is the clearest case of a move name becoming a catchphrase.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Street Fighter IIShow the scene
Hadouken, roughly 'wave-motion fist', is the energy blast Ryu throws in Street Fighter. It debuted in the original 1987 Street Fighter as one of Ryu and Ken's three special moves, alongside the Shoryuken and the hurricane kick. Street Fighter II in 1991 made it famous: the player rolls the stick a quarter circle forward and presses punch, and Ryu thrusts both palms out and shouts the name as a glowing ball flies across the screen. The official fanbook describes it as roughly body temperature, not a fireball at all, though everyone calls it one.
Sources (2)
- Hadoken (Street Fighter Wiki)Lead and descriptionReference checked
- Ryu (Street Fighter) (Wikipedia)DevelopmentReference checked
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