Okay so I'm getting SFIV, that's a lock. My history with fighting games is I liked SF II as a kid, and I tooled around with SC4 last year.

Anyone who feels right. People usually start with Ryu or Ken.

As a kid I started off with Guile because I found charge motions easier to perform than the quarter circle motion.. but you learn eventually if you play enough.

I play Ryu/Ken/Akuma mainly. Just because I've been playing them since I was a kid and thus, am pretty good with them. Definitely not tournament-level or anything. Otherwise, I'm ok to pretty bad with the rest of the crew. As for your request though, Sakura is light and fast (well in the other games she's been in) but she's still pretty powerful. Vega is also fast and powerful. Chun-Li and Cammy are also rather quick, although I always found Chun-Li to be as fast as Ryu and Guile, the middle group. Cammy has always been fast whether my friend or the CPU is playing her. El Fuerte is really fast, but I don't know if he's got the power behind him. This is from what I hear/have seen; I haven't played SF IV yet. Rufus is supposedly very fast too, and he's got some strength to him, but he looks like he plays very awkward. Not bad, just different. In the end though, I think you should just play with everyone and see who you like best.

I remember whoring M. Bison a whole bunch when I played SFII with a friend.

As for starting? Not sure...

Hmmm, looks play a big part in who I'm likely to use too. No freaks. That excludes Vega and El Fuerte. I was thinking Cammy or Sakura.

It's all aboot Zangief bro.

"As a kid I started off with Guile because I found charge motions easier to perform than the quarter circle motion.. but you learn eventually if you play enough."

That's strange, now that I think about it, I started off with Guile way back when SFII first showed up in arcades as well.  I even remember when I pulled off my first dragon punch as Ken and the older kid I was up against was all impressed.  Good stuff.

Now, I can't stand charge-style fighters like Guile.

My favorite is Ryu and Ken. But when I was a kid I did like Guile a lot.

Chun Li or Cammy is a good start for fast characters.

"Okay so I'm getting SFIV, that's a lock. My history with fighting games is I liked SF II as a kid, and I tooled around with SC4 last year.

I like faster moving, lower powered characters, but not totally weak. Who fits that bill?

...and who are you planning to be?

"

n00b here, I never really played SF back in the days so I started with Ken... I know how to use him I guess. But it'll take a while to actually perform his moves flawlessly, I end up button mashing when I'm fighting online.

I'd suggest just picking whatever character you think looks the coolest and then just keep playing with that character until you start to pick up on how they work.  If you want a good character to learn the basics though with not such a learning curve then you should pick Ryu or Ken.  Those two pretty much give you the basis of what Street Fighter is and whatever you learn with them can be applied to other characters.

Ryu or Ken are your best bet they are the easiest characters to pick up and learn but the some of the hardest to master where as other characters are harder to learn but easier to master.

WilliamRLBaker said:

"Ryu or Ken are your best bet they are the easiest characters to pick up and learn but the some of the hardest to master where as other characters are harder to learn but easier to master.

"

Yeah, I'd say go with Ken or Ryu, but make sure to try everyone out. Some people say that charge moves are easier than the quarter circle motions, but after years of playing Street Fighter I hate charge moves and can never do them.

Ken.
Learn how to Shoryuken/Hadouken.
Jump backwards when match starts, spam to taste.

"Ken.
Learn how to Shoryuken/Hadouken.
Jump backwards when match starts, spam to taste.
"

Dan.

"If you want someone a little outside the Ken/Ryu flavor try out Sakura. She's probably my favorite and has a similar move set and she's pretty quick.
"

Chun Li and Sakura are pretty good characters to start off with.
Zangief seems to be most noob friendly.

just dont become another one of the Kens i keep facing online lol

Ive never played 4 but 2 I have I would recommend Ryu

Everyone always says Ryu or Ken, and while they are the middle of the road character they really aren't much once you take the special moves out of the equation.

if you can throw a fireball, then sure, start with one of them.

But really any of the characters are good enough if you are just starting off, at least in my opnion.

You say you have some experience with Street Fighter games though, specifically 2.

If that's the case, I'd just go with whoever you played the best with then. Most of the characters still work the same for the most part, and nuances of Street Fighter IV have more to do with the new mechanics than any of the moves outside of the new characters.

You should be El Fuerte because he sucks.

"You should be El Fuerte because he sucks.
"

"systech said:

"You should be El Fuerte because he sucks.
"

GT: tha big red

come tell me to my face El Fuerte sucks, I'll show you what super dynamic cooking time really means.
"

I think I'm gonna pick SF up tomorrow, PAY DAY OHHHH YEAH. I remember as a kid loving Ryu, seems he's a good start. My lil bro used to pick Ehonda and do slap slap slap slap all the time arrrgggghhhhhhh

"thabigred said:

"systech said:

"You should be El Fuerte because he sucks.
"

GT: tha big red

come tell me to my face El Fuerte sucks, I'll show you what super dynamic cooking time really means.
"

I'm totally sending you a friend request, I want to play against someone who uses El Fuerte.  Hasn't happened yet, he may be one of the least-used characters next to Dan.
"

I personally stared off with Ken, but have now moved over to chun-li.

When i was 8 i use to play as Chun-Li all the time very easy to play and she's got some nice moves, then i moved onto Ryu there's not to much you have to wrap your head around moves wise with him and he's powerfull.

"systech said:

"You should be El Fuerte because he sucks.
"

GT: tha big red

come tell me to my face El Fuerte sucks, I'll show you what super dynamic cooking time really means.
"

"thabigred said:

"systech said:

"You should be El Fuerte because he sucks.
"

GT: tha big red

come tell me to my face El Fuerte sucks, I'll show you what super dynamic cooking time really means.
"

I'm totally sending you a friend request, I want to play against someone who uses El Fuerte.  Hasn't happened yet, he may be one of the least-used characters next to Dan.
"

i mainly go as cammy shes pretty good if u like fast agile characters but over all i would agree with LiquidPrince just go with who feels natural  go on arcade mode  try out a few characters ken and ryu are good to start with try ken if u want to be more close combat  ryu if u want more ranged 

"MB said:

"thabigred said:

"systech said:

"You should be El Fuerte because he sucks.
"

GT: tha big red

come tell me to my face El Fuerte sucks, I'll show you what super dynamic cooking time really means.
"

I'm totally sending you a friend request, I want to play against someone who uses El Fuerte.  Hasn't happened yet, he may be one of the least-used characters next to Dan.
"

That's because the people who actually know how to use him have been brutally murdered due to inflicting such cheap attacks on their opponents. Usually by that same opponent, only in a ski mask.
"

 I'm totally sending you a friend request, I want to play against someone who uses El Fuerte.  Hasn't happened yet, he may be one of the least-used characters next to Dan.

Fast and not a total weakling? Sakura... I play Sakura myself and yea, she's just perfect when it comes to that + friendly to learn : )

Everyone I meet online plays as Ken. I never saw the attraction.

play anyone other than ken and ryu. seriously we don't need any more of those players. chun-li is easy to learn. so is balrog, honda, blanka, and sagat. but FOR GOD'S SAKE don't play KEN MASTERS!

"MB said:

 I'm totally sending you a friend request, I want to play against someone who uses El Fuerte.  Hasn't happened yet, he may be one of the least-used characters next to Dan.

I've never once seen anyone use Rose ever in an online match.  I've seen Dan a few time and El Fuerte once but never have I seen someone use Rose."

I can't use anyone but Dan or Zangief. I feel like an asshole if I use anyone else.

Start with Ken or Ryu, they seem to be the easiest to handle, but later, Sagat. =]

When I was a kid on the Genesis, I thought charge characters were easier to use than others, but nowadays I'd say to start with either Ken or Ryu just to learn the ropes.
Or better yet, use Chun Li.  She's pretty damn balanced and her lightening kicks are a snap to use.

Just start with Dan.