The lead character of Virtua Fighter, what makes Akira wonderful is that although he may look like and be positioned as the good guy accessible character of the series, mastering his best techniques is actually one of the game's greatest challenges. The guy is tough as hell, and a well trained Akira player will leave your ass in ruin. Like many of the VF series, he may not have the best backstory, or the most detailed personality, but he's still one of the true icons of fighting games.

Alex is a controversial subject among fighting game fans. Introduced as the new face of Street Fighter III, he was not always the most popular man, and when it was announced that Ryu and Ken would be absent from SFIII, there was such an uproar that Capcom backpedalled. Alex also wasn't the most fun character to play as in the game. Still, he's got a good back story, a killer look, and you know what? He was the main guy in a Street Fighter game. I'd say he's worthy.

Chun-Li is in many ways the first lady of fighting games. Her appearance in the original Street Fighter II marked the beginning of a new era, where female fighters could throw down with the uber-muscly men of the genre. Since her first appearance, she has undoubtedly been one of the series' most successful fighters. Her brilliant charge attacks, distinctive look, amazing thighs and interesting backstory have made her a solid fan favourite. She even had a movie based on her, where she was portrayed by Kristen Kreuk. But let's not hold that against her.

Killer Instinct was a fighting series that has come and gone like so many before it, but still is remembered both fondly, for the wacky characters, striking visuals and fun matches, and furiously, thanks to the game's excruciating difficulty. Fulgore was never the real face of the series, but he was, among fans, one of the most popular characters, thanks to his great look and far out moves. His existence was also recently acknowledged in Rare's Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, where one of the weapons you can buy for your vehicles is named "Fulgore's Fist".

The star of SNK's popular Samurai Shodown series, Haohmaru is a badass samurai through and through, and one with a storied past. He's distinguishable from Soul's Mitsurugi in a few key ways, and he's a well designed character. But the best thing about Haohmaru was always how he handled. His awesome sweeping sword attacks not only looked cool, but were devastating in action. Also you cannot ignore that victory pose, where he throws his katana in the air and it lands perfectly in its holster. Sweeeet.

There has never been an official face of the Soulcalibur universe, and a handful of fighters can lay claim to the title. One of the forerunners for this is the troubled samurai Heishiro Mitsurugi. He has a fantastic backstory, and in a series full of super powered monsters and quick-as-lightning speedsters, Mitsurugi is a comfortable middle ground between the two extremes, making him one of the most unique and entertaining characters to throw down with. Does he look a little too much like SNK's Haohmaru? Perhaps, but that doesn't stop him being a phenomenal character.

Ok, I haven't played BlazBlue yet, because I live in the United Kingdom and don't own a PS3. So I'm stuck on this one, but because people have been talking so highly about this game, I thought why not throw the fans a bone and include this dude, who apparently is one of the most popular character amongst the online fanbase. Jeff doesn't like him. It's probably because his name is Jin. Just replace the J with G.

Is Kage Maru the first ninja of fighting games? They're a common sight these days, but Kage Maru was there at the beginning, the original Virtua Fighter. He's also got one of the deepest back stories in Virtua Fighter. But the real reason why Kage Maru is on this list is because the list of fighters who are more fun to play as than Kage Maru is pretty damn short. The guy just moves so effortlessly, executing ridiculously quick strikes, and looking cool while doing so.

She's a ninja who enjoys volleyball. Word.

There has to be at least one of Tekken's Mishima clan in any discussion about best fighting game characters, and Kazuya is the most interesting of the bunch. The dude has sold his soul to the Devil, single handedly destroyed armies of robots, run a criminal organisation, been throwing into a volcano and survived, and just about had everything thrown at him, including kitchen sinks. Oh, and did I mention that he's a joy to handle, with his quick flowing hard-hitting attacks?

The new face of SNK's The King of Fighters series when the first game launched in 1994, Kyo became on of the staple characters in the SNK fighting game universe, having also appeared on the SNK side in the Capcom vs. SNK series. His gorgeous looking fire-based attacks and sweet character design make him a wonderful character to look at, but he's also a joy to handle. Not only that, but he has one of the best names of any fighter ever. Kyo Kusanagi. Awesome.

If ever experience over youth was appropriate, it's with old master Lau Chan. He may have shock-white hair, but he moves like a panther with his lethal quick flowing strikes, and controlling him is an absolute pleasure. He's also got one of the better back stories in the world of Virtua Fighter, and his relationship with his daughter Pai Chan (who narrowly misses this list) is one of the highlights of the series. There are extremely few ways in which Lau Chan isn't totally awesome.

Why did I pick M. Bison? Well, he's an evil demonic train driver. What, you need more? Ok, well, he's a charge character, and one of the best. He's got a mean ass teleport, a sweet cape, and a massive ruthless streak. Oh, and don't forget that he's the final boss and main antagonist of the most beloved and most successful fighting game of all-time. If that isn't enough, then I don't know what to tell you. Oh yes, in Japan they call him Vega. I know, strange right?

Mmmmmmmmmmm...sorry what was the question again? Perhaps the first sex symbol of fighting games, actually playing as or against Mai Shiranui was very much a love-or-hate experience. Some found her moves flat and clunky, others disagree. Regardless, it's hard not to include SNK's leading lady, even though she didn't appear in this years release of King of Fighters 12.

Ok, so maybe Mike Haggar was never a playable character in a traditional fighting game. He made appearances in Street Fighter Alpha, but only in backgrounds and character endings. He was going to be a member of the roster for Capcom Fighting All-Stars until the game was cancelled. He was a playable character in Saturday Night Slam Masters, which you could call a fighting game disguised as a wrestling game. But the real reason why Mike Haggar has to appear on this list, is because, well, he's Mike Fucking Haggar. Major Haggar to you. He's one of the most popular characters in video game history, an absolute icon.

There are four reasons why Morrigan is on this list. First, as a nod to everyone's favourite Capcom B-grade fighting games. Second, because she is, along with Felicia, the face of the series. Third, she's appeared in lots of Capcom versus games, from Marvel vs Capcom and Capcom vs SNK 2 to the recent Tatsunoko vs Capcom and the odd RPG Namco x Capcom. Fourth, well, she's a hot demon bat lady thing.

This was obviously a toss up between Nightmare and Seigfried, since the two are the most recognisable tanks of the Soulcalibur games, as both are armed with bigass swords and aren't afraid to use them. In fact, even though Seigfried didn't appear in Soulcalibur II as a character, he did appear as an alternative costume for Nightmare. Anyway, despite the generic ass name, Nightmare is a badass if ever there was one, collecting souls to feed his evil sword. Also, his 2008 redesign for SC4 is absolutely sick, and he's one of the series most entertaining characters to play as.

Just how popular and successful is Nina Williams? So popular she starred in a crummy action spin-off game called Death By Degrees. She's one of only four characters to have appeared in every Tekken game. She was named Hottest Female Fighter in the Guiness Book of Records Video Game edition, and regularly appears high in polls for favourite fighters and hottest video game vixens. And on top of all her achievements, she's still an incredibly fun character to play as, and her rivalry with her sister Anna Williams has been at the centre of the Tekken fiction since the first installment.

Lots of other Tekken characters could have made this list. Old Man Heihachi Mishima and Jin Kazama are bigger names in the Tekken universe. Or how about Yoshimitsu, who also has renown for appearing in the Soulcalibur games? Or King, or Marshall Law? Well, you know what? Paul Phoenix has been there from the beginning, his high impact special moves are awesome to pull off and deadly in execution, he's a well developed likeable character, and with Guile's absence from this list, he's got the most awesome hairdo of the bunch. Seriously, how does it stay like that in combat? Whassup with dat?!

The new face of Fatal Fury in it's final incarnation, the critically successful Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Rock is the son of crime lord Geese Howard, and is one of the most entertaining characters to fight with in Mark of the Wolves. His character design may be a little too reminiscent of Jacky Bryant from Virtua Fighter, but he's still a well realised, interesting, and in many ways overlooked character.

Um, yeah. Guess what? It's Ryu. We all know who Ryu is. Ok, moving on.

Oh, ok then.

HADDOOOUUUKKEENNN!!!

Is it cool to have two dudes in a fighting game with the same name? Is it cool to have two badass male ninjas? I dunno, but I'm sure no one will mind, seeing as how Ryu Hayabusa, aside from being the star of Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden action games, is also one of the lead characters in the Dead or Alive series. And boy oh boy is he fun to play as. His lightning quick attacks and sick combos are both cool to look at and fun to execute, and he's got some nasty grapples as well.

"GET OVER HERE!"

The inexplicably named lead character in Arc System Work's Guilty Gear franchise, Sol Badguy is in fact one of the good guys of the series. He looks like he fell out of a Final Fantasy game, with his big-ass sword, anime hair and funky dress sense, but he's always a good guy in a fight.

The female ninja of the Soulcalibur series is in many ways the embodiment of everything the series is known for - gorgeous looking fast flowing attacks, a good backstory, a cool-as-ice personality, and of course, great boobs. Taki has been with the series from the beginning, and has become one of the signature characters of the series. She handles wonderfully, has great boobs, has two killer blades, great boobs, and is beautifully designed. Boobs.